SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It took a little longer than trainer Chad Brown had hoped, but Watsdachances has finally returned to the form that made her a multiple stakes-winning 2-year-old last year.
Coming off her best performance of the season in the Grade 2 Lake George last month, Watsdachances looks poised to return to the winner’s circle in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.
Champion Groupie Doll, upset in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes at Ellis Park when third in her seasonal bow, remains on track for her scheduled fall campaign, trainer Buff Bradley said Friday.
She resumed training Thursday, and Bradley said he was pleased with her training both Thursday and Friday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Unusual Hottie’s perfect record in 2013 ended when she finished second behind Closing Range in the Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar on July 20. Unusual Hottie made her customary run from off the pace, led in deep stretch, but was beaten a neck.
“I think she got caught off guard,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “I think she thought the job was done.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association says the best way for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to increase gaming revenue is to continue using Ontario’s racetracks for enhanced gaming opportunities.
The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association released a 21-page report Friday in response to the Ontario Racing Industry Panel’s interim report on the future of horse racing in Ontario.
The panel, appointed by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, released its interim report in June and its final report is due in October.
DEL MAR, Calif. - In 2011 and 2012, jockey Chantal Sutherland-Kruse rode Game On Dude 10 times, winning five Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes, including the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Richard’s Kid revived his career with a gutty win in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar on July 26. Had Richard’s Kid lost, a start in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes on Aug. 25 would have been illogical, according to trainer Doug O’Neill.
“He had to win that,” O’Neill said. “We wanted to see it for it to make sense.”
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Defending champion San Pablo returns to Monmouth Park on Sunday to find a well-balanced, competitive field awaiting him in the Grade 3, $150,000 Phillip H. Iselin Stakes.
The 1 1/8-mile race drew a field of eight, including the duo of San Pablo and Percussion from trainer Todd Pletcher.
Pletcher indicated Friday that only San Pablo will go.
Chad Brown also entered a pair and is leaning toward running both: Last Gunfighter and Jaguar Paw.
All runners are separate betting interests.
AUBURN, Wash. – The Grade 3 Longacres Mile, once dominated by the home team, will have a touristy feel for its 78th renewal Sunday at Emerald Downs. Each of three leading contenders has arrived at Emerald only recently, with the likely favorite, Politicallycorrect, making a roundabout journey from upstate New York to compete for his Kentucky connections in the richest race in the Pacific Northwest.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Go for Guinness took a huge step forward when he won the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay for British Columbia-breds on Aug. 5. If he continues his progress in Sunday’s $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial at Hastings, he’ll head into the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 8 as one of the favorites.
Sharing the spotlight on Sunday’s eight-race card is the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club for 3-year-old fillies, which serves as the final prep for the $100,000 B.C. Oaks, also on Sept. 8.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — It’s nice when a trainer can use a $150,000 stakes race not only as a prep for bigger and better things, but also to teach his horse a thing or two along the way. Such was the case Friday at Saratoga, where trainer Chad Brown sent out his Grade 1 winner Dayatthespa to a comfortable 1 3/4-length decision over Wholelottashakin in the Yaddo Stakes.
