DEL MAR, Calif. – The question of whether Pure Tactics is a turf sprinter or a miler was answered in Wednesday’s $86,350 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar. The 6-year-old horse can be called both.
Now, owner Doug Cole and trainer Doug O’Neill face a decision on which race to try in August. The options include the $80,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs Aug. 19 or the $200,000 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23.
The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile would seem a logical spot after the Wickerr.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Kung Fu Mambo, a Group 1 winner in Peru in 2012 who won his only start in the U.S. at Santa Anita last month, has been retired because of a recurring tendon injury, trainer Peter Miller said.
The decision to retire Kung Fu Mambo was made in recent days. Kung Fu Mambo was nominated for Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar and was considered a potential starter as recently as last weekend.
:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Saturday
DEL MAR, Calif. – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah gave trainer Bob Baffert goose bumps with his work Thursday at Del Mar, a drill officially timed in 1:11 for six furlongs, with American Pharoah always into the bit, eagerly looking to do more in his penultimate work for the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.
“He’s getting faster. I’m getting goose bumps,” Baffert said after American Pharoah completed the work, which came just five days after a demanding work Saturday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Although he is the defending champion and is ready to run off a four-month layoff, Palace is not certain to race next Saturday in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt, said trainer Linda Rice.
Palace rallied to a one-length victory over Happy My Way in the 2014 Vanderbilt and followed that win with an even better performance four weeks later, drawing away to a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 1 Forego here. He has not won in his three subsequent starts, including a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - Jockey Oriana Rossi was transported from a local hospital to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on Wednesday after being injured in a spill at Indiana Grand earlier in the day. Two other riders injured in the spill, Francisco Torres and Alejandro Contreras, were released from Major Hospital in Shelbyville Wednesday night.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It might be difficult to outshine a Belmont Park meet at which the first Triple Crown in 37 years was accomplished, but the New York Racing Association hopes to do just that when the 147th Saratoga season opens Friday.
With the highest daily purses in the country, a lucrative stakes program, and the prestige of Saratoga, this 40-day meet brings together the top horses and horsemen from all over.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Felipe Valdez has been placed on probation for testing in excess of the permitted levels of three prescription medicines, according to a ruling issued by Del Mar stewards on Sunday.
In addition, Valdez was fined $500 for excessive use of the whip in a separate ruling issued Sunday.
Valdez, 37, has been ordered to submit to drug testing with California Horse Racing Board officials after he tested over the permitted level of the pain killers hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone in a random drug test at Santa Anita on June 13.
DEL MAR, Calif. – It took a little longer than expected, but Beholder, the two-time champion, had her final major workout on Wednesday for the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Aug. 1 at Del Mar.
Working in company with Grade 2 winner Moulin de Mougin, Beholder worked a mile in 1:40.20, a time that reflected the deep nature of the Del Mar main track Wednesday morning.
“It’s pretty tiring,” trainer Richard Mandella said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though she has won all three of her starts in 2015, including the Grade 1 Just a Game, Tepin still has questions to answer in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes at Saratoga.
Primarily, can she get the 1 1/8 miles the Diana requires?
In six career starts on turf, Tepin has three wins and a second. Her two bad efforts on turf have come in races at 1 1/8 miles.
:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Friday
DEL MAR, Calif. – When Catch a Flight finished third as the 8-5 favorite in the $501,500 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27, the most frustrated person involved with the horse was jockey Gary Stevens.
Looking back, Stevens wished he had not urged Catch a Flight to the lead in early stretch and had waited longer before making a move.
“I went to the lead too early, and they went by me,” Stevens said. “I didn’t like my ride. I’d like a do-over.”
