OCEANPORT, N.J. - Weather permitting, Ruler On Ice will have his final workout for the Travers Stakes on Saturday morning at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Kelly Breen said the Belmont Stakes winner will likely head out to the track around 7:30 a.m. with regular rider Jose Valdivia Jr. aboard.

The only major hitch could be the condition of the track. There was moisture in the surface Friday morning following overnight rain and more showers were forecast for later Friday afternoon. A wet track Saturday morning could postpone the work by one day.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Fifty Proof, the morning-line second choice at 2-1, has been scratched from Sunday's Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine.

"He's sound, but he had a little filling in one leg," said trainer Ian Black. "I really can't take him over there that way; I don't want to take any chances."

Fifty Proof's defection leaves the Grade 2, $250,000 Sky Classic with a field of just five.

Ochoa emerged as the fastest qualifier for next month’s Grade 1, $2.4 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses on Thursday, when he won the 14^th of 26 trials held at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. The marathon card started at 9 a.m. Mountain, with the final race going off at 6:45 p.m.

Presque Isle Downs will increase overnight  purses by 20 percent beginning with the new condition book that begins Sept. 5. In addition, purses for the final two stakes for 2-year-olds have been increased from $100,000 to $150,000. Both the Fitz Dixon Memorial and Presque Isle Debutante are to be run closing Day, Oct. 1.

The additional purse money will come from the Presque Isle casino’s 2,000 slot machines

“July was the best month they have had at the casino and the purse increase reflects that," said Debbie Howells, director of racing.

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race. Each analysis will include relevant statistical information. Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

Friday, Aug. 19, 2011

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race. Each analysis will include relevant statistical information. Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

Wednesday's results:

With a little more than a week to go before the Travers at Saratoga, let's check in on the possible contenders for the 3-year-old male champion award and how they have been training up for the race. The final workouts are scheduled for this weekend, and DRF.com's Mike Welsch will be on site reporting from Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The stock market may be in free-fall, so why not do some speculating claiming horses?

For $25,000, owner Thomas LaMarca and trainer Bruce Brown speculated that the 5-year-old gelding Compliance Officer still had something left. Four months after claiming the horse, LaMarca and Brown are still reaping the rewards as Compliance Officer powered home a 1 3/4-length winner of Thursday's $100,000 West Point Handicap for New York-bred turf males at Saratoga.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Game On Dude, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in March, worked a mile in 1:38 on Thursday, preparing for a start in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 28.

Game On Dude was ridden by Martin Garcia in the workout, but the mount is expected to go to Chantal Sutherland, who was aboard in the Big Cap and a second-place finish in the Hollywood Gold Cup last month.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Raetodandty moved closer to a potential start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in November with an upset win in Wednesday’s $105,745 Green Flash Handicap.

Raetodandty ($23) closed from third in the field of eight to win the five-furlong turf race by a neck over Streakin’ Mohican, giving 54-year-old owner-trainer Val Brinkerhoff his first career stakes win. “To win in a place like this makes it special,” the former jockey said.