SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On paper, there appears to be so much speed in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap that the race would seemingly set up for a closer. But the two primary closers - - don't elicit confidence, and the main speed horse, Afrashad, may not yet have reached his zenith.
Skip to main content
Create Your DRF Account
New to DRF?
Everything you could possibly
need in one place
need in one place
Register
Don't have an account?
Register Here
DRF Past Performances
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Doug Fout brought Hirapour back to the races this year at age 10 with one goal in mind, to win an Eclipse Award for the second time in three years. Hirapour on Thursday was making his first start since November, when he chipped an ankle, and was racing over a distance considered short of his best, but the old man looked as spry as ever by romping to a four-length victory in the Grade 2, $79,500 at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Nearly two decades after leaving the Thoroughbred business, owner Marc Keller is back. He would like nothing more than to announce his return in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga when he starts the 3-year-old Great Britain-bred Grand Couturier.
Grand Couturier, a son of Grand Lodge, has won four of six starts in Europe, including the Bordeaux Derby in France in May. Last month, Grand Couturier finished fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Rail Link, in the Grand Prix de Paris, a Group 1.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Twice in the last four years, trainer Bill Currin has had a 2-year-old finish in the top three in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Outta Here was third in 2002, and Bashert was second last year. The race has also been a source of sadness for Currin. The Currin-trained Wetherly was euthanized as a result of injuries suffered in the 2004 running.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Porto Santo ran too well to lose in the second division of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 19. He was making a bold move in the stretch when he was bothered, and finished second by a head.
The near miss will make Porto Santo the favorite in Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
faces a field that includes two major stakes winners on dirt - A. P. Warrior and Arson Squad, both of whom are trying turf for the first time.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The next phase of Woodbine's installation of a synthetic Polytrack racing surface began here early Thursday morning, with the first section of macadam being laid on the homestretch.
Wednesday, Aug. 23, is the tentative target date for Polytrack's debut.
The macadam, which will be the final sub-layer of the new surface, has to be paved and closed to all forms of traffic for three straight days. The process originally had been scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Selene Stakes winner Seductively will try to negotiate 7 1/2 furlongs on Woodbine's inner track in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Duchess Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Duchess is normally run at seven furlongs on the main track, but the main track is closed to have Polytrack installed.
Seductively led most of the way in the Selene, a Grade 3 stakes at 1 1/16 miles, and earned a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure. Three weeks later, in the June 11 Woodbine Oaks at 1 1/8 miles, she set a lively pace before fading to third.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Starlite Strike seeks her second straight stakes victory here in Saturday's $100,000 Sonoma at Northlands Park. The 1 1/16-mile Sonoma attracted a field of six 3-year-old fillies.
Starlite Strike, owned by Canyon Farm and based at Hastings, is coming off a 1 1/2-length win in the July 22 Northlands Oaks. Trained by Robert Van Overschot, Starlite Strike drew post 1 and will be ridden by Richard Hamel.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jose Velez Jr. got his 3,000th career victory Thursday at Monmouth Park aboard Careless Glances in the eighth race.
"It's an accomplishment in my career," Velez said. "I don't know how far I can go. I think I've got a good five years in me."
Velez was swarmed by fellow jockeys for a celebration and commemorative photo in the winner's circle.
Velez, 43, started riding at Atlantic City Race Course in 1980 and won his first race that year at the Meadowlands.
"It doesn't feel like such a long time, but it is," Velez said.