LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A somewhat conspicuous absence from the Grade 3 Chicago won Saturday by Lady Rocket at Churchill was Lovemesomeme, a 6 1/2-length allowance winner earlier in the meet.
“The Chicago was almost like a Grade 1,” said Billy Denzik, the former trainer who co-owns Lovemesomeme. “It would’ve been a huge jump, lightly raced as our filly is. If she keeps making progress, though, I’d guess we’ll be facing those good ones soon enough.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Racing secretary Ben Huffman said early this week that the suspension of turf racing at Churchill “has actually allowed the course to begin to thrive” and that the four turf stakes scheduled for the coming weekend will be held as scheduled. Besides the three Saturday turf stakes, the Anchorage will be run Sunday. They will be the only turf races through meet’s end.
Horses were to work or gallop over the course Tuesday morning as a test for the weekend, Huffman said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Olympiad and Mandaloun head the prospective field for the Grade 2 Stephen Foster, one of six stakes set for the final Saturday card of the Churchill Downs spring meet.
A terrific Saturday of racing led by the $750,000 Foster anchors a busy closing weekend to the 42-day meet, highlighted by a showdown between the red-hot Olympiad and the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Mandaloun.
Purses for overnight races at the upcoming Saratoga meet will increase by $2,000 to $15,000 per race, depending on condition, the New York Racing Association announced Friday afternoon.
Open second- and third-level allowance races will increase by $15,000 to $120,000 and $125,000, respectively, while a first-level allowance will increase by $12,000 to $115,000.
New York-bred allowance races will increase by $5,000, bringing a second-level statebred allowance up to $100,000.
ELMONT, N.Y. -- Annapolis and Emmanuel worked a sharp five furlongs in 59.85 seconds over the Belmont Park turf course Friday morning as they prepare for upcoming stakes engagements.
While both 3-year-olds are being considered for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational on July 9, Pletcher said Annapolis is also possible for the $100,000 Manila Stakes at a mile on July 4. Annapolis, winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim here last fall, finished second in the Penn Mile at Penn National on June 3, a race run over a boggy course.
ELMONT, N.Y. -- Flavien Prat will ride Life Is Good in the Grade 2, $250,000 John Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park on July 2, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.
Prat will replace Irad Ortiz Jr., Life Is Good’s rider for the last year, because Ortiz will be serving a five-day suspension from June 29 through July 3. That suspension was handed to Ortiz by the stewards at Royal Ascot for Ortiz allowing his mount in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, Love Reigns, “to drift left-handed without sufficient correction,” according to the stewards’ report.
Opening Buzz, who cruised to a seven-length win in her debut at Golden Gate Fields on June 11, will have her second start in the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for statebred 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on July 28.
The Fleet Treat Stakes is run at seven furlongs. Opening Buzz won a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:03.10 on the synthetic track. Owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, Opening Buzz earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
On Friday, the major stakes winners Country Grammer and Smooth Like Strait were among the notable workers at Santa Anita.
Country Grammer worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds, his second workout since returning to California following a win in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March.
“He finished up nicely,” trainer Sean McCarthy said.
Country Grammer is being pointed for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Sept. 3, with the possibility of a start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 30.
Balnikhov, who has had mixed results in his first three starts in the United States in stakes for 3-year-olds on turf, will be trainer Phil D’Amato’s leading hope for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 22.
Balnikhov will have a new rider in the Oceanside. D’Amato said on Friday that the Irish-bred gelding will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli.
Brigadier General will be scratched from Saturday's Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and will instead target the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby on July 9, trainer Dallas Stewart said Thursday night.
Stewart added in a text message that the colt was "fine."
The scratch of Brigadier General, who has shown improved speed in three starts since adding blinkers, will reduce the field for the Ohio Derby to seven. The favorites on the morning line are Kentucky Derby also-rans Tawny Port, at 3-1, and White Abarrio, at 7-2.
