DEL MAR, Calif. - Pure Tactics has the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in his long-term future.
On Friday, Pure Tactics won his second consecutive race in an optional claimer over five furlongs on turf. The victory, which came over five stakes winners, has left trainer Doug O’Neill thinking of running Pure Tactics in the $90,000 Green Flash Handicap on Aug. 13 and, later, the Breeders’ Cup.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Hours after My Fiona won Friday’s $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar, she was back at trainer Walther Solis’ base at Los Alamitos. The next time she is sent to Del Mar, she will try to confirm her status as the leading 2-year-old California-bred filly.
On Saturday, Solis said My Fiona will be pointed for the $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes over six furlongs for statebred fillies Aug. 27.
“If everything goes the way it is now, that’s what we’ll do,” he said.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Several of the contenders for the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park on July 27 tuned up on Saturday morning.
Irish You Well and Just Call Kenny, the 1-2 finishers in the Long Branch Stakes, both worked at Monmouth.
Irish You Well went five furlongs in 1:00 for trainer Wayne Catalano.
Just Call Kenny turned in a six-furlong drill in 1:14.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jeremiah Englehart had to wait a long time for his first Saratoga victory. Not so for Frankie Dettori.
The two horsemen were like little kids on Christmas morning Friday as Saratoga opened its 146th meeting under pristine conditions. Englehart, the 37-year-old trainer from upstate New York, and Dettori, the 43-year-old jockey based in England, both got the presents they wanted.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Oceanside winner Enterprising will have two or three starts at the Del Mar meeting, trainer Tom Proctor said on Friday. The $300,000 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 31 is a likely spot, but Proctor has not ruled out a start in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 9.
“We’ll see how he comes out of it,” Proctor said. “I could wheel him back in the La Jolla or wait.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – The new turf course at Del Mar, widened and resod over the winter, was used for three races on Thursday’s opening-day program.
The course played fast and produced quick times. Super Ability led throughout an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf to win in final time of 1:40.83. Enterprising closed from last of 11 to win the Oceanside Stakes, finishing the mile on turf in 1:33.89. Affrettando closed from 10th of 12 to win at 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.57.
Laurel Park-based trainer Phil Schoenthal has been trying to find out whether his Grade 2-winning 3-year-old Miss Behaviour can successfully race beyond six furlongs or if she is better off staying at that distance.
He had hoped to learn the answer in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park on June 29, but Miss Behaviour ended up chasing the lightning-fast Red Velvet early. Miss Behaviour was run down after making the lead in the stretch of the 6 1/2-furlong race and had to settle for second.
When Winter Games ($31) held off Goodnewsisnonews in Friday’s opener, it gave Jeremiah Englehart his first victory at Saratoga. He had previously gone winless with his first 58 starters.
Saratoga Snacks, the multiple stakes-winning New York-bred, was transferred by owner Bill Parcells from Gary Sciacca to Bill Mott. Parcells also placed an unraced younger full brother of Saratoga Snacks, Baby Snacks, with Mott.
Parcells and Sciacca have been friends for two decades, and Parcells politely declined to discuss why he moved the horse, saying only, “Everything will be fine. He’s been a good friend. I wish him well.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – For many reasons, jockey Rafael Bejarano was not eager to leave the winner’s circle after $32,000 claimer Affrettando prevailed by a nose in the 10th race on Thursday’s opening-day program.
In the moments after the winner’s circle ceremony, Bejarano was surrounded by several, let’s say, attractive well-wishers, all of whom wanted a cell phone photo. Bejarano was more than happy to oblige. He had waited for a moment like this for more than two months.
