Fri, 07/14/2023 - 14:00

Elite Power fires sharp work ahead of Vanderbilt start

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.

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 12:26

Santa Anita makes minor changes to stakes schedule

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Santa Anita has announced minor changes to its fall stakes schedule, that will culminate with the Breeders' Cup Nov. 3-4.

Santa Anita has made minimal changes to the stakes schedule for its six-week autumn meeting from Sept. 29 to Nov. 5, a season highlighted by the Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.

There are 14 stakes from Sept. 29 through Oct. 8 designed as preps for BC races. Four of those races offer automatic berths to BC races through the Win and You’re In program – the Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds, the Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, and the Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares on turf.

Wed, 07/12/2023 - 13:45

Amoss works Hoosier Philly for CCA Oaks

By David Grening

Hoosier Philly wins Monomoy Girl at ELP June 17 2023

Coady Photography

Hoosier Philly was left alone on the lead in the Monomoy Girl Stakes at Ellis Park and scored by 3 1/2 lengths.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hoosier Philly, who returned to form with a victory in the Monomoy Girl Stakes at Ellis Park on June 17, worked a half-mile in 49.49 seconds Wednesday morning over Saratoga’s main track. She is preparing for a start in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here on July 22.

Trainer Tom Amoss had regular rider Edgar Morales fly in Tuesday night to breeze the filly Wednesday morning.

“It was an easy half-mile work. She looked like herself, everything was as good as you’d want it to be,” Amoss said.

Wed, 07/12/2023 - 13:45

Florida debut winners part of 10-horse Sanford Stakes

By David Grening

Gold Sweep wins Tremont at BEL June 11 2023

Barbara D. Livingston

Tremont winner Gold Sweep will likely be favored in the Sanford Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Phil Serpe won last year’s Grade 1 Spinaway with Leave No Trace and he’s hoping for some more 2-year-old success here this summer when he starts Jive for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.

Jive was one 10 2-year-olds entered Wednesday for the Sanford, the first of three dirt stakes for juvenile males to be held at the meet.

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