SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Julia Shining, away from the races since April, will most likely make her next start in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, as she tries to emulate what her big sister Malathaat did two years ago.
Trainer Todd Pletcher basically confirmed Julia Shining’s participation in the Alabama after she worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 Saturday morning over the main track. She worked in company with the maiden-winning 3-year-old colt Abadin.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Two horses were ordered scratched from Saratoga’s third race Friday because they last started in the Grade 3, $250,300 Robert G. Dick Memorial, a turf stakes at Delaware Park on July 1 from which the top two finishers suffered fatal breakdowns in their next starts, another horse was pulled up and vanned off, and a fourth horse was a vet scratch -- all in races at Saratoga.
The era of the 20-cent Rainbow pick six at Santa Anita is over.
The track is scheduled to introduce a $1 pick six for its autumn meeting, pending regulatory approval from the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday.
The $1 pick six will mirror a betting structure in place with the pick six until the autumn meeting of 2016. At the time, the bet had a $2 minimum.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
