While the heart of the Saratoga stakes schedule remains the same, there are a number of changes relating to distances, dates, names, and purses to the program that will offer 77 stakes worth $22.635 million this summer.
The 40-day Saratoga meet runs from July 14 through Sept. 5.
Zozos, an impressive Oaklawn Park allowance-race winner, will start March 26 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. And Cyberknife, an impressive Fair Grounds allowance winner, will start April 2 in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.
Trainer Brad Cox hinted last week that would be his plan with these two Triple Crown hopefuls, and after both colts turned in Fair Grounds works over the weekend, Cox confirmed it Sunday.
Jeff Mullins, who ranks among the top 10 trainers in wins at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, is moving a dozen horses to Gulfstream Park.
Mullins said on Sunday that six horses have arrived in South Florida from California and another six were scheduled to be flown there in the middle of the week. Mullins said the move will give the horses additional race opportunities.
Edgeway, winner of two sprint stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita this year, will face her toughest test since November in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 9.
Trainer John Sadler confirmed in a text message on Monday that the $500,000 Madison for fillies and mares at seven furlongs is an early spring goal for Edgeway, who is owned by Hronis Racing.
The 20-cent Rainbow pick six will have a mandatory payout at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Through Sunday, the bet had a carryover of $358,858. Assuming there is not a single-ticket winner on Friday’s program, track officials are projecting a pool of $4 million in new money in the pick six on Saturday.
This is the second time in a month the track will conduct a mandatory payout. On Feb. 20, the pool of new money reached $5,044,060 in pursuit of a carryover of $664,316. The bet paid $6,033 that day.
Epicenter, after winning the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes by nearly three lengths over highly regarded Smile Happy and posting a 98 Beyer Speed Figure – among the best in his class – rose toward the top of most Kentucky Derby lists. His closing odds in Pool 4 of the Derby Future Wager, which closed March 13, were 13-1.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saffie Joseph Jr. sent out Holy Bull winner White Abarrio to work here Sunday. White Abarrio went a strong five furlongs in 59.50, going easily throughout, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.42. White Abarrio will be among the favorites in what is shaping up to be an outstanding renewal of the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2.
White Abarrio is going directly from the Holy Bull to the Florida Derby.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Life Is Good began his final work for his role as the favorite in the $12 million Dubai World Cup early Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs. And while there was no truth to the rumor he was still galloping out later that afternoon, even trainer Todd Pletcher was at a loss for superlatives to describe how well his star has done since his eye-catching victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational here earlier this winter.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Despite having to cancel six cards this winter, the New York Racing Association does not plan to add any racing days over the final two weeks of March. Instead, the NYRA will add races to already scheduled cards.
For example, there will be 10 races on Friday, including three that had been carded for last Saturday. Racing officials hope to run 10 races on Saturday and Sunday as well.
March has typically been a difficult month to fill races at Aqueduct, which is why since 2017 the race week in March has been shortened to three days.
