SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Zo Impressive, winner of the Grade 1 Mother Goose and runner-up in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, worked three furlongs in 37.40 seconds Wednesday morning.
Trainer Tom Albertrani said Zo Impressive actually galloped out another eighth in 12.40 seconds, which would make it a half-mile in 49.80.
Either way, Albertrani seems content with where Zo Impressive is 11 days out from the Alabama.
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Papaw Bodie, who emerged from obscurity to become one of the better North American turf-route runners the first half of this year, will miss the Million and most likely the rest of 2012 after suffering an undisclosed injury during a quick five-furlong workout this past Saturday at the Trackside training center in Louisville.
“He does have an injury and needs some time off,” trainer Mike Maker said, adding that he expected “it would be next year” before Papaw Bodie could race again.
The 31st running of the the Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes on Saturday - the showcase of the Ellis Park meeting in Henderson, Ky. - shapes up as arguably the best race in the track’s 90-year history. The field of 11 fillies and mares includes four graded stakes winners: Salty Strike, Juanita, Joyful Victory, and Sassy Image.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Ian Wilkes will attempt to complete a rare and very prestigious double, winning both the Grade 1 Whitney and Travers during the same meet, when he sends out Neck ’ n Neck in the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 25.
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Rolling Fog, who won his debut Saturday, will head straight to the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 5, trainer Bob Baffert said.
Rolling Fog, 2, a son of Posse, worked poorly in his first drill over this surface, but improved in his second workout and ran better still in his race.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Arlington bills its Million Day card the International Festival of Racing, and thank goodness for the international component, because without it there would scarcely be a Million Day this year.
With just more than a week until the annual highlight of the Arlington season, prospective fields for the stakes races on the Million card are heavily reliant upon the European contingent: Of the 34 horses who as of Wednesday afternoon appeared to be likely runners in four races, fully half of them made their most recent start overseas.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. – The decision to shorten the $500,000 Fourstardave from a 1 1/16 miles to one mile this summer paid quick dividends, with a stellar field led by Wise Dan, Data Link, Get Stormy, and Corporate Jungle set to contest the Grade 2 turf fixture here Saturday.
The Fourstardave, which will be run as the final event on Saturday’s 11-race program, will be shown on NBC Sports Network with post time set at 6:45 p.m.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though he ran Optimizer in all three Triple Crown races, trainer D. Wayne Lukas knew that the colt’s preferred surface was turf.
Friday, Lukas returns Optimizer to his favorite turf course when he runs him in the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga. Optimizer, who won his career debut over Saratoga’s turf course, will be coupled with Skyring. Both horses are owned by Bluegrass Hall LLC.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Iscar and Bearrock N Roll look like the main players in a $15,000 claiming race that goes as the first race at Hastings on Friday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and will share top billing with the sixth race, a $15,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles that drew eight horses.
Post time for the first of seven races is 7:15 p.m. Pacific.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – All horses entered for the $1 million Travers Stakes here Aug. 25 will be subject to increased security protocols, including round-the-clock monitoring, out-of-competition testing, and public disclosure of veterinarian’s records, according to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.
Under protocols announced by the board Wednesday, Travers horses will be required to be on the grounds by Aug. 22, which is the day of entry and three days before the race. Horses will have out-of-competition blood testing taken Aug. 22.
