Thu, 07/13/2023 - 12:26

Santa Anita makes minor changes to stakes schedule

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.

Wed, 07/12/2023 - 13:40

It's Casse vs. Brown foursome in Diana

By David Grening

Michael Burns

Fev Rover is 2 for 4 for Mark Casse since being imported to the U.S. In her lone 2023 start, she won Woodbine’s Grade 2 Nassau Stakes over yielding ground.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse was the only brave soul to take on Chad Brown when entries were drawn for Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes and will run Fev Rover against a quartet of Brown trainees in a five-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile turf race.

Brown has won six of the last seven runnings of the Diana and won the race seven times overall in his career.

Casse said he’s not worried about who or how many are in the race, choosing to just focus on his own runner.

Tue, 07/11/2023 - 13:38

Cornhusker winner Giant Game possible for Whitney or Charles Town Classic

By Mary Rampellini

Giant Game (right) wins Cornhusker at PRM over Skippylongstocking July 9 2023

Coady Photography

Giant Game (right) earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his Cornhusker victory at Prairie Meadows.

Giant Game could chase a giant purse next month at either Saratoga Race Course or Charles Town.

After winning the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows, he has a couple of seven-figure options on the immediate horizon.

"The Whitney would be possible, or the Charles Town," trainer Dale Romans said Monday. "We’ll see how he comes out of it and talk about it. We’ll figure it out."

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 13:12

Sadler preps for Oceanside

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer John Sadler is expected to run Game Time, winner of the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate, and the Irish import Panic Alarm in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on July 21 at Del Mar.

Trainer John Sadler may have two runners in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on July 21 at Del Mar– the Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Game Time and recent Irish import Panic Alarm.

Game Time won the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf on May 28, leading throughout for his first stakes win in his fifth appearance in such a race. Owned by Hronis Racing, Game Time earned $45,000 for the win.

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 13:05

Glen Hill Farm to have small stable at Del Mar with eyes on graded stakes

By Steve Andersen

Lauren King

Ocean club is possible for the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar, as owner Glen Hill Farm will have a small stable at the Southern California track.

Glen Hill Farm will have a small stable with trainer Tom Proctor at Del Mar this summer for the first time since 2018.

Owner Craig Bernick said Sunday that the stable plans to have approximately eight runners, many with recent starts at Gulfstream Park. The Del Mar meeting begins July 21 and continues through Sept. 10.

The group will include the fillies and mares Ocean Club, Muted, Wide West, and Paris Peacock.

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 12:25

DeVaux to have increased presence at Spa

By David Grening

More Than Looks wins Manila at BEL July 7 2023

Chelsea Durand/NYRA

More Than Looks, winner of last week's Manila Stakes at Belmont, could move on to the Hall of Fame Stakes for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Saratoga native Cherie DeVaux has won four races each of the past two Saratoga meets and she figures to be more active this summer with her continuously growing stable.

DeVaux, who is primarily based in Kentucky, has 19 stalls this summer at Saratoga. She won two races from just four starters at Belmont Park, including last Friday’s Grade 3 Manila with More Than Looks and a July 1 maiden race with Northern Invader. Both 3-year-olds earned 94 Beyer Speed Figures and could meet in the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes on Aug. 5.

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 12:20

Back from Kentucky, Saez hoping for a big meet

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Luis Saez returns to New York for the Saratoga meet after riding at Churchill Downs and Ellis Park.

Luis Saez is the only jockey without the last name Ortiz to win a Saratoga riding title in the last eight years. Though he’s been largely absent from New York this year, Saez will be back in Saratoga to try and replicate his 2021 season when the 2023 meet kicks off Thursday.

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 12:15

Asmussen will run Disarm in Jim Dandy, Extra Anejo in Haskell

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Disarm, fourth in the Kentucky Derby, is coming off a victory in the Matt Winn at Ellis Park.

Victories in the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes in Saratoga last summer propelled the Steve Asmussen-trained Epicenter to an Eclipse Award as 3-year-old champion male.

In Disarm and Extra Anejo, Asmussen has a pair of 3-year-olds this year he’d like to get to the $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 26, the marquee event of the Saratoga meet that opens Thursday.

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