Fri, 07/19/2024 - 14:40

Ottoman Fleet works slow half-mile followed by a nice gallop-out

Coady Media

Ottoman Fleet was part of a Godolphin-owned, Charlie Appleby-trained group that worked Friday morning at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ottoman Fleet, a two-time graded stakes winner in the United States this year for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, returned to the work tab Friday morning. He went a half-mile in 53.63 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, but went his last quarter in 25.63 seconds and then galloped out extremely well. He is preparing for a start in either the Grade 1 Fourstardave here on Aug. 10 or a stakes at Woodbine.

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 14:35

Laulne to miss time with splint injury

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Laulne won the Angels Flight at Santa Anita in April but will now miss some time with an injury.

Laulne, winner of the Angels Flight Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita in April, is in the midst of a month-long break to recover from a splint bone injury.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Thursday that Laulne is scheduled to return to his stable at Del Mar in August.

“I had to turn her out,” he said. “She popped a splint. It’s something tiny, but it will cost us 30 days.”

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 14:34

Eight-time stakes winner Brickyard Ride to stand at stud in 2025

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

The popular Brickyard Ride will stand for $4,000 at Rancho San Miguel in 2025.

Brickyard Ride, an eight-time stakes winner whose retirement was announced in February, will stand at stud in 2025 at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., according to a statement issued on Thursday.

Brickyard Ride will stand for $4,000.

By the prominent California stallion Clubhouse Ride, Brickyard Ride won 13 of 31 starts and earned $925,477, racing from 2019 to January of this year.

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 14:34

Senor Buscador expected to make return in Pat O'Brien

By Steve Andersen

Dubai Racing Club

Having not raced since a third-place finish in the Dubai World Cup, Senor Buscador will return in the Pat O'Brien at Del Mar.

Senor Buscador, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, is scheduled to have his summer debut in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 24.

Trainer Todd Fincher said on Friday that Senor Buscador will not run in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 27, a race the now 6-year-old horse won in 2023.

“We’ll miss the San Diego,” Fincher said. “We’ll aim for the Pat O’Brien. I think I’ve got him on schedule.”

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 14:25

Fierceness remains at Saratoga for Jim Dandy

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

With his stablemate Mindframe expected for the Haskell at Monmouth on Saturday, Fierceness is expected for the Travers at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though he is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, Fierceness remained in Saratoga while his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates Mindframe and Tuscan Sky were put on a van early Friday morning bound for Monmouth Park.

Provided there was no hiccup for Mindframe at Monmouth Saturday morning – à la the fever that forced Pletcher to scratch Mentee from the July 13 Sanford Stakes – then the Belmont Stakes runner-up will run in the Haskell and Fierceness will run in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes.

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 14:25

Kingsbarns to bypass Whitney for Jockey Club Gold Cup

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

With the Breeders' Cup Classic as the year-end goal, Kingsbarns will start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup instead of the Whitney.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kingsbarns, the Grade 1 Stephen Foster winner, returned to the work tab Friday morning in Saratoga but he will bypass the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 3 and point to the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Sept. 1, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Pletcher said the Jockey Club, at 1 1/4 miles, will be used as a stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Fri, 07/19/2024 - 13:05

Minnesota Thoroughbred Association disbands due to lack of funding

By Matt Hegarty

Coady Photography

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association was formed to promote the state's breeding industry in 1971, 14 years before Canterbury Park opened.

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association, which administered an annual yearling sale and stallion season auction for Minnesota-bred horses, has disbanded, according to board members of the organization.

The association, which was founded in 1971 to promote the state’s breeding program, voted to disband in late June due to a lack of funding, according to Dorothy Erban, a board member.

Thu, 07/18/2024 - 16:52

Englehart has another big-margin 2-year-old winner, and there may be more to come

By David Grening

Bellacose wins debut at SAR July 17 2024

Barbara D. Livingston

Bellacose, a 2-year-old daughter of Audible, won her career debut over New York-breds by 10 3/4 lengths at Saratoga on Wednesday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Jeremiah Englehart has sent out a pair of 2-year-olds to win their debuts by 10 or more lengths so far this year, and they may not be the best juveniles he has in his barn.

On Wednesday, the New York-bred filly Bellacose won her debut by 10 3/4 lengths, running 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.08 and earning a 71 Beyer Speed Figure. Last month, at Aqueduct, Mo Plex won a 2-year-old maiden race by 10 lengths, then came back here on July 13 to win the Grade 3 Sanford by a length.

Thu, 07/18/2024 - 16:36

Mystik Dan on McPeek's farm, could be pointed to 4-year-old campaign

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan hasn't worked since finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes on June 8

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While he hasn’t officially shut the door on running Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan again this year, trainer Ken McPeek said Thursday he is really focused on having him prepared for a good 4-year-old season.

Mystik Dan was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races, finishing second in the Preakness and eighth in the Belmont Stakes following his Kentucky Derby win. Mystik Dan remained in Saratoga for several weeks, but really wasn’t training, before McPeek decided to send him to Kentucky right before the Saratoga meet started.

Thu, 07/18/2024 - 14:23

Sweezey brings eight-horse barn to Del Mar

By Steve Andersen

Tom Keyser

Trainer Kent Sweezey will have his first runner at Del Mar with Deeply Hidden in Saturday's second race.

The roster of eight horses trainer Kent Sweezey brought to Del Mar for the summer meeting is likely to change in the next few months.

Sweezey, 38, will race at Del Mar for the first time this year, and said on Thursday that his stable consists mostly of claiming-class horses that race on dirt. He said he will not be surprised if some runners are claimed, and that he plans to be active in claiming horses.

“We’ll try to be pretty aggressive,” he said. “I’ve got some new guys that want to claim.”

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