ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – On Arlington Million Day 2012, Anne Smith was galloping horses and working as an assistant to trainer Austin Smith. Armando de la Cerda was employed as an assistant to trainer Brian Williamson. One year later, Smith and de la Cerda not only have become head trainers, but both have horses pre-entered in Million Day races: De la Cerda runs La Tia in the Beverly D., while Smith will saddle Nates Mineshaft in the Million itself.
DEL MAR, Calif. – It is becoming Del Mar tradition – no one hits the pick six on Sunday, and the racing week begins with a jackpot on Wednesday.
The fourth consecutive Sunday-to-Wednesday carryover is up for grabs this week – a $255,708 carryover expected to attract more than $1.4 million in new pick-six wagers.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There are three graded stakes winners entered in Wednesday’s $100,000 Stroll Stakes at Saratoga, but the depth of the field is such that none of the trio has to necessarily win.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Pick six carryovers and larger field sizes than last year have translated into strong business for Del Mar as the track passes the midpoint of the season with increases in both overall and ontrack handle through Sunday, encompassing the first four weeks of the meet.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While wine usually gets better with age, racehorses generally do not, especially those who have already passed their sixth and seventh birthdays. One exception to that rule is Strong Impact, a 7-year-old gelding who is currently in the best form of his career.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Chris DeCarlo should come to Saratoga more often.
Despite not having ridden here in 10 years, DeCarlo had little trouble finding the Saratoga winner’s circle after guiding Jewel of a Cat to a come-from-behind, upset victory over the odds-on Magical Moon in Monday’s $98,000 Coronation Cup.
DeCarlo, who is based during the summer at Monmouth Park, knows Jewel of a Cat well, having ridden her to two previous victories, including a score in the Stormy Blues Stakes at Pimlico in April.
There will be big doings at California’s smallest racing fair, the Humboldt County Fair, which opens its eight-day run Wednesday in the Victorian village of Ferndale.
On hand for opening day will be Russell Baze, the all-time leading rider in the North America. Baze, who will be at Ferndale for the first time, will not ride but will take part in a prerace meet-and-greet with fans hosted by track announcer Frank Mirahmadi.
Golden Gate Fields announcer Michael Wrona will join Baze and Mirahmadi. Baze and Wrona will be available for photos and autographs.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro is hoping Nate Smith will replace Fernando Perez aboard Smart Promotion for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. Perez is reportedly out for a few weeks after cracking a couple of ribs when he went down in a spill Friday night.
“Nate was there when I needed him at Turf Paradise, and I think he would suit the horse perfectly,” Diodoro said. “I would like to see him ride the horse, but I’ll leave the final decision to his owners.”
STANTON, Del. – Brujo de Olleros, a rallying second in the $100,000 Donald Levine Memorial Handicap at Parx in his only 2013 start, tries a slightly easier level on Wednesday at Delaware Park when he heads a field of nine 3-year-olds and up in the $50,000 Carl Hanford Memorial Stakes at one mile and 70 yards.
Under the allowance conditions of the race, Brujo de Olleros will carry 119 pounds and will be ridden by Alex Cintron.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Midnight Lucky, winner of the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park earlier this year, will not race again as a 3-year-old owing to bone bruising, her trainer, Bob Baffert, said Monday morning.
“She got jammed up, wasn’t moving right,” Baffert said.
