SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Trainer Todd Pletcher believes Forte, his 2-year-old champion from a year ago, has become complacent.
In an effort to combat that, Pletcher will equip the multiple Grade 1 winner with blinkers when he runs in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
Charge It, winner of the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes, returned to the worktab Thursday, breezing a half-mile in 49.18 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. He is preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 5.
Far Bridge, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, also returned to the worktab Thursday, breezing a half-mile in 49.96 seconds in company with Al’s Rocket. Far Bridge is preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby on Aug. 5.
As if it wasn’t already easy to root for Mage in Saturday’s Haskell and throughout the remainder of his 3-year-old campaign, owner and managing partner Ramiro Restrepo, in conjunction with longtime South Florida-based owner-trainer Steve Dwoskin, has come up with another reason to cheer for this year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
The sale of Turf Paradise racetrack in Phoenix to a California commercial real-estate developer with a background in racing is not expected to close until the end of the year, leading to discussions among the current racetrack owner and the track’s horsemen over whether to hold live racing dates in 2023, according to the principals involved in the process.
Jose Ortiz will ride Drew’s Gold when the Grade 1 Woody Stephens runner-up starts in next Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.
Ortiz replaces Jose Gomez, who had ridden the horse to two of his four straight victories before he finished second to Arabian Lion in the Woody Stephens on June 10.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Maryquitecontrary had a five-race winning streak snapped when she finished second to champion Goodnight Olive in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in April.
Maryquitecontrary will try to start a new streak when she runs Wednesday in a short but solid renewal of the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap going six furlongs at Saratoga.
The Honorable Miss is the local prep for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap here Aug 26.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Grade 1 winner Played Hard will miss Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga after spiking a temperature earlier in the week, trainer Phil Bauer said Thursday.
The Shuvee, run on the main track at 1 1/8 miles, went with just four horses including Nest, the 3-year-old filly champion of 2022 who makes her seasonal debut in this spot, and the multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, who won the Shuvee last year.
Also entered were Pistol Liz Ablazen and Skratch Kat, the latter taking the place of Played Hard for Bauer.
Bango, who in his next outing at Churchill Downs will attempt to tie the mark as the winningest horse in the track’s recorded history, will resume that chase in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes on Sept. 16 when the Louisville track opens a short meet that month.
Red Baron’s Barn and Cohen’s Rancho Temescal have two stakes chances in the next month with Dr. Schivel and Quattroelle.
Dr. Schivel, fifth after a wide trip in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park June 10 in his 2023 stakes debut, will start as a leading contender in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on July 29.
Dr. Schivel was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the Met Mile and finished 8 3/4 lengths behind the stellar Cody’s Wish.
“He didn’t have the greatest ride in New York,” Cohen said.
When he flew through the stretch to win the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields in April 2022, Evening Sun appeared poised to play a key role in the competitive California turf miler division through the rest of that year.
An injury forced a pause to Evening’s Sun career, which is scheduled to resume in Sunday’s $100,000 Wickerr Stakes, a restricted race at a mile on turf at Del Mar. Trained by Jeff Mullins for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, the 6-year-old Evening Sun can reestablish a position among California’s turf milers with a sharp race in the Wickerr.
