Mon, 08/14/2023 - 12:50

Cedillo to miss rest of Del Mar meet

Benoit Photo

Abel Cedillo will miss the rest of the Del Mar meet, as he continues to heal from a hand injury.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Abel Cedillo, who sustained a neck injury in a spill July 23 at Del Mar, said Sunday that does not expect to return to riding before the end of the current Del Mar meeting on Sept. 10.

Cedillo said he plans to meet with a doctor “in a couple of weeks” for an evaluation. He is hoping to receive clearance to begin physical therapy that will lead to a return to riding in September.

“I think I’ll miss Del Mar,” he said.

Los Alamitos has a two-week meeting from Sept. 15-24. Santa Anita opens its six-week autumn meeting on Sept. 29.

Mon, 08/14/2023 - 12:05

Prince of Monaco joins lofty Beyer company with a 103

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Prince of Monaco, with Flavien Prat aboard, registered a 103 Beyer Speed Figure in Sunday's Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Prince of Monaco’s blazingly quick win in Sunday’s Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar was fast enough to merit a lofty Beyer Speed Figure of 103, the highest of the year in the nation for a juvenile.

Benefiting from an ideal trip, Prince of Monaco ($5.60) closed from fourth in a field of five to win the six-furlong race in 1:09.19, the fastest time for the distance at the current Del Mar meeting, which began July 21.

Sun, 08/13/2023 - 18:54

Del Mar to have mandatory pick six for Sunday card

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

If there are no winning tickets in the pick six Thursday through Sunday, there will be a mandatory payout for Del Mar's Sunday card.

There will be a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Rainbow pick six at Del Mar on Sunday, the second of four projected mandatory payouts at the current summer meeting.

The bet has a carryover of $373,278 from Saturday. The pool of new money on Sunday should surpass $3 million.

On July 30, Del Mar conducted a mandatory payout in the Rainbow pick six for the first time this summer. The bet paid $15,915 on a day that began with a carryover of $384,489. Bettors added $3,057,176 to the pool.

Sat, 08/12/2023 - 14:37

Julia Shining works for Alabama try

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Julia Shining (left) was one of the many workers Saturday morning, in preparation for next weekend's Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga.

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.

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 15:23

NYRA scratches two horses coming out of Robert Dick at Delaware

By David Grening

HoofprintsInc.com

Sopran Basilea wins the Robert Dick July 1 at Delaware. She suffered a fatal breakdown after finishing fourth in the Glens Falls a month later at Saratoga.

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.

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 14:23

Santa Anita to eliminate jackpot wager, offer $1 pick six

By Steve Andersen

Emily Shields

Santa Anita will switch the 20-cent rainbow pick six to a $1 pick six for the upcoming autumn meet.

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.

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 14:15

Shirreffs looking for new rider for Skinner

By Steve Andersen

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.

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