DEL MAR, Calif. – This could be the final season of Game On Dude’s career.
The 7-year-old gelding, who has won 16 of 33 starts and earned $6,438,893, has been the dominant older horse in California for the last three years. But he no longer is considered a clear leader in the division.
Vicar’s in Trouble is coming home to Louisiana, at least for a brief visit. Trainer Mike Maker said the Louisiana-bred is to make his next start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby. The race anchors the richest card of the Louisiana Downs meet Sept. 6.
Maker said Rosie Napravnik is scheduled to ride Vicar’s in Trouble.
The last time Vicar’s in Trouble visited his home state, he won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 29. Napravnik was aboard. The horse will enter the Super Derby off a third-pace finish in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 2.
AUBURN, Wash. – Race 10 on Sunday’s Emerald Downs card – the $22,575 Pete Pederson Memorial at one mile – attracted six horses, with Floating Feather, the dominant stakes runner in Idaho, among the leading contenders. He’ll be ridden by the remarkable Nikeela Black, a 29-year-old Boise, Idaho, lawyer who moonlights as a jockey – the leading jockey – at Les Bois Park.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Workouts became more serious for California Chrome at Los Alamitos on Friday.
For the first time since a fourth-place finish June 7 in the Belmont Stakes, California Chrome was ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza in Friday’s half-mile workout in 47.40 seconds. California Chrome is scheduled to make his comeback Sept. 20 in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A decision on whether Grade 1 winner Dayatthespa will race in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa or in Sunday's $150,000 Yaddo for New York-breds will not be made until Friday evening or possibly even Saturday morning.
Lincoln Race Course received approval from the Nebraska State Racing Commission on Thursday to conduct a live race Sept. 4 at its new location on the southwest side of Lincoln.
Formerly located north of downtown Lincoln at the former Nebraska State Fairgrounds, the track moved into its new facility near the intersection of Highway 77 and West Denton Road late last summer and has been conducting nationwide simulcasting since then.
The Claiming Crown in December remains the main long-term goal for the Peter Walder-trained Palatine Hill after the lanky gelding easily won for the fifth time in his last seven starts Thursday at Gulfstream.
Palatine Hill was claimed for $12,500 in January and remains eligible for several races in the $1 million Claiming Crown series, which will be run for the 16th time Dec. 6, opening day of the championship meet.
Changes in scenery and equipment led to a very encouraging performance for a 3-year-old filly named Georgia at Gulfstream Park on Thursday.
Making her first start since being transferred from the West Coast and into the barn of Marty Wolfson, Georgia won a first-level, one-turn optional claimer going a mile by 3 3/4 lengths, earning a 77 Beyer Speed Figure while showing marked improvement following a disappointing return to action last month over Polytrack at Del Mar. She was racing without blinkers for the first time in five career starts.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Myositis Dan is running for a cause in Saturday’s Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga.
Owner Brereton Jones named Myositis Dan after a friend who died from myositis, a disease that causes inflammation of the muscles and affects about 75,000 people in the United States.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With 14 races on Saturday’s card there are a few changes to the wagering menu.
There will be three pick-four wagers offered, starting with races 2, 9, and 11. The pick four that begins with race 9 comprises all stakes and will have a guaranteed pool of $1 million.
