Wed, 07/19/2023 - 13:50

Our Flash Drive making most of bonus year

Julie Wright

Our Flash Drive has won the Grade 3 Whimsical and Grade 2 Royal North at Woodbine to start her 2023 campaign. She runs in Saturday's Caress Stakes at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Mark Casse ran Our Flash Drive in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes last November at Woodbine, it was projected to be her last start.

When Our Flash Drive galloped to a 5 3/4-length victory, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure, Casse asked owner Charlotte Weber if he could run her one more year and Weber agreed.

Our Flash Drive, now 5, has rewarded that decision with two graded stakes victories this year and aims for a third in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Caress Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga.

Wed, 07/19/2023 - 13:42

BC Turf runner-up Stone Age has first workout for Brown

By David Grening

Barbara D. livingston

Stone Age is being pointed to a fall campaign that may include the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Stone Age, who finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf for trainer Aidan O’Brien, is now with Chad Brown and had his first local work Wednesday morning as he gears up for a fall campaign.

Stone Age went a half-mile in 50.42 seconds Wednesday morning over the Oklahoma turf course. Brown is hopeful it’s the first step toward a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 30.

Wed, 07/19/2023 - 13:35

Freshened Southlawn starts over in CCA Oaks

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Southlawn had a rough trip when 10th in the Kentucky Oaks. She begins the second half of her season in Saturday's CCA Oaks.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Based on her two victories to begin the year, including an eye-catching 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Southlawn was sent off the second choice in the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field in May.

After checking off heels entering the first turn and then racing five wide throughout, Southlawn was basically done by the top of the stretch, finishing 10th, 10 1/4 lengths behind Pretty Mischievous and Gambling Girl, who were a neck apart at the wire.

Wed, 07/19/2023 - 12:59

Russell Baze to receive Gomez award

By Ron Gierkink

Vasser Photography

Jockey Russell Baze, who retired in 2016, will receive the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award on Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jockey Russell Baze, who recorded 12,842 career wins, including 270 stakes, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.

The award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised, or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to Thoroughbred racing.

It is named in memory of one of the sport’s most successful and revered performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.

Wed, 07/19/2023 - 12:15

Arkansas Derby will be worth $1.5 million in 2024

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

The 2024 Oaklawn stakes schedule is worth $16.2 million. The purses of all of the meet's major 3-year-old stakes have been increased.

The Arkansas Derby purse has been elevated to $1.5 million in a move that puts its value on par with the most recent runnings of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

In addition to the Arkansas Derby, which last season was worth $1.25 million, all of the major 3-year-old races at the Hot Springs, Ark., track have had their purses increased for 2024.

The meet opens Dec. 8 and runs 66 dates through May 4 of next year.

Tue, 07/18/2023 - 16:54

Mage will run in Haskell

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Mage has had four published works since the Preakness, the most recent of which was last Friday, going six furlongs in 1:13.40.

After numerous discussions between trainer Gustavo Delgado and the ownership group, the decision was finally made late Tuesday afternoon to run Kentucky Derby winner Mage in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park.

Mage is scheduled to leave the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., for Monmouth Park at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. As reported earlier, Javier Castellano, who guided Mage to victory in the Derby, will be aboard again in the Haskell.

Tue, 07/18/2023 - 15:40

Dallas Keen retires as racing trainer

By Mary Rampellini

Barbara D. Livingston

Dallas Keen retires with 970 wins from 6,041 starts for stable earnings of $15.9 million.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Lone Star Park-based trainer Dallas Keen said earlier this month he was planning to bring a trio of horses to the Del Mar meet that opens Friday.

But he also said was not planning on sticking around.

Keen has retired from training Thoroughbreds – to work with retired Thoroughbreds.

Mon, 07/17/2023 - 15:45

Del Mar 2023: Juveniles to watch for at summer meet

By Brad Free

Tranche wins F-T Futurity at SA June 17 2023

Benoit Photo

Tranche is among the best 2-year-olds who have raced at Santa Anita. He impressed winning the five-furlong Fasig-Tipton Futurity by 7 1/4 lengths.

The first wave of California 2-year-olds arrived early at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, but the cream rises in summer at Del Mar. The 2023 season begins Friday, and many of the circuit’s most highly regarded prospects are nearing their career debuts.

Colts knocking on the door include Dr. Park (by Uncle Mo) and Heartland (Justify), siblings to juvenile champions Forte and Classic Empire, respectively. Miracle Mark (Constitution) is a precocious sibling to durable sprint champion Whitmore.

Mon, 07/17/2023 - 13:45

Antonacci goes 2 for 2 opening week

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Phil Antonacci won the final race of the day on opening day and also on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Phil Antonacci came to Saratoga having won just one race from 19 starters on the year. In a span of 48 hours, he won two races at the Spa, having taken the nightcap on both the opening-day and third-day programs.

Thundara, in from the also-eligible list, won a New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming race on Thursday. On Saturday, Monet Never rallied between horses to win a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint by a nose.

Antonacci noted that Monet Never got stepped on by another horse during a maiden race at Keeneland, prior to the race he won Friday.

Mon, 07/17/2023 - 13:40

Rain dampens opening-week betting at Saratoga

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

With rain impacting the Friday and Sunday cards, all-sources handle was down 22.6 percent from opening week in 2022.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mother Nature’s wrath had a significant impact on opening week business at Saratoga where all-sources handle was $82,353,291, down 22.6 percent from the $106,401,827 handled during opening week in 2022. Ontrack handle was $13,519,819, down 20.7 percent from the $17,062,482 handled in 2022.

Rain impacted the Friday and Sunday cards, forcing all eight scheduled turf races to the dirt. With 41 scratches, Friday’s 10-race card had 54 horses.

Subscribe to Track Notes