SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Stone Age, who finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf for trainer Aidan O’Brien, is now with Chad Brown and had his first local work Wednesday morning as he gears up for a fall campaign.
Stone Age went a half-mile in 50.42 seconds Wednesday morning over the Oklahoma turf course. Brown is hopeful it’s the first step toward a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 30.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Based on her two victories to begin the year, including an eye-catching 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Southlawn was sent off the second choice in the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field in May.
After checking off heels entering the first turn and then racing five wide throughout, Southlawn was basically done by the top of the stretch, finishing 10th, 10 1/4 lengths behind Pretty Mischievous and Gambling Girl, who were a neck apart at the wire.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jockey Russell Baze, who recorded 12,842 career wins, including 270 stakes, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.
The award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised, or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to Thoroughbred racing.
It is named in memory of one of the sport’s most successful and revered performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.
The Arkansas Derby purse has been elevated to $1.5 million in a move that puts its value on par with the most recent runnings of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
In addition to the Arkansas Derby, which last season was worth $1.25 million, all of the major 3-year-old races at the Hot Springs, Ark., track have had their purses increased for 2024.
The meet opens Dec. 8 and runs 66 dates through May 4 of next year.
After numerous discussions between trainer Gustavo Delgado and the ownership group, the decision was finally made late Tuesday afternoon to run Kentucky Derby winner Mage in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park.
Mage is scheduled to leave the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., for Monmouth Park at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. As reported earlier, Javier Castellano, who guided Mage to victory in the Derby, will be aboard again in the Haskell.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Lone Star Park-based trainer Dallas Keen said earlier this month he was planning to bring a trio of horses to the Del Mar meet that opens Friday.
But he also said was not planning on sticking around.
Keen has retired from training Thoroughbreds – to work with retired Thoroughbreds.
The first wave of California 2-year-olds arrived early at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, but the cream rises in summer at Del Mar. The 2023 season begins Friday, and many of the circuit’s most highly regarded prospects are nearing their career debuts.
Colts knocking on the door include Dr. Park (by Uncle Mo) and Heartland (Justify), siblings to juvenile champions Forte and Classic Empire, respectively. Miracle Mark (Constitution) is a precocious sibling to durable sprint champion Whitmore.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Phil Antonacci came to Saratoga having won just one race from 19 starters on the year. In a span of 48 hours, he won two races at the Spa, having taken the nightcap on both the opening-day and third-day programs.
Thundara, in from the also-eligible list, won a New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming race on Thursday. On Saturday, Monet Never rallied between horses to win a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint by a nose.
Antonacci noted that Monet Never got stepped on by another horse during a maiden race at Keeneland, prior to the race he won Friday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mother Nature’s wrath had a significant impact on opening week business at Saratoga where all-sources handle was $82,353,291, down 22.6 percent from the $106,401,827 handled during opening week in 2022. Ontrack handle was $13,519,819, down 20.7 percent from the $17,062,482 handled in 2022.
Rain impacted the Friday and Sunday cards, forcing all eight scheduled turf races to the dirt. With 41 scratches, Friday’s 10-race card had 54 horses.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Javier Castellano got reacquainted with his Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo on Monday morning at Saratoga, guiding him through a five-furlong workout in 1:00.52 in preparation for what is expected to be his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.
The Saratoga main track was remarkably in good condition following heavy rains that hit Sunday and left the track a sea of slop during and after the races.
