SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Following Princess of Sylmar’s victory in Saturday’s Alabama Stakes, trainer Todd Pletcher has won 11 stakes, including three Grade 1 scores, from his 27 winners at the 2013 Saratoga meet.
And the best may be yet to come.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was business as usual at trainer Chad Brown’s barn Sunday morning, less than 12 hours after his team celebrated not one but two Grade 1 victories Saturday, with Big Blue Kitten at Saratoga in the Sword Dancer Invitational and Real Solution, who won the Arlington Million via the disqualification of The Apache.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Sweet Lulu is unbeaten, and she’s about to be tested.
The winner of all three of her starts in impression fashion, Sweet Lulu will make her stakes debut against Grade 1 company in the $500,000 Test on Saturday at Saratoga, according to her trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer.
Prayer for Relief edged a resurgent Worldly by a head to win the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Saturday night, earning a $15,000 bonus from the track’s parent company, Global Gaming.
Prayer for Relief was the lone horse eligible for the bonus by virtue of his participation in three designated races run between Remington and its sister track, Lone Star Park near Dallas. It is to be split equally by his owner, Zayat Stables, and trainer, Steve Asmussen.
Lucy’s Bob Boy rebounded nicely from his first loss of the season by romping to a 5 1/4-length victory in Saturday night’s $50,000 Frank Gall Memorial for West Virginia-breds at Charles Town.
Ridden by Gustavo Larrosa for trainer Sandra Dono and owner Michael Furr, the 4-year-old Lucy’s Bob Boy ($2.20) led comfortably from start to finish and completed seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.14. He is now 14 for 18 lifetime with earnings of $536,030.
Golden Set finished second, two lengths in front of Son of a Bear.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There is a pick six carryover of $189,822 for Sunday’s 10-race program at Del Mar.
With one exception, bettors will sort through large fields in Sunday’s pick six, which covers the fifth through 10th races on a program that starts at 2 p.m. Pacific.
The fifth race is an optional claimer over a mile on turf. Midnight Crooner was scratched on Saturday, leaving 11 runners. The race will have a safety limit of 10 starters. Stoney Fleece remained on the also-eligible list overnight. The final field will be announced on Sunday morning.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Discreet Marq proved she is more than just a front-running filly in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks. She is equally dangerous when given a target.
Making her first start in a Grade 1, Discreet Marq closed from third in a field of 10 to win the Del Mar Oaks by three-quarters of a length over a determined Wishing Gate. The Del Mar Oaks was Discreet Marq’s third consecutive win and the most prestigious of her 10-race career.
The Del Mar Oaks marked the first time Discreet Marq had won by running from off the pace.
Broadway Empire left little doubt that he is the best 3-year-old in western Canada with a three-length win over Reporting Star in the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Saturday.
He paid $5 as the heavy favorite in the 12-horse field of 3-year-olds going 1 3/8 miles.
Bon Accord put up the fastest qualifying time for the Grade 1, $2.8 million All American Derby for Quarter Horses on Saturday, when he upset the win-streaking Wicked Courage in the ninth of 10 trials held at Ruidoso Downs. The finale is Sept. 1.
Jockey Mark Guidry won four of the eight stakes that made up the $570,000 Louisiana Cup program at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, among his winners Skip the Pinot in the $75,000 Derby. The horse may now come under consideration for next month’s Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby after his dominant, 4 ½-length romp over Johnny Handsome.
Skip the Pinot’s win was a highlight on the day, while String King also put on a show when he won the $100,000 Turf Classic.
