Fri, 08/11/2023 - 14:15

Shirreffs looking for new rider for Skinner

Debra A. Roma

Skinner will get a new rider of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, as jockey Mike Smith will opt to ride Haskell winner Geaux Rocket Ride.

There is a job opening at trainer John Shirreffs’ barn at Del Mar.

Shirreffs need a rider for his leading 3-year-old Skinner, who is scheduled to have his debut against older horses in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 2.

Earlier this summer, Shirreffs had considered Skinner for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes for 3-year-olds at Saratoga Aug. 26, but has opted to remain in California.

“This introduces him to older horses,” Shirreffs said.

The Pacific Classic is California’s leading annual race for 3-year-olds and older at 1 1/4 miles.

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 13:45

Angel of Empire off for remainder of the year, will return in 2024

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Angel of Empire was third in the July 29 Jim Dandy in his last start.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Angel of Empire, the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner who finished third as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, will get the remainder of the year off and point to a 4-year-old campaign, trainer Brad Cox said Friday.

Cox said that after training Angel of Empire for a week following his third-place finish in the Jim Dandy, the horse gave indications he was in need of a freshening.

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 13:40

Mage turns in strong six-furlong work for Travers

By David Grening

Mage, working last week at Saratoga, went six furlongs in 1:12.98 Friday morning.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby winner Mage turned in a strong six-furlong workout Friday morning over Saratoga’s main track as he continues his preparation for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.

With exercise rider in J.J. Delgado in the saddle, Mage went six furlongs in 1:12.98. Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch timed Mage in 24.18 seconds for the opening quarter, 36.13 for three furlongs, 48.44 for half-mile, and got him going his last quarter in 24.54. Mage continued out in 1:26.31 for seven furlongs and 1:40.66 for a mile.

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 11:25

Elysian Field, Wickenheiser look to add to storied history of fillies in King's Plate

By Ron Gierkink

Julie Wright

Elysian Field, a 2 1/4-length winner of the Woodbine Oaks, will seek to become the 39th filly to win the King’s/Queen’s Plate when that fixture is run on Aug. 20.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Northernette endured a heartbreaking loss in the 1977 Queen’s Plate when she was run down in deep stretch over a very sloppy track to finish second to Sound Reason in her third start in three weeks. A week earlier, she had won the Canadian Oaks convincingly, and the quick comeback had to have taken its toll on the gifted Northern Dancer filly.

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 16:41

Pletcher works Forte, Tapit Trice in company for Travers

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Forte (left) and Tapit Trice work Thursday morning over the Saratoga main track, getting a half-mile in 48.61.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Stablemates Forte and Tapit Trice worked a half-mile together Thursday morning in 48.61 seconds over Saratoga’s main track as both prepare for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.

With Forte on the outside under Irad Ortiz Jr., the pair went their first quarter in 24.61 seconds, their final quarter in 24.00, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.87, six furlongs in 1:14.51, and seven furlongs in 1:27.21.

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 14:05

Rispoli riding well, eyes Del Mar riding title

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Umberto Rispoli's biggest victory of the current Del Mar meet came aboard Anisette in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes.

Through Sunday, about a third of the way through the Del Mar summer meeting, jockey Umberto Rispoli was in first-place in a category he would have preferred to avoid.

Rispoli led all riders with 16 second-place finishes, and ranked third overall with 12 wins. Juan Hernandez was first in the standings with 15 wins, and four second-place finishes, while Hector Berrios had 13 wins and six seconds.

“We have a lot of seconds,” Rispolli reflected on Thursday morning after training hours.

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 13:25

Ward, Orseno hoping weather cooperates for Galway Stakes

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Love Reigns, trained by Wesley Ward, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $150,000 Galway Stakes at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After having his first opportunity to start Love Reigns over the turf this summer at Saratoga washed away when the Coronation Cup was switched to the main track on the second day of the meet, trainer Wesley Ward is hoping history won’t repeat itself when he tries to bring her back here again as the heavy favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 Galway Stakes.

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 12:39

Horseshoe Indianapolis to show DRF Formulator Projected Odds on simulcast

By DRF Staff

DRF Formulator Projected Odds will be displayed for Horseshoe Indianapolis races, starting Thursday.

Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Indiana, will begin to show projected win odds for each horse in a race beginning with the second race at the track on Thursday. The enhancement will be provided by DRF Formulator Projected Odds, a technology developed by Daily Racing Form and available on its digital past performance products.

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 10:10

New faces join Remington Park jockey colony

By Mary Rampellini

Jockeys Isaac Castillo, Luis Fuentes, and Harry Hernandez are among the new faces set to base at the Remington Park meet that opens Aug. 18. Entries for the first card of the season are being taken Thursday.

Castillo is coming in from Monmouth Park at the request of Remington’s all-time leading owner, Danny Caldwell, said agent Dylan Fazio.

“Danny Caldwell always supported us at Oaklawn and he wanted us to come down there,” Fazio said Tuesday. “We rode the last five or six days of the meet there last year and we did well."

Wed, 08/09/2023 - 17:26

Power outage cancels Saratoga race

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Horses from Wednesday's fifth race at Saratoga return to the paddock after a power outage. The race was eventually canceled, and the card resumed with the sixth race when power was restored.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — A power outage as the result of a downed tree limb not far from the track forced the cancellation of Wednesday’s fifth race at Saratoga, continuing a trend of unfortunate circumstances that have plagued the first half of this meet.

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