Wed, 07/09/2025 - 12:49

Ruidoso cancels rest of 2025 meet after massive flooding

For the second time in less than a year, massive floods have led to the cancellation of the Ruidoso Downs race meeting in New Mexico.

On Tuesday, the track and its stable area were inundated with runoff from a massive rainstorm that struck mountains near the track. The flood was so severe that the racing surface and infield were covered in water. The single-story jockeys’ room, located on the infield, was flooded briefly to its roof line.

Track owner Johnny Trotter said Wednesday morning that the damage was too significant to continue the racing season.

Wed, 07/09/2025 - 12:42

Espinoza jazzed to be riding at Saratoga

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Victor Espinoza had ridden just 26 horses this year before coming to Saratoga in mid-June.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Victor Espinoza said he came to Saratoga about a month ago for a vacation. Now, the 53-year-old jockey said he is working as hard as ever in an attempt to revitalize his Hall of Fame career.

One call to trainer Wesley Ward and one visit to the Saratoga backstretch has reinvigorated Espinoza, who plans to ride the meet here this summer instead of Del Mar, where he has spent the last few decades.

Wed, 07/09/2025 - 12:36

Adirondack next for Mythical

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Mythical scored a 3 1/2-length victory over her male rivals in the Tremont.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The undefeated and yet untested 2-year-old filly Mythical will be back with her own kind when she returns to Saratoga on Aug. 3 for the Grade 3 Adirondack Stakes.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:45

Donegal Momentum all good after stumble

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Donegal Momentum stumbled and was pulled up in the Kelso but may still start in the Fourstardave.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Aside from a scrape on his right hind pastern, all was well with Donegal Momentum following a bad-looking stumble during the running of Saturday’s Grade 3 Kelso Stakes, trainer Tom Morley said.

“Thank God, everyone in the race – horses and people – came back in one piece,” Morley said.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:42

White Abarrio on track for Whitney start

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

White Abarrio put in a half-mile work Sunday at Saratoga in preparation for his next start in the Whitney.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio, who had a run of good races come to an end when he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 7, remains on target for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 2, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.

White Abarrio won the Whitney in 2023.

On Sunday, White Abarrio worked a half-mile in 48.87 seconds in company with Neoequos, who is coming off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens.

“He went good,” Joseph said. “Second work, let him pick it up a little bit.”

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:41

Brown's Diana dominance will be challenged

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Chad Brown will send out Dynamic Pricing and Excellent Truth to take on She Feels Pretty in the Diana.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chad Brown’s stranglehold on the Grade 1 Diana Stakes figures to get severely tested on Saturday at Saratoga.

Brown has won the 1 1/8-mile Diana on turf eight of the last nine years and he’s won nine runnings overall. While he does send out two top contenders in the field of six, neither Dynamic Pricing or Excellent Truth are likely to go favored. That role figures to go to She Feels Pretty, a winner of four consecutive graded stakes, including the Grade 1 New York here on June 6.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:30

Traditional summer meet opens with potential to be something special

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Sovereignty's connections plan to run him in both the Jim Dandy and the Travers.

After two week-long festivals – one last month, one last week – the traditional 40-day carnival known as the Saratoga summer meet starts Thursday. There are reasons to believe it could be a tremendous season.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:30

Test Score has Nashville Derby as major goal after Belmont Derby win

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Following his victory in the Belmont Derby, Graham Motion has set the Nashville Derby as a major goal for Test Score.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Graham Motion said Test Score exited his victory in Friday’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby in good order and that the $3.5 million Nashville Derby, the richest race for 3-year-olds in North America aside from the Kentucky Derby, will be his next major goal at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 30.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:07

Joseph eyeing Kentucky Downs for Implementation after Smile score

By Mike Welsch

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos

Implementation earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure while posting his second consecutive stakes win in the Smile.

Implementation is coming off arguably the strongest performance of his career, a two-length victory going six furlongs over the main track Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the Smile Sprint. But his trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., said it will likely be back to the grass for the versatile sprinter and a shot at a really lucrative payday later this summer in the $2 million Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 12:55

As always, Saratoga will be a hotbed of juvenile activity

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Mark Casse sent out odds-on Ewing for a 12-length debut maiden win at Saratoga on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mark Casse enjoyed his best Saratoga ever in 2024, fueled primarily by his 2-year-old crop that accounted for nine of his 15 victories at the meet.

Casse’s nine juvenile wins were second only to Chad Brown’s 10 at the 2024 meet, and those two trainers are likely to figure prominently again this summer at a meet that officially begins Thursday.

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