Wed, 07/30/2025 - 14:22

Miller to enter Game Warrior in La Jolla Handicap

Benoit Photo

Trainer Peter Miller will enter Game Warrior in the La Jolla Handicap but may not run him.

Game Warrior, the upset winner of the Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf on July 18, will be entered in Sunday’s $100,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar.

An entry is as far as trainer Peter Miller wanted to commit for the 3-year-old colt as of Wednesday. Game Warrior had a tune-up for the La Jolla Handicap with a three-furlong workout in 38.60 seconds on Tuesday.

“The horse is good to go,” he said. “He breezed super and came out of the race like nothing. I think we’ll certainly enter.”

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 14:21

Shirreffs reroutes Atitlan to Del Mar Handicap after stall incident

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Atitlan will start in the Del Mar Handicap after missing the Eddie Read Stakes.

Atitlan, a three-time graded stakes winner in the last year, is booked to start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 30 after missing Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes after kicking a wall.

Trainer John Shirreffs said on Wednesday that Atitlan was jogged “the last few days” after recovering from the incident, which occurred in the days before the $250,500 Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

“He spread his shoe, and bruised his foot,” Sherriffs said.

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 13:31

Thorpedo Anna has first work since Fleur de Lis win with Personal Ensign up next

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Thorpedo Anna will start next in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 23.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year, had her first local work since arriving from Kentucky three weeks ago, going a half-mile in 50.60 seconds on Tuesday over the Oklahoma training track.

It was Thorpedo Anna’s first work since she won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 28. She is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here on Aug. 23.

“I told him to go 48-and-change so they went a little slow but she galloped out real strong, came out of it good, didn’t take a sip of water afterwards,” trainer Kenny McPeek said.

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 13:29

Scottish Lassie to bypass Alabama for Cotillion

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

Scottish Lassie will start next in the Cotillion at Parx, instead of the Alabama at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Scottish Lassie, the 15 1/2-length winner of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19, will skip the Alabama on Aug. 16 and instead make her next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 20, trainer Jorge Abreu said Wednesday.

Abreu said the Alabama is “too soon, too quick back for her. We’re going to go to the Cotillion.”

Abreu added that the CCA Oaks came back a fast race on multiple speed figures and “I don’t want her to bounce off that race,” he said. “Time is everything.”

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 13:28

Pletcher's juveniles lift him to top of trainer standings

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Time to Dream was an impressive maiden winner on the turf on July 25.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – That Todd Pletcher was tied atop the trainer standings through the first three weeks of the Saratoga meet can be largely attributed to the early success he’s had with his 2-year-old class.

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 13:14

Post Time ready to take another crack at Whitney

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Third in the Whitney last year, Post Time will try again in Saturday's running of the prestigious Grade 1 race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A summer after he placed in two Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga, including a third-place finish in the Whitney, the Maryland-bred and -based Post Time is back to try again as part of a star-studded field entered in Saturday’s $1 million Whitney Stakes.

Post Time, a 5-year-old son of Frosted, is as consistent as they come, having won 11 of 18 starts and never finishing worse than third. He’s a seven-time stakes winner, his biggest victory coming in the Grade 2 Carter at Aqueduct in April 2024.

Tue, 07/29/2025 - 11:15

Thistledown cancels Tuesday card amidst track safety concerns

By Matt Hegarty

Thistledown racetrack outside of Cleveland, Ohio, has canceled its Tuesday race card amidst ongoing discussions about safety concerns at the track.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:48

Dazzle d'Oro suffers catastrophic injury

By David Grening

Coady Media

Dazzle d’Oro suffered a fractured sesamoid in his left foreleg and was euthanized.

Dazzle d’Oro, a first-out maiden winner at Churchill Downs, suffered a catastrophic injury at the conclusion of a workout Monday morning over the main track at Saratoga in preparation for a start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

According to trainer Tom Amoss, Dazzle d’Oro suffered a fractured sesamoid in his left foreleg and was euthanized after being taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:46

Eclipse obsession continues to fuel Irad

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Through the first 14 days of the 40-day meet, Ortiz has won 28 races.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On his cell phone, underneath his alarm, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has three emojis: a trophy, a goat, and prayer hands. It is a daily reminder of the motivating force behind all the work Ortiz does each day – another Eclipse Award.

Though Ortiz has won five Eclipse Awards as North America’s champion jockey – he was unseated last year by Flavien Prat – he wants more.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:40

Om N Joy ready to test open company in Torrey Pines

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Om N Joy will likely test open company next in the Torrey Pines at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Om N Joy is likely to start in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on Aug. 30 after extending her winning streak to four races with her third consecutive stakes win in Friday’s $152,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for statebreds.

“I think the Torrey Pines would be a good place to jump into open company,” trainer Aggie Ordonez said on Monday.

“I know it’s a big step up. I feel like she’s doing well enough here and the timing is just right. It gives her five weeks.”

Subscribe to Track Notes