VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Dino Condilenios is hoping his success with horses previously owned by Darley Stable will continue when he runs McKinley Square in a $23,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds at Hastings on Friday night. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 7:15 p.m. Pacific.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The complexion of this weekend’s major stakes for 3-year-olds changed Wednesday when the connections of Wood Memorial winner Gemologist decided to run in Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park as opposed to Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
The Haskell and Jim Dandy are stepping-stones to the $1 million Travers run Aug. 25 at Saratoga.
Gemologist, who likely would have been favored in the Jim Dandy, will now likely be the second choice behind Belmont Stakes runner-up Paynter in the Haskell.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Tom Joy will get some class relief for his second start outside the maiden ranks in the featured eighth on a 10-race card at Woodbine Friday. The seven-furlong turf sprint is an unusual allowance for nonwinners-of-two, which excludes winners of $33,540 in their last two outings.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse calls it “a crazy weekend.”
On Saturday, Casse will be at Saratoga to saddle Prospective in the Grade 2, $750,000 Jim Dandy, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds. On Sunday Casse will be at Monmouth to send out Stealcase for the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational, also at 1 1/8 miles for the same age group.
Meanwhile, over in Minnesota at Canterbury Park, Delegation will represent the stable in Saturday’s $150,000 Mystic Lake Derby, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.
When handicapping the quintet of $50,000 turf stakes races at Colonial Downs on Friday, remember this connection: owner Larry Johnson and trainer Michael Trombetta.
The pair won two of the five races in last year’s inaugural $250,000 Commonwealth Turf Fest and will have the potential to surpass that this year with four entrants in three races.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though he would have been the favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, Gemologist will return to the races in Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, his connections said Wednesday.
Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which owns Gemologist, said the Grade 1 status of the Haskell was a factor in choosing that race over the Jim Dandy.
Jockey Martin Bourdieu picked up the 1,000th Thoroughbred win of his career Monday at Ruidoso Downs, when he won the seventh race with Golden County ($4.80). Bourdieu, who is a career winner of 1,491 races counting victories aboard Quarter Horses, began riding in 1999.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With heavy rain Monday night making for wet track surfaces, Tuesday morning was light for workers at Saratoga.
One of the more notable breezers was Macho Macho, the runner-up in the Long Branch Stakes, who went five furlongs in 1:00.99 over the main track in preparation for a start in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer on Aug. 4.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Hungry Island pulled off a significant upset here last summer when she knocked off Winter Memories at 9-1 in the Grade 2 Lake Placid.
Hungry Island will try to do it again when she meets Winter Memories, Tapitsfly, Zagora, and others in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Diana at 1 1/8 miles.
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AUBURN, Wash. – Ten-year-old Wasserman, one of the most popular horses in Emerald Downs history but now nearing the end of his celebrated career, will try to get back on the winning side Thursday in a $15,000 claimer at one mile. His longtime partner, jockey Jennifer Whitaker, will be along for the ride, and Wasserman could start as the favorite in a five-horse field.
