Fri, 08/13/2021 - 11:40

Dickinson, even in low profile, still succeeding

Jim Dunleavy
Michael Dickinson stepped away from training in 2007 to devote more time to synthetic surfaces.

While it did not quite match the two feats for which he is most famous, Michael Dickinson had a perfect day Tuesday at Colonial Downs.

Second-time starter Search for Truth, a 3-year-old gelding by Tourist out of Kinley, won a 1 1/8-mile turf maiden race by 13 1/2 lengths. Later on the card, 3-year-old filly Belle Belisa, making her career debut, rallied with a purpose to win a 1 1/8-mile turf maiden race of her own, getting up by one length.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 18:33

Pick six carryover of $132K into Friday card

Barbara D. Livingston
There is a pick six carryover of $132,105 entering Friday's card at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- There will be a pick six carryover of $132,105 into Friday’s Saratoga card after no one correctly selected all six winners in Thursday’s sequence.

However, there four winning tickets sold on the late pick five, each returning $161,870 for 50 cents.

The pick six began with favorite Key Point ($6.80) winning race 5. But the next four winners were Dufresne ($24.80), Take It Off ($79), Letmeno ($10.20), and Itsakeyper ($36.40). The only winning favorite in the sequence came in the 10th, when Amano ($7.90) ran down Abaan.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 15:26

Masqueparade likely bound for Travers

Barbara D. Livingston
Masqueparade is in between horses early in then Jim Dandy. He finished third.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Masqueparade, the Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner who finished third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here July 31, returned to the work tab Thursday morning as he prepares for a likely start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Aug. 28.

Masqueparade worked a half-mile in 47.55 seconds over the Saratoga main track. He went in company with the filly Sum Kinda Pretty.

Trainer Al Stall stopped short of committing Masqueparade to the Travers, but worked him Thursday with that race in mind.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 15:10

Dr Post among eight expected for Pacific Classic

Emily Shields
Monmouth Cup winner Dr Post is among eight expected for the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

This is by far the quietest week of the Del Mar summer season, with no graded stakes. The richest race of the weekend is Sunday’s $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Next week is another matter, with seven graded stakes from Friday through Sunday. The Aug. 21 program has five graded stakes, led by the $1 million Pacific Classic, the richest race of the summer season.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 15:06

Medina Spirit fires another bullet

Barbara D. Livingston
Medina Spirit worked five furlongs in a bullet 59.60 seconds Thursday at Del Mar.

Medina Spirit, the first-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs, worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 on Thursday at Del Mar.

This was the second consecutive week that Medina Spirit had a bullet work. Medina Spirit worked a half-mile in 59.60 seconds on Aug. 5.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 15:06

Zoffarelli the latest good-looking import for Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal

Benoit Photo
Zoffarelli, between horses, finishes second in the La Jolla last Sunday at Del Mar but was out up to first.

Zoffarelli won his American debut via disqualification in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf at Del Mar last Sunday, becoming the latest in a years-long trend of stakes-winning European imports for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. The recent standard of success for an import owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal is River Boyne, a seven-time stakes winner from 2018 to 2020 who is now at stud in Ireland.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 13:30

Golden Pal travelling to York for Nunthorpe Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Golden Pal wins the Quick Call at Saratoga on July 15.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Wesley Ward said his 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal was scheduled to depart Kentucky for England on Thursday evening and will make his next start at York in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on Aug. 20.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 13:26

Army Wife will face the big girls in Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Maker confirmed Thursday he intends to run the steadily improving Army Wife in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-old fillies.

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 11:36

Hard to Deny works his way into Longacres Mile

Four-Footed Fotos
Five Star General (foreground) will try to punch his ticket to the Longacres Mile when he runs at Hastings on Tuesday.

Last week trainer Chris Stenslie said she was probably not going to run Hard to Deny in the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile, which drew 11 horses and will be run as the eighth race Sunday at Emerald Downs.

But after watching how well Hard to Deny trained this week, she changed her mind, and on Wednesday entered him in the Mile. A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Hard Spun, Hard to Deny will break from post 4 with leading rider Anthony Cruz aboard. He replaces Juan Gutierrez, who will ride the Peter Miller-trained Anyportinastorm.

Wed, 08/11/2021 - 15:06

With two turns in his future, Glacial takes off the blinkers for Saratoga Special

Coady Photography
Glacial wins a maiden race at Churchill Downs on May 29.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A speedy 2-year-old is not a bad thing to have when you’re sprinting. Norm Casse is hoping to harness the speed Glacial has shown when he removes the blinkers from the colt’s equipment when he goes 6 1/2 furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.