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.
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.
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Using an infusion of cash from a long-delayed casino impact-fee fund, Arlington Park raised overnight purses by 21 percent Friday, but did so over the objections of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
The ITHA and Arlington have not come to an agreement about how $25.9 million dedicated to purses should be distributed, and ITHA officials say that Arlington’s decision to start paying the money Friday without having reached an agreement is a breach of contract.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Chris McCarron was a bit winded when he walked back from a sixth-place finish in the jockey challenge run Friday as the fifth race at Arlington Park. Suddenly, fellow Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero and Laffit Pincay, who had watched from the winner's enclosure, crowded and bumped him from both sides.
"Hey, come on!" McCarron screamed, all in fun.
BOOSIER CITY, La. - Jockey Justin Shepherd has dropped his appeal of a ruling issued by the Louisiana Board of Stewards last month. In the ruling dated July 21, Shepherd was suspended 30 days for testing positive for amphetamines (first offense).
Shepherd took off his mounts at Louisiana Downs on Thursday and Friday and did not accept any mounts on Saturday’s program which was drawn Wednesday. He will be eligible to return to the saddle Aug. 29 after receiving credit for time served during the appeal process last month.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Tres Borrachos, the upset winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 30, worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 on Friday, and is on schedule for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 28, trainer Marty Jones said.
Jones timed Tres Borrachos galloping out six furlongs in 1:17 in his first workout since the San Diego. “It was a nice gallop-out,” Jones said. “He’ll work in company next week.”
St. Tribute could advance to the rich Louisiana Cup program with the right kind of effort in the featured sixth race Sunday at Louisiana Downs. She will start as a top contender in the first-level allowance for fillies and mares at about 1 1/16 miles on turf. The race, which is one of three allowances on the card, could serve as St. Tribute’s springboard to the $100,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff for statebred fillies and mares next Saturday.
“If she runs good, we’ll more than likely come back in the Cup,” said Alfonso Balderas, who trains St. Tribute for her breeder, Ray Whitley.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Big Blue Kitten was risked for a claiming tag not once, not twice, but three times to start his career, but he has come quite a ways since then. On Friday at Saratoga, he won his fifth race in six starts with a mild surprise in the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, for 3-year-olds on the turf.
Naughty New Yorker has been retired again after an unsuccessful comeback, trainer Pat Kelly said Friday.
Naughty New Yorker, 9, came out of his last race – a last-place finish in the John Morrissey Stakes here on Aug. 3 – with a little filling in a leg, Kelly said. There are no stallion plans yet, but Kelly said he is hopeful Naughty New Yorker can land somewhere in New York.
Naughty New Yorker had been retired last fall, but was put back into training when his owners, the Fox Ridge Farm, could not find a place to stand him as a stallion.
Banner Bill, undefeated in three starts at Woodbine, and Indian Evening, a debut winner at Woodbine, were two of the six 2-year-olds entered for Monday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Three Chimneys Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Banner Bill, a son of Rockport Harbor, won a maiden race in May, the Victoria Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths in June and the Colin Stakes in July, all over the synthetic surface at Woodbine. Trainer Ralph Biamonte, 66, is making his first visit to Saratoga.
