DEL MAR, Calif. - After flirting with the Triple Crown, Mr. Commons came back to his first love on Wednesday, scoring an impressive victory on turf in the $112,100 Oceanside Stakes, the opening-day feature at Del Mar.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela first came to Del Mar as a fresh-faced, 16-year-old apprentice, and though both he and Del Mar have matured in the three decades since, both retained their youthful enthusiasm on opening day on Wednesday.
"It's awesome. There's nothing like this," Valenzuela said, surveying a paddock that was already packed a half-hour before the first race. "It's like Christmas all over again. This is such a great day. You feed off the energy."
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Born Bullish, a nine-length debut winner at Belmont Park on June 24, was conspicuous by her absence from Friday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes.
Trainer John Terranova, who actually entered Born Bullish back in the Matron Stakes at Belmont on July 3 only to scratch her, explained that the filly missed a little bit of training time due to a temperature contracted the day before the Matron. She now may be pointed to the Adirondack Stakes here Aug. 14.
Wasted Tears might be heading to the beach a little later this summer, but it will be a working vacation for the turf specialist, who has some upcoming stakes options at Del Mar.
“I’m starting to hear ocean waves,” said Bart Evans, who bred, owns, and trains Wasted Tears.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When you’re in the middle of what could be a career year, it’s hard to be disappointed. But one couldn’t blame Javier Castellano for feeling a little disappointment for coming up 1 1/4 lengths short of earning at least a share of his first Belmont Park riding title.
AUBURN, Wash. – Margo’s Gift, who made Northwest racing proud when he splashed to a stakes victory on the Breeders’ Cup undercard in 2007, has been retired, trainer Doris Harwood said Tuesday.
Margo’s Gift had been entered to run in a $25,000 claiming race last Sunday. He was scratched, not because of injury or soundness issues, Harwood said, but because owner Kenny Alhadeff wasn’t comfortable with the prospect of losing the best horse he ever owned.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Pool Play, a candidate for the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 6, has suffered what for all intents and purposes is a career-ending injury, trainer Mark Casse revealed Wednesday. Pool Play is owned by Bill Farish Jr.
Casse said Pool Play, who rallied from last to upset the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at odds of 36-1 on June 18, has a tear in the upper part of his left tendon. The injury was discovered Tuesday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gayego has earned more than $1.7 million, is a Grade 1 winner, and has been beaten less than 1 1/2 lengths combined in the last two Breeders’ Cups. But he figures to be a longshot at best in a $75,000 overnight stakes when he returns from a five-month layoff Friday at Saratoga in the seven-furlong James Marvin.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ian Black’s barn already has won five stakes races with older horses this year, with Stormy Lord contributing a pair and Fifty Proof, Rahy’s Attorney, and Don’s Folly adding singles.
On Saturday, the stable will be looking to establish a stakes toehold in a different division when Niigon’s Princess runs in the $125,000 Jammed Lovely, a seven-furlong turf race at Woodbine for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.
