Mon, 09/07/2015 - 13:46

Frosted has Pennsylvania Derby among options

Barbara D. Livingston
Frosted works five furlongs in 59.57 under jockey Joel Rosario at Saratoga on Thursday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It is not a certainty, but Frosted is being considered for the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19 at Parx Racing, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Monday.

“We’re not sure at all, but it’s on the radar,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin is trying to figure out the best way to get Frosted to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. One option is to train up to that race. A second option is to run in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 16:34

West Point Thoroughbreds purchases interest in Liam's Map

Michael Amoruso
Liam's Map is under consideration for both the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the $5 million Classic.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – West Point Thoroughbreds purchased a minority interest in the Grade 1 Woodward winner Liam’s Map just days before his victory in the $600,000 race at Saratoga, the connections said Sunday.

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 16:21

Nakatani suspended one day for whip violation

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Corey Nakatani has been suspended for one day, Oct. 2, for repeated violations of a whip abuse rule enacted in July, according to a ruling issued by Del Mar stewards Saturday.

Nakatani is the first rider in Southern California to be given a suspension for violating the rule.

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 16:17

Graham suspended three days for causing interference

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey James Graham has been suspended three days, Oct. 2-4, for causing interference that led to the disqualification of Melanistic in the third race Friday at Del Mar.

Melanistic finished first by a head over Enduring Erin in an optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile. The stewards demoted Melanistic to second for drifting out in the stretch.

The suspension covers the second weekend of the Santa Anita autumn meeting but does not prevent Graham from riding in designated races or graded stakes during that time.

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 16:14

Calculator returns to training after eight months off

Benoit & Associates
Calculator, winning the Sham Stakes in January, is back in training and is targeting a prep race and then the Malibu at Santa Anita.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Calculator, winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in January, has resumed training after recovering from an injury that kept him out of action in the last eight months.

Trainer Peter Miller said Calculator is “not very far” in his training.

“He hasn’t breezed,” Miller said. “He’s back, and he looks well.”

Calculator, who races for Richard Pell, sustained a non-displaced condylar fracture that required surgery, Miller said.

“It was pretty severe,” Miller said. “He had an operation.”

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 16:09

Hollywood Don will stay on grass after Juvenile Turf win

Benoit & Associates
Hollywood Don, with Brice Blanc aboard, was among three winners for trainer Peter Miller on Saturday's program.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Hollywood Don has found a home on turf for the foreseeable future after winning his stakes debut Saturday in the $101,500 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

The temptation to try a stakes on the main track and eventually take part in the buildup to the 2016 Triple Crown is in trainer Peter Miller’s mind – for later.

“He’s trained well on dirt,” Miller said. “It’s something we’ll consider going forward, but in the immediate future, we’ll keep him on the grass.”

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 15:59

Songbird a likely favorite for Chandelier after Debutante victory

Benoit & Associates
Songbird could be headed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after a 5 1/4-length win under Mike Smith in the Del Mar Debutante.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The decisive win by Songbird in Saturday’s $301,250 Del Mar Debutante will lead to a predictable schedule in coming weeks.

Songbird is the likely favorite for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles Sept. 26 at Santa Anita, a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31. Songbird will very much be part of the discussion for the BC Juvenile Fillies if she can repeat her performance from the Debutante in the Chandelier.

Sun, 09/06/2015 - 13:26

Pletcher ponders which Breeders' Cup race best for Liam's Map

Michael Amoruso
Liam's Map is under consideration for both the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the $5 million Classic.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Liam’s Map, dominant winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, will most likely make his next start in the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. What remains to be determined, however, is whether that start will be in the $1 million Dirt Mile on Oct. 30 or the $5 million Classic on Oct. 31.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 15:31

With Sticksstatelydude, Burchell finally in spotlight

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Greg Burchell has been around horses his whole life and helped develop several champions, though none of them generated much national recognition for him personally.

As he prepares to wind down his career in racing, Burchell, 54, has developed one more horse he believes might have star quality. If so, everyone may soon know Burchell’s name.

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 15:16

V. E. Day pointed to Temperence Hill

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – V. E. Day, winless since taking last year’s Grade 1 Travers, will make his next start Saturday in the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.

V. E. Day, fifth in the Whitney last out, worked a mile in 1:41.17 on Thursday over Saratoga’s main track. He went the opening half-mile in 50.96 seconds and went in 50.21 for the second half-mile.

“It was good, pretty typical of him going two turns,” Jerkens said. “When you work him two turns, he’s methodical like that. He’ll work unbelievably fast at Belmont.”