Tue, 08/22/2023 - 18:32

Antonucci thinks layoff will suit Arcangelo just fine in Travers

Barbara D. Livingston

Arcangelo will be making his first start since the Belmont in the Travers, having the skipped the traditional 1 1/8-mile preps for the race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- When Forte ran in the Belmont Stakes off a 10-week layoff, it was hardly by design. The 2-year-old champion of 2022 was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby and Preakness due to a bruised foot, meaning the Belmont was his first start since the April 1 Florida Derby. He finished a game second.

When Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo runs in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga -- meeting Forte, Kentucky Derby Mage, Preakness winner National Treasure and three others -- he will do so off an 11-week layoff.

Tue, 08/22/2023 - 13:55

Yates mulling next move for his top sprinter Dean Delivers

By Mary Rampellini

Dean Delivers wins Smile Sprint at GO July 1 2023

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

Dean Delivers has the two highest Beyers at the Royal Palm meet, including the 100 he earned for this victory in the Smile on July 1.

Dean Delivers is getting a little breather while his connections start to think about what race might serve as his bridge to a potential start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

The Florida-bred last raced July 29 and finished third behind champion Elite Power and Gunite in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga. Dean Delivers has since returned home to Florida.

Tue, 08/22/2023 - 12:20

Top King's Plate finishers moving on to Prince of Wales

By Ron Gierkink

Julie Wright

Mark Casse may run three horses in the Prince of Wales on Sept. 12 - King's Plate winner Paramount Prince (above), runner-up Elysian Field, and Stayhonor Goodside.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The top four or five finishers from Sunday’s King’s Plate at Woodbine could all contest the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Trainer Mark Casse could run the top two finishers in the $1 million Plate, Paramount Prince and Elysian Field, along with stakes-placed Stayhonor Goodside, who bypassed the Plate, a 1 1/4-mile Tapeta stakes.

“I’m looking at running the three of them,” said Casse, who has won the Prince of Wales four times.

Tue, 08/22/2023 - 11:58

Ellis moves Friday card to Monday due to heat wave

By Matt Hegarty

Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., has moved the entirety of its Friday card to Monday due to the heat wave throttling the Midwest, the track announced Tuesday, a decision that also will shift all of its meet-ending mandatory payouts to the new card.

The Friday card, which was already drawn, includes nine races. First post will be 11:45 a.m. Central on Monday.

Tue, 08/22/2023 - 08:58

Strong Promise shows promise, but Gelner will be patient

By Mary Rampellini

Ann Switalski/Hodges Photography

Strong Promise takes the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Aug. 5 at Louisiana Downs.

The heat wave that continues to grip the Southwest will dictate the schedule for the undefeated 2-year-old Strong Promise, who won the second stakes race of his career in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs.

Strong Promise was a 2 1/2-length winner of the sprint for Louisiana-breds on Aug. 5. For the effort, he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 73. The son of Broken Vow races for Norman Stables and is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning sprinter Midnight Fantasy.

Mon, 08/21/2023 - 14:17

Horseshoe Indianapolis adjusts Wednesday post times, moves Thursday card due to heat

By Matt Hegarty

Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., has moved the post time for its first race on Wednesday to late morning and will shift its Thursday race card to Monday due to predictions of excessive heat in the Midwest later this week.

The first post on Wednesday will now be 10 a.m. Eastern, instead of 2:30 p.m., “to avoid the hottest parts of the day,” Horseshoe said in a press release. The Tuesday card is currently scheduled to go off as planned, with a first post of 2:30 p.m.

Mon, 08/21/2023 - 14:15

Travers: Saez pumped to get second chance aboard Mage

By David Grening

Mage.Luis Saez. post parade.Florida Derby April 1 2023

Barbara D. Livingston

In their one race together, Luis Saez and Mage finished second in the Florida Derby. Saez will be back aboard for Saturday’s Travers.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – To hear Luis Saez tell it, he was supposed to be on the lead when he rode Mage in the Grade 1 Florida Derby five months ago.

Instead, Mage broke slow and was last going into the first turn. That he ran so well – finishing second, beaten just one length by Forte – may have been the best thing to happen to Mage.

Five weeks later, Mage, with Javier Castellano aboard, rallied from 15th place to win the Kentucky Derby.

Mon, 08/21/2023 - 13:25

Travers matches Forte against winners of the three Triple Crown races

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

A minor injury forced Forte to miss the Derby and Preakness. He was at a distinct disadvantage when second in the Belmont but is ready for his best in the Travers.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A bruised foot kept Forte out of the Kentucky Derby and subsequently the Preakness. While he made it to the Belmont Stakes, it was asking a lot to win that 1 1/2-mile classic off a 10-week layoff.

That Forte was able to finish second only served to further validate him as an extremely talented horse.

Mon, 08/21/2023 - 12:55

Astronomer to test graded stakes

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Astronomer, who scored a massive upset on the 2021 Breeders' Cup undercard, has returned from injury and is eyeing graded stakes after an allowance win.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Astronomer is set for his graded stakes debut next month after winning for the first time in more than 21 months in a tough allowance race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

Astronomer ($45) raced close to a fast pace and won by a head over Goliad, finishing in 1:32.32. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Astronomer earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

The allowance race win was Astronomer’s second start of the year, preceded by a 10th-place finish in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf July 21.

Mon, 08/21/2023 - 12:55

Practical Move resumes workouts

By Steve Andersen

Debra A. Roma

Practical Move, who was a Kentucky Derby contender before being scratched a few days earlier, has started to resume workouts.

Practical Move, unraced since a win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April, has resumed workouts for a return to racing later this year.

On Saturday at Del Mar, Practical Move worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds. On Aug. 13, Practical Move had his first work of the summer, drilling three furlongs in 36.60 seconds.

Trained by Tim Yakteen for Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley, Practical Move was a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby May 6 before he was withdrawn two days before the race because of illness.

Subscribe to Track Notes