SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The turf courses at Saratoga had been favoring speed for more than a week in part because of the firmness of the ground caused by a lack of rain.
That was going to suit Silver Max just fine for Saturday’s Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap.
But then the unfathomable happened. It rained. Was trainer Dale Romans fearful that might change things for Silver Max, the apparent lone speed in the 1 1/16-mile turf race?
Angelica Zapata picked up the seventh stakes win of her career Saturday at Gulfstream Park, when she finished with authority in the $100,000 Wasted Tears. She won by 1 1/4 lengths over Ann of the Dance, while it was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Team.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The aptly-named Youcan’tcatchme led all the way to notch her second straight stakes Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $156,900 Seaway.
Youcan’tcatchme ($6.40) set slow fractions in the seven-furlong sprint, while being pressed by Nikkis Smartypants. Favored Roxy Gap took up the chase early in the stretch, but Youcan’tcatchme drew clear in the last eighth to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths, in 1:22.95.
Justin Stein rode Youcan’tcatchme for owner Murray Stroud and trainer Sam DiPasquale.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Last year, trainer Shug McGaughey unveiled a good-looking 2-year-old who rallied from out of the clouds to finish a good third in his debut. That horse, Orb, would go on to win this year’s Kentucky Derby.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In an era when horsemen prefer more time between races, a trio of 2-year-olds will be making their third start of the 40-day meet in an intriguing renewal of the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on Monday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Holy Lute, who won his stakes debut in Friday’s $100,500 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar, will get a class test this fall.
Trainer Jim Cassidy said the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November could be on the schedule for the 3-year-old Holy Lute, who made his third start Friday. A potential prep race would be the $150,000 City of Hope Stakes over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 5.
Lunar Rock launched his 3-year-old campaign by finishing third in a pair of stakes in Maryland. Whiskey Rebellion most recently won going a two-turn mile in Ohio.
Both horses have little or no experience racing on synthetic surfaces, however, and will try to transfer their dirt form to the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs while cutting back sharply in distance for Tuesday’s $37,000 feature.
The good news for Ben’s Cat is that he is the two-time defending champion in the $350,000 Turf Monster at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.
The very good news, as far as King Leatherbury is concerned, is that the 7-year-old gelding has never been better.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Alan Goldberg said he will put Tannery on the road leaving Colts Neck, N.J., at 6 a.m. Monday with the hopes he won’t be turning the van around and bringing her back home long before she is scheduled to go off as the likely favorite later that afternoon at Saratoga in the $150,000 Glen Falls Stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Laughing Falcon turns back off a disappointing route try Monday at Woodbine in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Inglorious, a six-furlong overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Laughing Falcon won her first three starts on the lead, all in sprints, most notably the seven-furlong Passing Mood Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies on the grass.
Laughing Falcon switched to the Polytrack on Aug. 5 for the restricted Eternal Search Stakes, in which she set moderate fractions going 1 1/16 miles before tiring to finish a distant fourth.
