SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Javier Castellano got reacquainted with his Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo on Monday morning at Saratoga, guiding him through a five-furlong workout in 1:00.52 in preparation for what is expected to be his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.
The Saratoga main track was remarkably in good condition following heavy rains that hit Sunday and left the track a sea of slop during and after the races.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Winning the Grade 1 Diana Stakes continues to come easy for trainer Chad Brown. Figuring out what to do next with the winner is more of a challenge.
Whitebeam gave Brown his eighth Diana victory on Saturday, edging the Brown-trained and defending Diana winner In Italian by a nose. It was the second straight stakes victory for Whitebeam, first at 1 1/8 miles.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Casa Creed came out of his one-length victory over Annapolis in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso Stakes in good order and is tentatively pointing to the Grade 1 Fourstardave here on Aug. 12, his connections said Sunday.
If it is deemed the 7-year-old needs more time, then the back-up plan would be the Woodbine Mile on Sept. 16.
“It’s four weeks back to the Fourstardave, that could be a little quick back,” trainer Bill Mott said Sunday. “You’ll probably never know 'til you run him.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher is leaving his options open as it pertains to his sharp debut-winning 2-year-old Pirate, who earned a sharp Beyer Speed Figure for his three-length win at Saratoga on Saturday.
The Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 12 would mean running back in 27 days. The Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 4 would mean waiting 51 days to run him back.
“It’s going to depend on what he tells us,” Pletcher said. “We’ll breeze him back in two weeks and leave all the options open.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Nest, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022, completed preparations for her 4-year-old debut in next Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga by working a half-mile in 49.92 seconds Sunday morning over the Oklahoma training track.
This work can’t be judged alone on final time. It’s what Nest did after the wire that stood out. Nest galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.67 and six furlongs in 1:15.17 over a track rated good and a bit heavy from Sunday morning's rain.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Caravel, the leading female turf sprinter in the country, worked a half-mile in 48.90 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course as she prepares to meet males again in the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy Stakes on Aug. 5.
Caravel, who beat the boys in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, is coming off a win against males in the Grade 1 Jaipur at Belmont on June 10.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Disarm and Extra Anejo put in a strong five-furlong work early Saturday morning as they prepare for upcoming stakes in the 3-year-old division.
Disarm, pointing to the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy here July 29, and Extra Anejo, who will start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell on July 22, went five furlongs together in 1:00.61. They got their last quarter in 23.33 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.86 and seven furlongs in 1:27.61.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — On a Saturday morning when there were more than 350 recorded workouts at Saratoga, Cody’s Wish nearly had the Oklahoma training track to himself shortly after 9:30 a.m.
“It looked like at 7:30 everybody on the grounds worked, and not a lot of people work at 9:30,” trainer Bill Mott said.
Those who were at the Oklahoma training track got a treat as Cody’s Wish worked five furlongs in 1:00.00, in preparation for his next engagement in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes on Aug. 5.
Average daily handle at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet was $14,746,421, an increase of 9.7 percent over the 2022 meet average of $13,437,509, according to figures released Friday by the New York Racing Association.
All-sources handle for the meet was $560,363,986, down 5.2 percent from last year’s figure of $591,250,409.
The 2023 Belmont spring/summer meet was scheduled for 40 days, but only 38 cards were run as two programs were canceled due to unsafe air quality. The 2022 meet consisted of 44 cards of racing.
Turf, surf, and sunshine are the main themes when Del Mar opens its summer season on Friday, July 21. Four of the five opening-weekend stakes are on grass; below is an early preview.
Friday, July 21 is opening day; Del Mar’s traditional first-day feature is the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, a restricted race for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf. Phil D’Amato trains five of the 24 nominees including comeback stakes winner Classical Cat and stretch-sprint stakes winner Conclude. Stakes winner Game Time and improving allowance winner Escape Artist also are expected to start.
