Sat, 08/31/2013 - 13:20

Will Take Charge's jockey accused by rival trainer of using electrical device in Travers

Barbara D. Livingtston
Will Take Charge (left) edges Moreno at the wire of the Travers Stakes. Moreno's connections have accused Will Take Charge's jockey, Luis Saez, of using an electronic device during the race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The connections of Travers second-place finisher Moreno filed a complaint Friday with the New York State Gaming Commission alleging that Luis Saez, the rider of Travers winner Will Take Charge, used an electrical device on his horse during the running of the race.

Will Take Charge got up in the final jump of the Travers to beat Moreno by a nose.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 11:03

Finger Lakes: Fox Rox a maiden but morning-line favorite in Aspirant

A dozen years ago, trainer M. Anthony Ferraro and his client Langpap Stables had a New York-bred 2-year-old filly who began her career at Saratoga and successfully challenged males in the six-furlong Aspirant at Finger Lakes. On Monday, Ferraro and Langpap Stables will try to duplicate what the filly Shesastonecoldfox did in 2001 when they send out her 2-year-old son Fox Rox in the $120,925 Aspirant for New York-bred colts and geldings.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 10:51

Delaware Park: Irish Sonnet Stakes gives entire field a two-turn test

Eight 2-year-old fillies, all stretching out around two turns for the first time, will run a mile on the main track in Monday’s $50,000 Irish Sonnet Stakes at Delaware Park.

Southwest Lady, part of a coupled entry for trainer Ricky Griffith, is the lone two-time winner in the field. She most recently scored by 2 1/2 lengths over a sloppy track on Aug. 22.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 09:01

Remington Park: Ruby's Edge leads throughout in Ricks Memorial

Rudy’s Edge took quick command of the $50,000 Ricks Memorial at Remington Park on Friday night and never looked back for a length and a half win over favorite Satin Gold. It was another two lengths back in third to Bluegrass Sapphire.

Rudy’s Edge ($34.20) moved to the lead at the start of the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares, and raced clear through fractions of 23.76 for the opening quarter, 47.67 for the half-mile and 1:11.76 for six furlongs. She rebuffed challengers in the stretch, then sprinted home to cover the distance on firm ground in 1:35.12.

Sat, 08/31/2013 - 00:00

Monmouth: Indian Spell scores at 16-1 in four-horse Miss Woodford

Aubrey Therkelsen/EQUI-PHOTO
Indian Spell, with Gabriel Saez aboard, holds off the late charge of Fully Living to win the Miss Woodford.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The old racetrack wisdom about backing the longest shot in a short field paid off handsomely on Saturday at Monmouth Park in the $58,200 Miss Woodford Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters.

Indian Spell, the 16-1 outsider against three rivals priced 6-5 to 8-5, pulled the upset by a head over Fully Living.

Ju Ju Eyeballs, winner of five straight including the Crank It Up and Just Smashing stakes here, was the favorite and pressed the pacesetting Indian Spell on the turn.

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 22:08

Del Mar: Holy Lute confirms potential in El Cajon

DEL MAR, Calif. - Holy Lute won his stakes debut in Friday’s $100,500 El Cajon Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar, confirming an opinion that trainer Jim Cassidy has held about the colt for two years.

Ridden by David Flores, Holy Lute ($15) closed from fourth in a field of seven to win the one-mile race by a head over 6-5 favorite Fury Kapcori. Holy Lute was timed in 1:35.38.

“I’ve liked this horse since I bought him as a yearling,” Cassidy said. “He got hurt last year and I had to stop on him.”

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 19:12

Saratoga: Midnight Watch wires in Riskaverse

Barbara D. Livingston
Midnight Watch, with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, takes the Riskaverse by a length.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Put the fastest horse in the race on a speed-favoring turf course for one of the hottest barns on the grounds, and the outcome should be fairly obvious. And sure enough, so it was in Friday’s $100,000 Riskaverse with the 2-1 favorite Midnight Watch leading throughout to post a one-length victory over Teen Pauline in the feature event on the lone twilight card of the 2013 Saratoga meeting.

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 17:36

Saratoga: Saginaw euthanized after fracturing sesamoids

Tom Keyser
Saginaw was euthanized Friday after fracturing both sesamoids in his left foreleg during the running of the third race at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer David Jacobson stood a few yards away from where Saginaw was standing in his stall, munching on his hay rack as veterinarians performed X-rays on the gelding’s injured left foreleg.

“I can’t believe we’re standing here,” Jacobson said. “I thought we’d be back here after standing in the winner’s circle.”

A few minutes later disbelief turned to despair when Jacobson was told that Saginaw had fractured both sesamoid bones in his left ankle. Jacobson was advised that Saginaw, a 7-year-old gelding, would have to be euthanized.

Fri, 08/30/2013 - 17:15

Del Mar notes: Dance With Fate to get test in Futurity

Shigeki Kikkawa
Dance With Fate had a troubled debut last month at Betfair Hollywood Park, but rebounded Sunday for his maiden victory.

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DEL MAR, Calif. - After an eighth-place finish in his debut in July and a stylish win Aug. 11, Dance With Fate will start in Wednesday’s $300,000 Del Mar Futurity with high expectations.

But the extent of his ability is still largely an unknown to trainer Peter Eurton.

“They are all so young, and no one knows who is who,” he said of the prospects for the Del Mar Futurity in general. “I feel good about the way he’s training.