Wed, 09/06/2023 - 14:31

Del Mar handle down compared to last year

Benoit Photo

This year's Pacific Classic card had the second-highest handle for any non-Breeders' Cup day of racing, just behind last year's Pacific Classic day.

Despite strong business on Pacific Classic day last Saturday, handle for the Del Mar summer meeting will show declines from 2022.

Mike Ernst, the track’s chief financial officer, said on Wednesday that all-sources handle for the season is down “a little more than 9 percent.” The eight-week summer meeting began on July 21 and concludes on Sunday.

This year, the season included 30 days of racing compared to 31 in 2022. Del Mar did not race on Sunday, Aug. 20 because of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary.

Wed, 09/06/2023 - 11:55

Remington Park was synthetic pioneer 35 years ago

By Mary Rampellini

Remington Park celebrated its 35th birthday on Sept. 1 and when the track opened in 1988, it did so with a synthetic racing surface called Equitrack. Coming decades after Tropical Park had installed an additional surface that was synthetic, Tartan Track, the Equitrack at Remington marked the first time a synthetic track was used as a main track in the United States.

Wed, 09/06/2023 - 11:12

Aqueduct offering 33 stakes, 10 graded, at fall meeting

By David Grening

Jim Sewastynowicz

Aqueduct has moved a number of stakes from its Thanskgiving weekend schedule to the previous weekend.

Aqueduct will offer 33 stakes worth $6.385 million during its 31-day fall meet, Nov. 2-Dec. 31, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday.

There will be 10 graded stakes topped by the Grade 2 Cigar Mile, downgraded from a Grade 1 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. The NYRA has cut the purse of the race to $600,000 from $750,000.

Tue, 09/05/2023 - 15:20

Super Derby winner Big Data eyeing another road trip

By Mary Rampellini

Ann Switalski/Hodges Photography

Big Data wins the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs by three-quarters of a length.

Big Data has returned to his South Florida base of Palm Meadows after winning his stakes debut in the $200,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Saturday. His next road trip could come later this month, trainer Michael Lerman said.

Big Data is being considered for a couple of different races the weekend of Sept. 23-24. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 91 in the Super Derby.

“He didn’t seem to be too stressed by the trip,” Lerman said Monday. “I have a feeling I’m going to be sending him back to the track sooner rather than later.”

Mon, 09/04/2023 - 20:48

Saratoga 2023: Wagering down 9 percent during 'tough summer'

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

All-sources handle was down 9 percent at the 2023 Saratoga meet.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The end of the Saratoga meet is usually met with a tinge of sadness.

This year, it’s met more with a sigh of relief.

The 2023 Saratoga meet will be remembered for 12 equine fatalities – eight racing, four training and the most since 2017. That included two eerily similar ones in nationally televised races. The meet will be remembered for wet weather that forced 65 races off the turf and for curious decisions that led to frustration for bettors.

Mon, 09/04/2023 - 20:18

Rice ties Brown for training title in final race of the meet

By David Grening

Linda Rice hugs Jose Ortiz after winning last race of SAR meet Sept 4 2023

Barbara D. Livingston

Linda Rice hugs Jose Ortiz after tying for leading trainer at the Saratoga meet. Rice has won five straight titles on the NYRA circuit dating back to the 2022 Aqueduct fall meet.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Linda Rice won the first race of the Saratoga meet on July 13, she was asked if she could finish the meet as leading trainer.

“Unlikely,” Rice said.

When Rice won the last race of the meet Monday with Lt. Mitchell, the unlikely became reality as she finished in a tie atop the trainer standings with Chad Brown. Both won 35 races at the 40-day meet.

For Rice, it was her second Saratoga title as she won the 2009 meet outright with 20 victories. For Brown, it was his sixth title and third straight.

Mon, 09/04/2023 - 17:23

Jockey Fresu suspended 32 days for three whip violations in a week

By Steve Andersen

Dubai Racing Club

Antonio Fresu is currently second in the Del Mar jockey standings. According to his agent, he plans to appeal two of his suspensions.

Jockey Antonio Fresu, second in the Del Mar standings through Sunday, was sanctioned for a third violation of excessive use of the whip in the last week on Monday and has been suspended 32 calendar days from Saturday through Oct. 9.

Fresu received two seven-day penalties, one 15-day penalty, and three single-day penalties, one for each infraction.

The timeline regarding the penalties was originally more severe.

The terms of two of the three penalties were amended on Monday to cover calendar days and not racing days.

Mon, 09/04/2023 - 14:05

Jauregui cautious with Dreamfyre ahead of Debutante

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Despite only one workout last month, Dreamfyre will look to take the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The undefeated filly Dreamfyre will have had one workout in the last month when she starts in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs for 2-year-old fillies.

Dreamfyre won the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 12 at Del Mar and worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on Aug. 28. Trainer O.J. Jauregui said Dreamfyre had a strong gallop on Monday and will be exercised in a similar way leading to the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante.

Mon, 09/04/2023 - 14:00

Mage shipping to Thoroughbred Training Center

By Mike Welsch

Mage and Gustavo Delgado at SAR Sept 4 2023

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Gustavo Delgado shows off Mage on Monday morning. Mage has been in light training since the Travers.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby winner Mage, who finished a disappointing seventh and last in the Grade 1 Travers, will depart Saratoga on Tuesday for the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., where he will resume regular training with the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita his primary goal at the present time.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado said Mage has done little more than jog over the Oklahoma training track since the Travers.

Mon, 09/04/2023 - 13:55

Motorious to train up to BC Turf Sprint

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

After a win in the Grade 3 Green Flash, Motorious won’t race again until the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Minor variations in turf sprint distances do not seem to bother Motorious, the California gelding who could make international news this fall.

Motorious won the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in March and was a fast-closing second in the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

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