DEL MAR, Calif. – Beholder may have outgrown her female counterparts this summer.
A day after Beholder’s convincing win in the $300,750 Clement Hirsch Stakes, trainer Richard Mandella reiterated Sunday the two-time champion will be considered for the $1 million Pacific Classic against males Aug. 22 at Del Mar.
Mandella mentioned the Pacific Classic in the winner’s circle after the Hirsch and said Sunday the 5-year-old mare’s condition in coming weeks will determine a course of action.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It took Honor Code 50 minutes to breeze a half-mile in 50 seconds Sunday morning at Saratoga.
After spending about 30 minutes on the Oklahoma training track - where he twice refused to break off - Honor Code went over to the main track, where he eventually worked a half-mile in 50.37 seconds in preparation for an expected start in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes. All totaled, his time between the two tracks amounted to 50 minutes.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As fun a race as Saturday’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt was to watch, it does not appear likely there will be a rematch Aug. 29 in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga.
Rock Fall beat The Big Beast by a nose in the Vanderbilt, a race in which John Velazquez, the rider of The Big Beast, lost his whip in midstretch and had to resort to using his goggles to try to get more out of his horse.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite losing his right front shoe – presumably early on – in Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes, Frosted came out of the race relatively unscathed and remains on course for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes here Aug. 29, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday morning.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Mike Luzzi, severely injured in a paddock accident at Aqueduct last November, has been cleared by doctors to return to the saddle, Luzzi said Friday.
Luzzi, 45, has been getting on horses in the mornings for the last few days and hopes to return to race-riding in the near future.
“When somebody gives me a mount, I’ll accept it,” said Luzzi, who has ridden 3,420 races since his career began in 1988 and was the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 1989.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Liam’s Map worked a very fast five furlongs Saturday in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher is not so sure that was a good thing.
Liam’s Map went in 58.42 seconds, going his first three furlongs in 34.03 over the Saratoga main track. Despite going so quick early, he got his final quarter in 24.49 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.62 and seven furlongs in 1:25.17.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Daredevil, the Grade 1 Champagne winner on dirt at age 2, will make his turf debut in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.
For the third straight week, Daredevil worked on turf Saturday, breezing a sharp half-mile 47.75 seconds in company with Charming Kitten. He shaded 23 seconds for his final quarter.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The purse of the Travers Stakes would increase to $1.6 million from $1.25 million should Triple Crown winner American Pharoah start in the race Aug. 29, the New York Racing Association announced Saturday.
The winner’s share of the Travers would increase to $850,000 from the current guarantee of $675,000 should American Pharoah start.
The extra money would come from the purse account and comes with the blessing of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, according to Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Motown Men won for the third time in his last five starts in a competitive optional claimer in Friday’s sixth race at a mile. The win will lead to a start in the $80,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile Aug. 26, trainer Ted H. West said on Saturday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Obey gave trainer Sam Scolamieri his first stakes win in more than 18 years when she won the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar on Friday night.
Scolamieri might only wait another month for his next big win.
On Saturday, Scolamieri, who is based at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in northern San Diego County, said Obey will be considered for the $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs Aug. 28.
