Fri, 08/18/2023 - 14:52

Reincarnate to skip Travers, will start in Pennsylvania Derby instead

Debra A. Roma
Reincarnate will skip the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga, according to trainer Bob Baffert. The Los Alamitos Derby winner will instead head to the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Reincarnate, mentioned as likely starter for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes here Aug. 26, will skip that race and instead point for the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 23, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.

Baffert said he still intends to run Preakness winner National Treasure in the Travers.

“I’m going to split them up,” Baffert said. “They sort of have the same style. Reincarnate, he’s getting better, and better, but it’s a tough race.”

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 13:34

Denman, Toro to be honored at Del Mar

Benoit Photo
Race caller Trevor Denman will be honored alongside Hall of Fame jockey Fernando Toro between races at Del Mar on Saturday.

Race caller Trevor Denman and retired Hall of Fame jockey Fernando Toro will be honored in ceremonies between races at Del Mar on Saturday for their accomplishments in racing.

Denman, 70, is the 2023 recipient of the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award presented to people or organizations who have served racing with integrity, dedication and distinction.

The award has been presented to jockeys, trainers, owners, breeders, track officials, and horsemen’s organizations. The 2022 award was given to Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally.

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 13:34

Geaux Rocket Ride works for older horses try in Pacific Classic

Joe Labozzetta
Haskell winner Geaux Rocket Ride is prepping for his first try against older horses in the Pacific Classic.

Geaux Rocket Ride, winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park on July 22, continued major preparation for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2 with a seven-furlong workout in 1:25.40 on Friday.

Geaux Rocket Ride will be among the favorites in the $1 million Pacific Classic, which will be the colt’s first start against older horses and first start at 1 1/4 miles.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Geaux Rocket Ride worked alone under jockey Mike Smith, who has the mount in the Pacific Classic.

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 13:34

The Chosen Vron won't race before Breeders' Cup try

Benoit Photo
California sprinter The Chosen Vron, will get a break before a class test in the Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

The Chosen Vron, winner of his last eight starts since September including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar July 29, will not race again until the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said Friday.

After the Bing Crosby Stakes, Kruljac mentioned the possibility of starting The Chosen Vron in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs Sept. 30, but said on Friday that is no longer the plan.

“We’ll plan on going in fresh for the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “We’ve made that decision.”

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 16:01

Art Collector euthanized at age 6 due to laminitis

Barbara D. Livingston
Art Collector, pictured Aug. 5 at Saratoga, was euthanized Thursday after developing laminitis in all four feet.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Art Collector, a two-time Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $4.2 million, was euthanized Thursday after developing laminitis in all four feet, trainer Bill Mott said. He was 6 years old.

The news was first reported by Horse Racing Nation.

Mott said Art Collector first showed signs of an issue a couple of days after he worked five furlongs over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track on Aug. 5. What first appeared to be a foot abscess quickly developed into laminitis.

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 15:19

Hurricane Hilary may affect weekend racing at Del Mar

Barbara D. Livingston
It's very rare that weather cancels racing at Del Mar but the presence of Hurricane Hillary makes that a possibility for weekend racing in Southern California.

Hurricane Hilary, currently in the eastern Pacific off the coast of Mexico, could produce wet conditions that will affect Sunday’s racing program at Del Mar.

Weather forecasters are predicting the storm will advance north through Baja California and could bring widespread rain to the southwest of the United States, including Southern California.

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 15:19

Beholder filly, Tamara, ready for debut

It has been quite a month for the broodmare, and former champion, Beholder.

On Aug. 8, Beholder’s yearling by Curlin sold for $4 million to Amr Zedan at the Fasig-Tipton yearling sale in Saratoga, the most expensive hip of the prominent sale. The colt will be trained by Bob Baffert in 2024.

Attention will turn to the racetrack on Saturday when Beholder’s 2-year-old, the filly Tamara, has her career debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar.

Tamara was bred by Spendthrift Farm, who owns the Bolt d'Oro filly and consigned the Curlin yearling.

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 15:19

Evening Sun hopes to bounce back against stake experienced field

Emily Shields
Evening Sun had a troubled trip in the Wickerr Stakes and is looking to bounce back in a competitive allowance Saturday at Del Mar.

Evening Sun had such a dreadful trip in the $104,000 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar July 23 that trainer Jeff Mullins is uncertain what to expect from the 6-year-old gelding in a competitive allowance race at a mile on turf on Saturday.

Evening Sun finished 10th by 5 1/4 lengths in the Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf. Ridden by Hector Berrios, Evening Sun was difficult to handle on the backstretch and raced in traffic in the stretch, losing all chance.

Wed, 08/16/2023 - 13:45

Brown enters four in Lake Placid

Surge Capacity beats stablemate Tax Implications in Lake George at SAR July 21 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Surge Capacity and Tax Implications ran one-two for Chad Brown in the Lake George. They are two of his four entrants in the Lake Placid.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Surge Capacity and Tax Implications, who ran one-two in the Grade 3 Lake George here on July 31, along with Aspray and Prerequisite give trainer Chad Brown four of the eight runners entered for turf in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid Stakes over 1 1/16 miles.

Aspray won the Hilltop at Pimlico before finishing fourth in the Belmont Oaks. Prerequisite ran second in the Belmont Oaks after winning the Grade 2 Wonder Again.

Wed, 08/16/2023 - 13:45

Sacred Wish takes another crack at Wet Paint in 10-horse Alabama

Wet Paint (left) beats Sacred Wish in CCA Oaks at SAR July 22 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Wet Paint (left) beat Sacred Wish by a neck in the CCA Oaks. They will meet again in the Alabama.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After just missing pulling off a 10-1 upset in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here on July 22, Sacred Wish will come back for another upset bid when she meets Wet Paint and eight others in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles.