Geaux Rocket Ride, winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 22, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at Del Mar on Friday, leaving trainer Richard Mandella leaning toward a start for the lightly raced colt in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Sept. 2.
In recent weeks, Mandella has mentioned the $1 million Pacific Classic against older horses at 1 1/4 miles or the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on Sept. 3 as leading options.
The $52,400 Bank of America California Regional Challenge at Los Alamitos on Saturday will be the least lucrative stakes in 2023 for Empressum, Quarter Horse racing’s 2022 World Champion.
The California Regional Challenge at 440 yards could be an important race for Empressum’s chances of securing a second World Championship this year.
The winner receives an automatic berth to the $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park Oct. 21.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – McKulick, who ran down odds-on favorite War Like Goddess to win Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes, will be aimed at the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl going 1 3/8 miles here on Sept. 2.
War Like Goddess, who had won the previous two runnings of the Glens Falls, could run in the Flower Bowl or face the boys one week earlier in the Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer on Aug. 26.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Crimson Advocate, who won the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and who at one point was being considered for a start in Saratoga, is on the farm getting a freshening and will be brought back for a fall campaign targeting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Up to the Mark, a two-time Grade 1 winner and arguably the leader of the older male turf division, suffered a setback in his training that will likely alter his plans leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Todd Pletcher said this week.
Gulfstream Park spotlights 2-year-olds on Sunday’s nine-race card, with three maiden offerings for babies. The most interesting might be the fourth race, a maiden special weight for fillies bred in Florida. The 5 1/2 furlong-sprint on the main track drew a competitive group that includes the first-time starter Star of Saturn.
“I think she could be a little bit special,” said trainer Bobby Dibona. “She struts around with a lot of class.”
Gentry Farms and Saffie Joseph have had another notable 3-year-old winner at the Royal Palm meet in Accomplished Girl. She captured a first-level allowance sprint over older rivals on Tapeta July 16 and earlier in her career was a maiden special weight winner on turf with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
Joseph said Accomplished Girl could move back to turf for the Grade 3, $1 million Music City for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 2 at Kentucky Downs.
The unbeaten Second I D has developed into a 3-year-old of note this summer at Gulfstream Park and will soon move into stakes company, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Thursday.
Second I D has made two starts, both at 6 1/2 furlongs over older rivals. He won a maiden special weight by 7 3/4 lengths June 9, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Second I D came back to take a first-level allowance July 22, dueling on the lead for a 2 1/4-length win. He earned a Beyer of 91.
“He’s going to go in a stakes for his next start,” Joseph said. “We haven’t decided what race yet.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kaukokaipuu has thrust little-known trainer Tedston Holder into the King’s Plate spotlight, and the 54-year-old lifelong racetracker from Barbados is confident that his oddly named colt will give a good account of himself in the $1 million Canadian classic on Aug. 20.
She Is Romantic, bought for $525,000 in April, will have her career debut in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at five furlongs on turf in the first race at Del Mar on Friday.
An inside post is just fine with trainer Peter Eurton.
“If I drew the one hole on dirt, I’d be really upset,” he said. “On turf, I’m not upset. You don’t get the kickback. You let them run their race.”
