SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With the Sunday arrival of Rich Strike, the first two finishers of the Kentucky Derby are at the same facility for the first time in more than three months.
On a beautiful Monday morning in Saratoga both Rich Strike and Epicenter had markedly different training sessions as they prepare for their rematch in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 27.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Ce Ce, last year’s champion female sprinter, is scheduled to make her next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina on Aug. 28 at Saratoga, trainer Michael McCarthy said.
Ce Ce was third in last year’s Ballerina, but then won her next two starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar, to secure the divisional Eclipse Award.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Vegas Magic, upset winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Saturday, likely will make her next start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, the meet’s championship race for that division, Sept. 10, according to trainer Doug O’Neill.
“I would think so,” O’Neill said. “I’ve got to huddle up with those owners, but that seems like the logical move.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Tyler Baze, who did not show for his rides last Thursday and after meeting with Del Mar’s stewards the following day was excused from racing Friday through Sunday to attend to what the stewards called “personal matters,” has been named on three horses for Thursday’s card.
Baze has four more mounts on Friday’s card, including Freedom Lass in that day’s feature, the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Trainers and Thoroughbred Owners of California Stakes. Those are the only two cards drawn for the upcoming week so far. Saturday’s races are drawn Wednesday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Going Global, who won her eighth stakes in the last 18 months in Saturday’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap for fillies and mares on turf, has a predictable schedule through the end of the current Del Mar summer meeting.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said Sunday that Going Global will be pointed to the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 10, the closing weekend of the current Del Mar meeting.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Big Hopes went from last to first in the span of a quarter-mile in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old California-bred fillies in Saturday’s second race. She looked like a winner for the final stride and maybe the one before.
The exciting victory is expected to lead to a start in the $125,000 Generous Portion Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on Sept. 5. The goal in the interim is to work with Big Hopes at the gate. She broke slowly in the maiden race and trailed the field for the first three furlongs.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The lightly raced gelding Dandy Warhol may have his fourth career start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3 after winning for the second time with a sharp rally in an allowance race on Saturday.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Dandy Warhol ($7.80) edged Handy Dandy by a nose, closing from 11 lengths off the pace on the turn.
The $300,000 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf would be Dandy Warhol’s third start of the Del Mar summer meeting.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nest, the 12-length winner of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, completed preparations for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama by working a half-mile in 50.60 seconds over the Saratoga main track on Saturday morning.
Nest went in company with recent maiden winner Up to the Mark, who is pointing to an allowance race later in the meet.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Early Voting, the Preakness winner who finished last in the Jim Dandy Stakes here July 30, put himself back in the mix for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 27 with a solid workout over Saratoga’s main track Saturday.
Early Voting was one of six potential Travers starters to put in workouts here Saturday, two weeks out from the Mid-Summer Derby. A field of nine is likely for the 1 1/4-mile race.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The best older horse in the nation and the best 3-year-old in California both turned in sharp drills early Saturday morning at Del Mar to kick off a busy morning of workouts on a warm, humid morning.
The unbeaten Flightline has been the star of these Saturday sessions all summer, and he continued to impress with another brilliant drill as he moves closer to his next start, the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic here Sept. 3.
