SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The bucolic setting of the Godolphin Training Center adjacent to the backstretch of Saratoga’s main track is the perfect atmosphere for those horses that can be, say, a little tricky.
That is one reason why trainer Kiaran McLaughlin opted to work the aptly named It’s Tricky over the training center’s synthetic surface Saturday morning, where at 9:30 a.m. she was the only horse on the track.
CINCINNATI – Uncle Virgil drew off through the stretch impressively to win the $50,000 Horizon at River Downs on Saturday afternoon.
Jockey Gabriel Lagunes kept the 3-year-old Ohio-accredited gelding to the outside of pacesetting, odds-on favorite Bakers Haulover to the far turn. Lagunes went to work midway around the turn, and Uncle Virgil responded, drawing off to win by 10 3/4 lengths for trainer Kathy Lowry.
Mercer’s Mark was second, a length in front of Bakers Haulover.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Uncaptured ($2.50) held off second choice River Seven to extend his unbeaten streak to three races Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Vandal Stakes.
After being gathered back early by Patrick Husbands, Uncaptured dueled up front with Weather Bill through moderate fractions in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kid Kate is perfect in four starts over the main track at Saratoga, which makes it surprising the multiple stakes winner has shown up in the entries for Monday’s $100,000 Shakespeare Caress Stakes, an overnight stakes for fillies and mares carded to be run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. There is a $66,254 pick-six carryover heading into Monday's card as the bet went unhit Sunday.
[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]
DEL MAR, Calif. – The difference between the exercise put forth by Richard’s Kid on Friday evening and Game On Dude on Saturday morning at Del Mar was that Richard’s Kid earned prize money for his effort.
Richard’s Kid won the Grade 3, $100,000 Cougar II Handicap in track-record time, running 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.22. He won by 1 1/2 lengths, with minimal effort.
The field of 2-year-old fillies at Presque Isle Downs on Tuesday evening may number only seven, but it should make for a interesting betting race when Baby Princess, and four of the others, try to win their second consecutive races. The allowance event for 2-year-old fillies who have never won twice will be contested at 5 1/2 furlongs.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Richard’s Kid had an ideal trial race for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 in Friday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar, winning his second stakes of the year with minimal effort.
Richard’s Kid won the Pacific Classic in 2009 and 2010 and will be a leading contender in this year’s running.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano on Friday, Richard’s Kid ($2.80) closed from last in a field of six in the final three furlongs to win the race over 1 1/2 miles on the Polytrack main surface in track-record time of 2:29.22.
The richest weekend of racing of the long year at Penn National in Grantville, Pa., got under way Friday evening with three stakes, all for female runners. Here is a recap of those Friday races:
* $100,000 Red Carpet: Martita Sangrita ($16.40), with Luis Garcia riding, rallied from mid-pack to overtake Clare Skies Ahead in this 1 1/16-mile turf race, with Safe Crossing, the front-runner and 17-10 favorite, fading to third. The winner is owned by the Lael Stables and is trained by Leigh Delacour.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Chad Brown chose to run Street Life in Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes over more prestigious races because he felt it was his best chance to go into next month’s Travers Stakes on a winning note.
Even when several prominent horses dropped out of the Jim Dandy and Haskell Invitational, Brown stuck to his original guns.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Those looking for a 2-year-old colt to bet on in 2014 should remember the name Jess’s Dream.
That’s the name of the resulting foal from the mating of champions Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, who was born earlier this year.
The colt was named after Jess Jackson, who owned Curlin, the Horse of the Year in 2007-08, and Rachel Alexandra, the Horse of the Year in 2009.
