DEL MAR, Calif. - The 3-year-old colt Paddy Murphy has turned things around since he returned from a four-month layoff.
From December to February, Paddy Murphy had one victory in four starts, and his trainer, Paddy Gallagher, was not pleased with his progress.
"We backed off to see if he'd get stronger," Gallagher said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Handicappers may want to put a different spin on the popular turf-to-dirt angle when trying to select the winner of Monday's $70,000 Troy Stakes at Saratoga.
The Troy, run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf course, shares billing with the $70,000 Noble Nashua for New York-breds on the dirt at nine furlongs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Nine years ago, Countess Diana won both the Schuylerville and Spinaway stakes at Saratoga en route to being named champion 2-year-old filly.
On Thursday, her brother Shermanesque will try to join her as a juvenile stakes winner at Saratoga when he runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special Breeders' Cup. Shermanesque, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, won his career debut before finishing second behind Circular Quay in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs on July 8.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The sleepy California 2-year-old division awakens Sunday at Del Mar, where the sky is the limit for the winner of the Grade 2, 6 1/2-furlong Best Pal Stakes.
"The winner is probably the favorite for the Del Mar Futurity," said trainer Doug O'Neill, whose colt Stevie Wonderboy catapulted from victory in the Grade 2 Del Mar Futurity to a championship triumph last fall in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
DEL MAR, Calif. - In the build-up to the Hollywood Gold Cup last month, Magnum was seen as a major threat to division leader Lava Man. That threat ceased to exist after the eighth pole of the July 8 race.
After fighting for the early lead, and holding a one-length advantage on the backstretch, Magnum faded to finish fourth, 1 1/4 lengths behind Lava Man. It was the first time in five starts this year that Magnum had been worse than second.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Golden Commander beat Foreverness by a half-length in the 2004 West Point Handicap at Saratoga. After injury and illness prevented both from running in the West Point last year, the two consistent New York-bred turf horses are back for Sunday's 27th running of the $100,000 West Point.
Thirteen statebreds were entered for the West Point, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles over the Mellon Turf Course. Only 12 will be permitted to run. Four additional runners were entered if the race is moved to the main track.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It has been two weeks since Preakness winner Bernardini crushed five rivals by nine lengths in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. Afterward, trainer Tom Albertrani predicted his lightly raced 3-year-old would move forward off the effort.
All indications are that this is exactly what has happened.
In his first workout since the Jim Dandy, Bernardini cruised through five furlongs in 1:03.48 over Saratoga's main track in preparation for the $1 million Travers on Aug. 26. While not a fast move, it was done with relative ease.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association will pay homage to Saratoga's all-time winningest rider with a "Salute to Jerry Bailey" ceremony following Sunday's fifth race.
Among the activities planned are a three-minute video tribute with some of Bailey's greatest Spa rides, a presentation of a special gift from NYRA, speeches by trainer Bill Mott and jockey Angel Cordero Jr., and the unveiling of a new Choco Jocko Bailey ice cream.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Much like editors at a newspaper, fans at Saratoga on Sunday are expected to yell, "Get me Rewrite."
There's good reason. Not for the editing - after all, all writers' words are perfect - but for betting on Rewrite, who is perfect in three grass starts and will seek her first stakes victory in the $70,000-added Irish Linnet Stakes, the eighth race on Sunday's 10-race card.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Ralph Nicks has been in Saratoga for the past few weeks, and early Friday he still had not seen the past performances for the Mariah's Storm, the featured eighth race Sunday at Arlington Park. Nicks is scheduled to run Sea Siren, who just raced last weekend at Ellis Park, in the $40,000 race for older fillies and mares.
"Is there a ton of speed in there against us?" he asked. "Because if there is, I might not want to run her back so quick."
