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.
Charge It, winner of the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes, returned to the worktab Thursday, breezing a half-mile in 49.18 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. He is preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 5.
Far Bridge, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, also returned to the worktab Thursday, breezing a half-mile in 49.96 seconds in company with Al’s Rocket. Far Bridge is preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby on Aug. 5.
As if it wasn’t already easy to root for Mage in Saturday’s Haskell and throughout the remainder of his 3-year-old campaign, owner and managing partner Ramiro Restrepo, in conjunction with longtime South Florida-based owner-trainer Steve Dwoskin, has come up with another reason to cheer for this year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
The sale of Turf Paradise racetrack in Phoenix to a California commercial real-estate developer with a background in racing is not expected to close until the end of the year, leading to discussions among the current racetrack owner and the track’s horsemen over whether to hold live racing dates in 2023, according to the principals involved in the process.
Jose Ortiz will ride Drew’s Gold when the Grade 1 Woody Stephens runner-up starts in next Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.
Ortiz replaces Jose Gomez, who had ridden the horse to two of his four straight victories before he finished second to Arabian Lion in the Woody Stephens on June 10.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Maryquitecontrary had a five-race winning streak snapped when she finished second to champion Goodnight Olive in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in April.
Maryquitecontrary will try to start a new streak when she runs Wednesday in a short but solid renewal of the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap going six furlongs at Saratoga.
The Honorable Miss is the local prep for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap here Aug 26.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Grade 1 winner Played Hard will miss Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga after spiking a temperature earlier in the week, trainer Phil Bauer said Thursday.
The Shuvee, run on the main track at 1 1/8 miles, went with just four horses including Nest, the 3-year-old filly champion of 2022 who makes her seasonal debut in this spot, and the multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, who won the Shuvee last year.
Also entered were Pistol Liz Ablazen and Skratch Kat, the latter taking the place of Played Hard for Bauer.
Bango, who in his next outing at Churchill Downs will attempt to tie the mark as the winningest horse in the track’s recorded history, will resume that chase in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes on Sept. 16 when the Louisville track opens a short meet that month.
