Big Data was a decisive winner of a Gulfstream Park allowance Sunday in a performance that will move him into stakes company, according to trainer Michael Lerman.
Big Data rolled by 3 1/4 lengths in a first-level allowance at a mile. For the effort, he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87. The number was up from Big Data’s prior top number of 80, which was earned for a runner-up finish at the same level in June.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nest and Clairiere, who finished first and second, respectively, in Sunday’s Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes, are expected to meet for a second time this meet in the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 25.
Nest returned from an 8 1/2-month layoff to defeat Clairiere by 2 1/4 lengths in the Shuvee, taking advantage of a soft early pace that allowed jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to wait as long as possible to ask his filly to run. She got the jump on Clairiere and jockey Joel Rosario.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockeys Flavien Prat and Kendrick Carmouche will both be serving three-day suspensions this week after being sanctioned by the stewards for careless riding.
Prat will sit out Wednesday through Friday for his ride on Happy Farm in the eighth race on the July 14 card. In that race, Prat let Happy Farm come over on Thinkaboutit, forcing jockey Dylan Davis to take his horse up. Thinkaboutit overcame that trouble to win the race at odds of 20-1 while Happy Farm finished third.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Among the dream matchups racing fans might clamor to see before the end of the Saratoga season is a meeting between the gray filly and mare turf sprint stars Caravel and Roses for Debra. The latter thrust herself into the picture for division honors with an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Caress Stakes here Saturday.
Unfortunately, while the paths of the two fillies could be destined to cross at some time during the second half of the year, that meeting does not seem to be in the cards this meet.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby winner Mage, runner-up in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, was scheduled to arrive in Saratoga on Monday afternoon to prepare for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.
Part-owner Ramiro Restrepo, said he was “over the moon” with Mage’s second-place finish to Geaux Rocket Ride in the Haskell, Mage’s first start since his third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes on May 20. Mage had only four published workouts between the Preakness and Haskell.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Mackinnon, a two-time stakes winner in California in 2021, will return to Southern California for a start in Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar, trainer Doug O’Neil said over the weekend.
Mackinnon was based with O’Neill from the start of his career in 2021 until last fall when he was sent to trainer Chad Brown in New York. For Brown, Mackinnon was second in the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting last October and fourth in an allowance race on yielding turf at Belmont Park on July 4.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Abel Cedillo sustained a fractured bone in his neck in a one-horse spill shortly after the start of the fourth race at Del Mar on Sunday, the rider said Monday morning.
In a phone interview, Cedillo said he remains hospitalized and has been informed by doctors that he will not need surgery. He said he will undergo four to six weeks of physical therapy.
“I’ve got a little pain right now,” Cedillo said.
Charlie’s Wish became a stakes winner Saturday, when she rolled home by 4 3/4 lengths over Flakes in the $75,000 Azalea at Gulfstream Park. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite Trust Me.
The Azalea was a seven furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Jockey Eric Cancel will undergo surgery this week to repair a broken foot and will be out of action for three months, his agent P.J. Campo said Saturday.
Cancel was unseated in a race at Belmont Park June 17 when his mount, Fast Corey, ducked in and crashed through the inside rail in a turf race. Cancel limped off the turf course that day favoring his right ankle.
Cancel has ridden only two horses since, but was named on six horses Saturday at Saratoga. He took off those mounts.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Trainer Todd Pletcher believes Forte, his 2-year-old champion from a year ago, has become complacent.
In an effort to combat that, Pletcher will equip the multiple Grade 1 winner with blinkers when he runs in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
