Fri, 07/14/2023 - 16:28

Belmont average daily handle up at spring-summer meet

Barbara D. Livingston

All-sources handle was down at the Belmont spring-summer meet, which was six days shorter than in 2022.

Average daily handle at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet was $14,746,421, an increase of 9.7 percent over the 2022 meet average of $13,437,509, according to figures released Friday by the New York Racing Association.

All-sources handle for the meet was $560,363,986, down 5.2 percent from last year’s figure of $591,250,409.

The 2023 Belmont spring/summer meet was scheduled for 40 days, but only 38 cards were run as two programs were canceled due to unsafe air quality. The 2022 meet consisted of 44 cards of racing.

Fri, 07/14/2023 - 15:58

Del Mar announces stakes nominations for opening weekend

By Brad Free

Emily Shields

Del Mar has announced the nominees for stakes races during its upcoming meet. Racing will begin July 21 and opening weekend will feature five stakes, with four being run on the grass.

Turf, surf, and sunshine are the main themes when Del Mar opens its summer season on Friday, July 21. Four of the five opening-weekend stakes are on grass; below is an early preview.

Friday, July 21 is opening day; Del Mar’s traditional first-day feature is the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, a restricted race for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf. Phil D’Amato trains five of the 24 nominees including comeback stakes winner Classical Cat and stretch-sprint stakes winner Conclude. Stakes winner Game Time and improving allowance winner Escape Artist also are expected to start.

Fri, 07/14/2023 - 14:10

Skippylongstocking likely to make next start in Charles Town Classic

By Mary Rampellini

Skippylongstocking will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic next month at Charles Town, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Thursday.

The 1 1/8-mile race, which is run around three turns, is Aug. 25.

Skippylongstocking, who has been based in South Florida, traveled to Iowa earlier this month and finished a fast-closing second to Giant Game in the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. Skippylongstocking earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Fri, 07/14/2023 - 14:00

Elite Power fires sharp work ahead of Vanderbilt start

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Reigning Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Elite Power worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track, prepping for his next start in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

The reigning champion sprinter Elite Power stepped up his preparation for the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 29 with a strong five-furlong workout in 59.60 seconds on Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track.

Elite Power worked in company with Provocateur – a multiple listed stakes winner last year – starting several lengths behind that one and finishing slightly in front at the wire.

“I was looking for a 1:01, but they went a little quicker than that,” trainer Bill Mott said. “They’ve both done enough now, they should be ready.”

Fri, 07/14/2023 - 14:00

Haskell, Jim Dandy decision coming for Derby winner Mage

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

A decision is expected next week by trainer Gustavo Delgado on whether Kentucky Derby winner Mage will make his next start in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park or the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

The major work seems about done, but the final decision has not been made quite yet regarding plans for Kentucky Derby winner Mage’s next start, which will come either in the $1 million Haskell this Saturday at Monmouth Park or one week later in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

Working for the fourth time since his third-place finish as the favorite in the Preakness on May 20, Mage breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 under regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado on Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky.

Fri, 07/14/2023 - 13:50

Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Forte all work for showdown in Jim Dandy

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Forte (left) worked five furlongs in 1:02.28 ahead of his next start in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, where he will take on the Brad Cox-trainees Angel of Empire and Hit Show.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The last time they were seen together in the afternoon, Angel of Empire and Hit Show finished in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes.

The next time they will be seen together in the afternoon, Angel of Empire and Hit Show will be in the starting gate for the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 29 at Saratoga, trainer Brad Cox said Friday.

Fri, 07/14/2023 - 11:25

King's Plate 2023: Belmont results muddle list of leading contenders

By Ron Gierkink

Susie Raisher/NYRA

Kalik could go back on Lasix if he comes to Woodbine for the King’s Plate on Aug. 20.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The King’s Plate-nominated horses who competed in Grade 1 turf stakes on July 8 at Belmont Park were disappointing, which has thrown the early Plate picture into some disarray.

Following consecutive front-running scores on the Belmont turf, Grade 2 winner Kalik was a non-threatening eighth in Belmont Derby, his first poor performance since his 2-year-old debut on dirt.

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 19:12

Saratoga 2023: Opening-day handle falls 6.2% with accelerated post times

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Fans watch the first race of the 2023 Saratoga meet on Thursday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Thursday’s opening-day card began very much like the recently concluded Belmont Park meet with Linda Rice and Jose Ortiz teaming up to win the first race.

By day’s end, Saratoga very much resembled Saratoga with a ferocious storm, complete with thunder, lightning, and a National Weather Service alert blaring on cell phones.

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 13:55

Forte will skip Haskell, point to Jim Dandy

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Forte, second in the Belmont Stakes, will make start next in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 29.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Forte, runner-up in the Belmont Stakes last month, will bypass the $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 22 at Monmouth Park and instead make his next start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 29 at Saratoga, trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday.

“Tough call,” Pletcher said. “There may or not may be a right answer. We just felt like shipping up here, getting a race over the track. The two Travers winners we’ve had have run in the Jim Dandy.”

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 12:46

Trainer Pineda suspended for fifth positive

By Steve Andersen

California trainer Milton Pineda, already provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare United, has been cited for a fifth positive for a banned medication found in one of his recent runners at Los Alamitos, the regulatory body announced on its website on Wednesday.

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