SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Gary Sciacca counts himself as one of Saginaw’s biggest fans. On Thursday, however, Sciacca will have to put his pom-poms away when he sends out Saratoga Snacks against Saginaw in the 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 John Morrissey Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga.
Stewards at Fairmount Park are reportedly looking into a race last Tuesday at the southern Illinois track to determine if other riders in the race may have tried to allow 70-year-old R.A. “Cowboy” Jones to win the race. One steward, Patrick Bovenzi, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that their probe is “still in its investigatory stage.”
All-sources handle is up while ontrack business is down through the first quarter of the Saratoga meet, according to figures compiled by Daily Racing Form .
Through the first 10 days of the 40-day meet, all-sources handle is $146,904,102, up 2.8 percent compared to the 2012 figure of $142,857,233.
Ontrack handle is $27,320,792, down 5.6 percent from the $28,941,361 wagered over the corresponding 10 days in 2012.
Total attendance through the first 10 days is 193,235, down 5.1 percent from the 203,780 who came through the turnstiles in 2012.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse's four-horse contingent for Tuesday's $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes has been cut in half, as neither Dynamic Sky nor Spring in the Air made the trip from Woodbine to Fort Erie on Tuesday morning.
"Dynamic Sky had a little issue pop up yesterday – not a big one, but it was bad timing," Casse said. "Hopefully, he's already better today, but we're just going to give him a few days off and hopefully aim for the Breeders' [Stakes]. We're saving Spring in the Air for the Wonder Where [Stakes]."
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After reeling off three consecutive one-sided stakes victories, Dance to Bristol finally had to work for her money, overcoming a tough trip before gamely running down the pacesetting Classic Point to register a well-earned three-quarter-length decision in Monday’s $200,000 Honorable Miss at Saratoga.
Dance to Bristol, a bargain $42,000 purchase at 2, had won her last three starts by a combined 16 1/2 lengths, a string of stakes wins that included a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 3 Bed O’ Roses Handicap last month at Belmont Park.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As if trainer Todd Pletcher’s arsenal wasn’t strong enough already, he’s also got two more of his big guns, Graydar and Shanghai Bobby, back on the work tab and getting ready to launch their comebacks later this season.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The $100,000 purse of the Graduation Stakes pales compared with the $1.5 million expected to be wagered Wednesday in the Del Mar pick six.
A $261,359 carryover is up for grabs on races 3-8, and bettors holding live tickets into the final two legs will find no easy spots in the race-7 feature.
The desired meeting between the three winners of this year’s Triple Crown races in the $1 million Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 24 is in jeopardy after Preakness winner Oxbow emerged from Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational with a wrenched right front ankle.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fort Larned carried 117 pounds when he picked up his first Grade 1 win in the 2012 Whitney. He returns to defend that title here Saturday under high weight of 122 pounds, an assignment he earned with a résumé that now features three Grade 1 triumphs, including his victory over Mucho Macho Man in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Include Me Out looks like she’s all set to defend her title in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar. On Monday, she worked a half-mile in 46.80 seconds under regular rider Joe Talamo, and while the time equaled the fastest of 47 at the distance, she did it effortlessly.
