Fri, 08/25/2023 - 13:56

Nostalgic possible for Beldame

Debra A. Roma
After a recent allowance victory at Saratoga, Nostalgic is possible for the Grade 2 Beldame at Aqueduct.

Nostalgic, winner of a third-level allowance race here Aug. 15, will be considered for the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 8, trainer Bill Mott said Friday.

Nostalgic, who won the Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct in 2022, was making just her second start of the year when she won the 1 1/8-mile allowance over Gerrymander. Her previous race was a neck defeat to Sixtythreecaliber in a similar spot here on July 19.

Mott said Nostalgic had a lengthy break between her 3- and 4-year-old campaigns because she was “worn out. She needed to charge her batteries.

Fri, 08/25/2023 - 13:53

War Like Goddess to miss Flower Bowl

Barbara D. Livingston
War Like Goddess will miss the Flower Bowl with a fever and is instead possible for graded stakes at either Kentucky Downs or Aqueduct.

War Like Goddess, the eight-time graded stakes winning mare, will miss the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes next Saturday after missing some time due to a fever.

Trainer Bill Mott said War Like Goddess missed six days of training shortly after she ran second in the Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes here on Aug. 3. She has not worked back.

Mott said that depending how things go this week, War Like Goddess could be aimed at the Grade 2, $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs  Sept. 9 or the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Sept. 30.

Fri, 08/25/2023 - 13:48

Evvie Jets eyeing Grade 1 company

Barbara D. Livingston
Evvie Jets showed a new dimension, winning from off the pace in Thursday's Grade 2 Ballston Spa.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Evvie Jets, upset winner of Thursday’s Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga, may step into Grade 1 company next in the Grade 1, $750,000 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland Oct 7, trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci said Friday.

“I think she deserves to be there,” Kantarmaci said. “We can go early so she can get used to the place.”

Evvie Jets showed a new dimension in the Ballston Spa, rallying from 9 1/2-lengths off the pace and outfinishing Fluffy Socks to win by a head. Evvie Jets earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.

Thu, 08/24/2023 - 17:53

HISA conducting 'expanded' review of Saratoga fatalities

Debra A. Roma
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is conducting a review of the records of horses that have died at Saratoga Racecourse this year.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has been conducting an “expanded” review of the records of horses that have died at Saratoga Racecourse this year and will share the results of the review publicly, the organization said Thursday.

Thu, 08/24/2023 - 15:10

Large field coming together for Pacific Classic

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Haskell winner Geaux Rocket Ride is expected to make his first start against older rivals and first at 1 1/4 miles in the Pacific Classic for trainer Richard Mandella.

Piroli went from a career-best performance when second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 29 to the worst luck of his career when he finished a troubled fourth in an allowance race at Del Mar on July 30.

The allowance race served as a prep for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2, even though the three-length loss was more eventful than trainer Michael McCarthy would have preferred.

After stumbling at the start, Piroli closed from last of nine with a sustained wide run.

Thu, 08/24/2023 - 13:48

Saez will be out three to five weeks

Barbara D. Livingston
Luis Saez was aboard Burning Bright, shown early during the running of the John's Call, when that horse suffered a cardiovascular event in the race and fell heavily.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The hope is jockey Luis Saez will miss only three to five weeks after suffering a dislocated right collarbone and fractured left wrist as the result of a spill in which he was involved during the running of Wednesday’s $135,000 John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga, according to his agent, Kiaran McLaughlin.

Saez will not need to undergo surgery, McLaughlin said.

Thu, 08/24/2023 - 08:23

Prat replaces Saez on Mage for Travers

Flavien Prat,Flavien at SAR July 15 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Flavien Prat has won three Grade 1 races at this year's Saratoga meet and is tied for fifth in the Jockey standings.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Flavien Prat will ride Mage in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, according to part-owner Ramiro Restrepo.

Prat replaces Luis Saez, who suffered a dislocated right collarbone and a fractured wrist during the running of Wednesday’s $135,000 John’s Call Stakes. Saez rode Burning Bright, who suffered a fatal cardiovascular collapse entering the first turn of the turf race, unseating Saez.

Wed, 08/23/2023 - 20:41

Saez has dislocated collarbone; will not ride Mage in Travers

Mage.Luis Saez. post parade.Florida Derby April 1 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Luis Saez, shown aboard Mage prior to the Florida Derby, was injured when his mount suffered a fatal cardiac incident during the John's Call Stakes, crashed through the temporary rail on the outer turf course, flipped over the bushes, and landed on the inner turf course.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Luis Saez suffered a dislocated right collarbone and slight fracture of his left wrist as the result of a spill in which he was involved during the running of Wednesday’s $135,000 John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga, according to his agent Kiaran McLaughlin.

It was not immediately known how much time he will miss.

Saez had been booked to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mage in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, but will definitely miss that assignment. Flavien Prat has been named as Saez's replacement aboard Mage.

Wed, 08/23/2023 - 16:13

Ballerina among four Grade 1 stakes on Travers undercard

Goodnight Olive, last year's champion female sprinter, will be a heavy favorite to stretch her win streak to eight in the Derby City Distaff on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Barbara Livingston
Goodnight Olive makes her first start since her win in the Bed o' Roses in June at Belmont Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Eclipse Award winners Goodnight Olive and Echo Zulu, who finished first and second in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, will square off again in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, among the highlights of the Travers Day undercard.

Echo Zulu, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2021, has won eight of 10 career starts. She comes in off a monster 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap here on July 26 for which she earned a career-best 112 Beyer Speed Figure.

Wed, 08/23/2023 - 15:25

Canterbury cancels due to excessive heat

Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., has canceled the race card scheduled for tonight due to higher than forecasted temperatures, the track said just hours before first post.

Canterbury had already pushed the first post for the eight-race card from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. because of an excessive heat forecast, but conditions worsened in the afternoon. The track said in a release that the new forecasts "could make racing dangerous to both horses and people that work outdoors.”