SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Despite bad weather resulting in bad business on Monday, Saratoga enjoyed increases in attendance and handle for the first four days of the 143rd meet when compared to the first four days last year.
Total attendance was 73,875, up 2 percent from 72,452 in 2010. This despite rainy weather on Monday keeping the crowd to 7,839, believed to be the smallest Saratoga crowd since Aug. 31, 2005 when 7,700 showed up.
The field has closed as the 2-1 favorite for the second annual All American Future Wager for Quarter Horses. The bet was offered by Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, which each Labor Day runs the prestigious All American Futurity. The future wager opened July 15, and closed Saturday night at 10 p.m. Mountain.
Mighty B Valiant, who on Sunday finished fifth as the favorite in the Grade 1, $700,000 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, was the 9-2 second choice in the All American Future Wager. The third choice at 5-1 was High Rate of Return.
Belmont Park has been re-accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance, according to the alliance. Belmont, which was first accredited in 2009, is the sixth racetrack to be re-accredited by the alliance, an industry-funded organization that accredits tracks based on their compliance with a list of directives.
The Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park has evolved into one of the primary stakes races for 3-year-olds every year. Some of the top horses in the nation, including Belmont runner-up Paynter, Dullahan, and Gemologist, are set to run in the 1 1/8-mile race, a Grade 1 stakes that could have big implications on the 3-year-old awards at the end of the year. How will this year’s Haskell stack up against some of the great ones in its history? Here are some of the top races in Haskell history, with video replays:
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the past few years, there has been a buzz on most Monday mornings during the Saratoga meet as trainer Steve Asmussen would work champions like Curlin or Rachel Alexandra just after sunrise.
Neither Astrology nor Dominus have reached star status yet, which explains why it was eerily quiet Monday morning when Asmussen brought out that pair of 3-year-olds for their final workouts before important stakes this weekend.
DEL MAR, Calif. – A massive pick-six pool Wednesday at Del Mar is expected to soar beyond $1 million as bettors chase a $239,490 carryover.
DEL MAR CARRYOVER: Video analysis, PPs, news and more
The challenging sequence on races 3-8 includes the $85,000 Wickerr Stakes, a mile turf race with 10 runners and three also-eligibles.
“I didn’t think it was going to be so busy,” Victory Pete’s trainer, Alexis Barba, said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Friend or Foe was scratched out of the $75,000 Evan Shipman Stakes here Monday by trainer John Kimmel and will now be pointed for the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap on Aug. 6.
Kimmel made the decision to scratch Friend or Foe, who would have been a prohibitive favorite in the race restricted to New York breds, after heavy showers turned the main track from fast to sloppy following the running of Monday’s first race.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Toner made no excuses after More Than Real handed Winter Memories her only defeat in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Toner is hoping he won’t need any after the pair meet for the first time as 3-year-olds Wednesday at Saratoga in the $150,000 Lake George Stakes.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Biofuel, Canada’s Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly last season, was retired on Monday.
“She chipped her sesamoid, during the race yesterday,” said trainer Reade Baker, who had sent out Biofuel to finish third in Sunday’s Ontario Matron and was present when the injury was discovered late Monday morning.
“She’ll stay at Woodbine, for another week, and then head down to Airdrie Stud. She’ll be bred to Majesticperfection.”
Biofuel was bred in Kentucky by her owner, Brereton C. Jones, owner of the Lexington-area Airdrie Stud.
