SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Manny Franco, involved in a frightening spill here Wednesday, will be off his mounts until next Wednesday, according to his agent, Angel Cordero Jr.
:: Saratoga: Watch the Saratoga Video Report hosted by Mike Welsch
Franco sustained only a swollen right calf and had general body soreness as a result of the spill. He did not sustain any other serious injuries despite getting stepped on by two trailing horses.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wicked Strong, last year’s Jim Dandy Stakes winner, worked five furlongs in 1:00.19 over Saratoga’s main track Thursday in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes on Aug. 8.
Equipped with blinkers and working at 9:30 a.m. – 45 minutes after the track reopened after renovation – Wicked Strong went his first quarter in 24.69 seconds and got his final three furlongs in 35.50. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.67 under regular exercise rider Kelvin Pahal.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Judy the Beauty, last year’s champion female sprinter, left Saratoga early Thursday and headed back to Keeneland, where she will prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, to be run Oct. 31.
Judy the Beauty finished third to La Verdad and Street Story here Wednesday in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss.
:: Saratoga: Watch the Saratoga Video Report hosted by Mike Welsch
Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was removed from his final two mounts at Del Mar on Wednesday by track stewards after failing a Breathalyzer test midway through the program, steward Scott Chaney said on Thursday.
The matter has been referred to California Horse Racing Board investigators, Chaney said. The investigators may file a complaint in the matter, seeking sanctions.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After going back and forth between running and passing, trainer Steve Asmussen ultimately decided to run the champion Untapable in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga.
The Shuvee will mark the first start at Saratoga for Untapable – last year’s champion 3-year-old filly – and marks the first meeting between her and fellow Eclipse Award finalist Stopchargingmaria, the winner of last year’s Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Following a $750,000 purse increase Wednesday, seven 3-year-olds signed up on Thursday to face Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
Upstart, whose trainer, Rick Violette Jr., committed to the $1.75 million Haskell on Wednesday, has been made the second choice on the morning line at 6-1. Track linemaker Brad Thomas made American Pharoah the 1-5 favorite.
Upstart is cross-entered in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Saturday but is expected to race at Monmouth Park instead.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The postscript to a record five-win day by trainer Doug O’Neill at Del Mar on Wednesday may be the long-term potential of one of the winners. The stable considers the 2-year-old filly Land Over Sea to be the sort of runner capable of starting in a Breeders’ Cup race at Keeneland on Oct. 30-31.
DEL MAR, Calif. -- The pick six at Del Mar paid $57,658 to 34 ticket-holders on Wednesday on a day when trainer Doug O’Neill won four of the races.
The pick six began with a two-day carryover of $562,765 from Sunday. Bettors added $2,591,332 to the pool on Wednesday.
Consolation tickets with five winners were worth $423.40.
DEL MAR, Calif. -- Trainer Doug O’Neill set a Del Mar and personal record on Wednesday, winning five races on a single card.
O’Neill, 47, had six runners on the eight-race program. He won the first race with Hye I’m Jack ($28.80), the third with Jimmy Bouncer ($8.60), the fourth with Tumbleweedprincess ($8), the fifth with Land Over Sea ($3.40) and the seventh with Lookin for Money ($10.80).
O’Neill’s only loss on Wednesday was with Housemaker, who finished second to Lookin for Money.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Chad Brown has trained one Arlington Million winner so far but will have two chances to take down his second Million when the race is contested for the 33rd time Aug. 15.
All along, Brown has been pointing Slumber for the race, and on Tuesday the New York-based trainer confirmed that he also will start Big Blue Kitten in the Million.
