Mon, 07/10/2023 - 11:55

Saratoga: Gargan has some 2-year-old firepower to challenge the big guns

Barbara D. Livingston

Closing Act, winning the Astoria, is one of a number of top 2-year-olds Steve Asmussen will run at the meet. She goes in the opening-day Schuylerville Stakes.

Danny Gargan has had limited success with 2-year-olds at Saratoga. Over the last six meetings, he has won with just 3 of 27 juvenile starters.

He is expecting for that to change this summer. Led by Dornoch, a full brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Gargan has more than a dozen 2-year-olds in his care, many of whom will see action this summer at Saratoga.

“I’m in a better position with young horses than I’ve ever been in,” said Gargan, who last year won a maiden race with Champions Dream, who would win the Grade 3 Nashua at Aqueduct.

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 11:15

Mirahmadi living the dream in Saratoga's announcer's booth

By David Grening

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

Frank Mirahmadi has been the race-caller at Santa Anita, Monmouth, and Oaklawn among other racetracks.

Frank Mirahmadi’s career as a full-time racetrack announcer was still in its infancy when he walked into Saratoga as a fan for the first time in 1997.

“The moment I walked into Saratoga I realized what a special place it was, what an iconic place it was,” Mirahmadi said. “When I walked in there I never thought to myself, ‘Wow, I’d like to be the race-caller here one day.’ I never thought that would even be a tiny possibility, I never even considered that to be something to even strive for, I could never picture it happening.”

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 16:56

Kylee Jordan rehabbing dislocated shoulder

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Photography

Jockey Kylee Jordan is undergoing physical therapy after dislocating her shoulder two weeks ago.

Jockey Kylee Jordan, who won the riding title last year at Prairie Meadows and ranked second in the standings through Friday, has been sidelined by a dislocated shoulder. She said Friday that a timeline for her return has not yet been determined.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be out,” said Jordan, who has seen a specialist and is undergoing physical therapy. “I want to ride, but my agent said ‘Not yet.’ I need to get as strong as I can before riding.”

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 16:01

Schuylerville draws 11 on Saratoga's opening-day card

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Closing Act, winning the Astoria, is the only stakes winner entered in the Schuylerville.

Nine maiden winners, one stakes winner, and one first-time starter comprise a field of 11 2-year-old fillies entered Friday for Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes, the opening-day feature on a 10-race Saratoga card.

The Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse hopes to kick off a big opening week in Saratoga when he sends out Sugar Treat, a half-length debut winner over Gulfstream Park’s synthetic surface on June 10.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 14:51

Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit suspends Pineda, Saldana

By Steve Andersen

Los Alamitos-based trainers Milton Pineda and Reed Saldana have been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after five positives for a banned medication were found in their runners at Santa Anita last month, the regulatory body announced on its website Friday.

Post-race tests revealed positives for diisopropylamine, which is considered a therapeutic substance “that could have diuretic effects and assist in preventing” bleeding, according to a ruling issued by the racing authority of the United Arab Emirates in 2021.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 13:15

Pletcher on the fence about Forte's Travers prep

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Forte will use either the Haskell on July July 22 or the Jim Dandy the following week as his prep for the Aug. 26 Travers.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher seems genuinely torn where next to run Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion who ran a game second in the Belmont Stakes last month off a 10-week layoff.

While the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga would give Forte an additional week from the Belmont and a race over the track where the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers will be run on Aug. 26, the Haskell on July 22 at Monmouth Park is a Grade 1 and worth $1 million.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 13:05

Mage works in Kentucky, leaning toward Haskell as Travers prep

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Mage worked six furlongs in 1:13.75 Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage moved a step closer to his next start after working six furlongs in 1:13.75 Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., according to assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. Regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado was aboard.

The work was the third and stiffest yet for Mage since being given some time off following his third-place finish as the 7-5 favorite in the Preakness on May 20.

Fri, 07/07/2023 - 12:55

After work, Cody's Wish all but confirmed for Whitney

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Cody's Wish comes off a smashing win in the Metropolitan Handicap for which he earned a 112 Beyer Speed Figure.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott all but confirmed Metropolitan Handicap winner Cody’s Wish will make his next start in the Grade 1 Whitney here on Aug. 5 after watching the fan favorite breeze a very easy five furlongs in 1:01 over the Oklahoma training track on Friday.

Thu, 07/06/2023 - 15:27

Stilleto Boy will target Pacific Classic next

By Steve Andersen

Stilleto Boy holds off the onrushing Proxy in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4.

Benoit Photo

Santa Anita Handicap winner Stilleto Boy was "a little tired" following his sixth-place finish in the Stephen Foster at Ellis Park.

Stilleto Boy, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March, emerged from a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park on Saturday “a little tired,” according to trainer Ed Moger Jr.

Stilleto Boy, who was shipped to Santa Anita on Sunday, will make his next start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Moger said.

The $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles is the richest annual race for older horses in California, and a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Thu, 07/06/2023 - 15:08

Baffert begins to plan Eda's path to BC Filly and Mare Sprint

By Steve Andersen

Eda beats Chismosa (No. 6) in Great Lady M. at Los Al July 4 2023

Benoit Photo

Eda holds off Chismosa (No. 6) to win the Great Lady M. and stretch her winning streak to six races.

Eda extended her winning streak to six races with her fifth stakes win in Tuesday’s Grade 2, $202,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos, and in doing so gave trainer Bob Baffert a reason to point the 4-year-old filly to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Eda, owned by Charles and Susan Chu, dueled with Elm Drive through a quick pace and repelled a late challenge from the outsider Chismosa to win the 6 1/2-furlong race by a neck.

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