DEL MAR, Calif. - The Pacific Classic may draw a field of 10, including Hollywood Gold Cup winner Game On Dude and Richard’s Kid, the winner of the 2009 and 2010 Pacific Classic. Both are trained by Bob Baffert, who will also start Jaycito.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Prince Will I Am, a Grade 1 winner who has been away from the races since June 2011, is getting close to making a comeback.
On Wednesday, Prince Will I Am had a sharp five-furlong breeze in 1:01.64 over Saratoga’s main track, making up several lengths on a stablemate who started well out in front of him. It was the fifth work for Prince Will I Am since he arrived in Saratoga.
Centre Court seeks her fourth straight win Sunday, when she heads a field of six entered in the Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
Centre Court, a daughter of Smart Strike, comes off a neck victory in the Grade 2 Lake George here July 25. That race was at 1 1/16 miles. The Lake Placid is at 1 1/8 miles, the distance of her two wins at Churchill, including the Grade 3 Regret.
AUBURN, Wash. – In one of the most wide-open stakes races of the meeting, nine 2-year-old colts and geldings will trade punches Saturday in the $50,000 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association Lads Stakes at Emerald Downs. As many as four of the nine could vie for the favorite’s role, and a couple of the longshots seem capable of springing an upset. The Lads, at 6 1/2 furlongs, highlights a nine-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.
Prairie Meadows kicks off its 26-day Quarter Horse meet, which features abundant stakes action, on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Central. Culminating with the track’s first hosting of the Bank of America Challenge Championships, the meet promises a hike in overall purses along with heightened competition.
Familiar faces such as 2011 leading rider Stormy Smith, talented young guns Oscar Delgado and Cody Smith, and veterans Tommy Wellington and Thomas Byrd are among those who will occupy the jockey quarters in search of the 2012 title.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Owner Paul Reddam said he doesn’t know what to expect when his European-based Cogito makes his North American and dirt debut in the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if he won, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was last,” Reddam said by phone Thursday from Southern California. “So I guess I’m not going to be shocked.”
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – It’s not enough that Arlington Park possesses a European-style turf course, with sweeping turns and grass cut long and forgiving. No, Arlington is compelled toward greater internationalization. Occasionally it has added the word “International” to its name. From 2008 to 2010 it hosted the American 1000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies. And the latest internationalization of the suburban Chicago plant is the $400,000 American St. Leger, a Million Day turf race contested over one mile and 5 1/2 furlongs.
Trainer Jeff Radosevich holds a strong hand as he sends out three of his top horses in Saturday’s 25th running of the $50,000, six-furlong Honey Jay Stakes for registered Ohio foals at Thistledown.
Sneak a Cold Treat, winner of this race in 2010 and 2011, tops the field of 11 with his stablemate Klassy Korbin. Both are owned by Luch Racing Stable.
Radosevich will also saddle the consistent Raise the Reward, who has finished no worse than second from six starts since being claimed last March for owner Michael J. Annechino.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Shug McGaughey was a cub back in 1981, the year of the inaugural Arlington Million.
“I was there for the first one,” McGaughey said. “I was training there, and they said they were going to run a million-dollar race, and I thought it was the craziest thing I ever heard.”
