Fri, 07/15/2022 - 19:03

Saratoga pick-six carryover grows to $532K for Saturday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Two days into the Saratoga meet and handicappers haven’t solved the pick six yet, resulting in a two-day carryover of $532,907 into Saturday’s card.

There was a $120,345 carryover into Friday’s card after opening day and bettors poured another $723,758 into the pool on Friday. There were no winning favorites in a sequence that included Juulstone ($14.40), Danzigwiththestars ($16.20), Six Percent ($15.20), Empress Tigress ($9.20), City Man ($26.60) and Khali Magic ($15.80).

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 16:30

Haskell: Following work, Taiba confirmed to take on Jack Christopher

Barbara D. Livingston
Taiba was the 5-1 co-favorite in early Kentucky Derby betting Friday.

Taiba, the Santa Anita Derby winner, was confirmed for the July 23 Grade 1 Haskell after working five furlongs in 59.40 seconds on Friday morning at Santa Anita.

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 15:06

D'Amato stable looms large in opening-week stakes

Emily Shields
Balnikhov, trained by Phil D'Amato, might be favored in the Oceanside Stakes on Opening day of the Del Mar meet.

A potential odds-on favorite and a gaggle from the deepest turf stable in California are among the nominees to opening-week stakes at Del Mar, where four of the five stakes July 22-24 are on grass. Nominations that closed Thursday include one of the country’s top turf milers in Smooth Like Strait, and 19 turf specialists trained by Phil D’Amato.

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 14:32

Oklahoma Derby, Springboard Mile top stakes schedule

The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 25 and the $400,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 17 will be the co-richest races during the Remington Park meet that opens next month, the Oklahoma City track announced Friday.  

Remington released its stakes schedule for the 67-date meet that runs from Aug. 19 to Dec. 17. There are 34 stakes for the new season worth a total of more than $3.5 million.  

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 14:17

Pletcher picks up four horses out of Fasig-Tipton sale

Coady Photography
Kuchar topped Monday's Fasig-Tipton horses of all ages sale at $500,000.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The 3-year-olds Kuchar and Montebello were among four horses that were turned over to trainer Todd Pletcher following their purchases at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington, Ky.

The horses were bought by agent Steve Young on behalf of owners Larry Sarf, who will race under LSU Stables, and Louis Lazzinnaro.

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 14:08

Life Is Good works half-mile for Whitney

Barbara D. Livingston
Life Is Good works on Friday at Saratoga for the Whitney.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Life Is Good, recent winner of the Grade 2 John Nerud Stakes at Belmont, worked a half-mile in 49.49 seconds over Saratoga’s main track Friday as he ramps up preparation for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Invitational here on Aug. 6.

Last year, when he first got Life Is Good in his barn, trainer Todd Pletcher would train the horse at 5:30 a.m. on the Oklahoma training track. Friday was Life Is Good’s first work on the main track.

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 13:54

Ethereal Road fine after being pulled up in work

Deb Roma
Ethereal Road wins the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on May 21. He is pointing to the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 30.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The 3-year-old Ethereal Road was working alongside the unraced 2-year-old Major Blue when the pair went into the mist that enveloped the Oklahoma training track Friday morning in Saratoga. Only Major Blue came out of the mist to finish the work.

Ethereal Road, the Sir Barton Stakes winner, bolted around the far turn and was pulled up by jockey Luis Saez. Saez never got off the horse and walked Ethereal Road back to the barn.

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 13:47

Secret Oath works for Coaching Club American Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
Secret Oath works Friday at Saratoga for the CCA Oaks on July 23.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Secret Oath, the Kentucky Oaks winner who finished fourth in the Preakness, worked five furlongs in 1:00.01 Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track, her final breeze before she runs in the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 23.

With regular rider Luis Saez up, Secret Oath went in splits of 12.14 seconds, 23.39, 35.68, 47.87 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.10.

“I was really pleased with her, that was super,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “I don’t think anybody will work any better than that.”

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 09:50

Queen's Plate 2022: Marine winner Rondure will skip Plate Trial

Michael Burns
Rondure finished second by a head in the June 12 Queenston, then wheeled back to win the July 2 Marine by 5 1/2 lengths. He will come into the Queen's Plate off a seven-week break.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – When Victor Cooley won the 1996 Queen’s Plate after taking the Marine Stakes four weeks earlier, it was thought to be a unique feat in an era where horses ran much more frequently than that.

Wando won the 2003 Plate in a romp, five weeks after winning the Grade 3 Marine. This year’s Marine victor, Rondure, will try to win the 1 1/4-mile test for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds off a seven-week absence on Aug. 21 and might be favored to turn the trick.

Thu, 07/14/2022 - 21:50

Lone Star cancels card after jockey express insurance concerns

Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, canceled Thursday night’s card after a meeting with jockeys in which the riders wanted assurance they would be able to see a doctor or specialist in the event of an injury.

Their concerns came about after jockey Carlos Montalvo was unable to see doctors or secure an appointment with a specialist in the wake of a July 4 spill in which his agent said he sustained facial fractures.