Trainer Steve Asmussen on Sunday was still marveling at how fast Yaupon ran in winning Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.
“How many horses go 1:08-and-two at Saratoga?” Asmussen said.
Not many.
Yaupon’s final time of 1:08.50 was the fastest of 14 Amsterdams run at six furlongs. The first 13 of those were run between 1994-2007 [the 2006 was not run at 6 furlongs]. From 2008-19, the race was run at 6 1/2 furlongs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When trainer Bill Mott reached into the pocket of his rain slicker Saturday at Saratoga, he found his paddock pass to the 2019 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
“If that wasn’t an omen,” said Mott, who would ultimately win that Derby with Country House, who was put up to first by the stewards following the disqualification of Maximum Security.
No such aid was needed Saturday for Channel Maker, who was able to make an easy lead under Manny Franco en route to a 5 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Mike Trombetta watched the replay of Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego Stakes at home Saturday night. After seeing the race again, Trombetta was even more awed by what his Win Win Win had accomplished earlier in the day at Saratoga.
Win Win Win rallied extremely wide, after dropping nearly 20 lengths behind the leaders, in the run down the backstretch to an improbable half-length victory over Complexity in a race decided on a sloppy racetrack during a driving rainstorm.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Trainer Kevin Attard worked three possible starters for the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate Saturday, including Plate Trial Stakes winner Clayton and Merveilleux.
Under Rafael Hernandez, Clayton breezed five-eighths in 1:01.60 on the training track with Say Hey, a move that Attard said he was happy with.
“He breezed well,” Attard said. “He was nice and relaxed. He galloped-out strongly. Hernandez seemed happy. All good signs.”
DEL MAR, Calif. - There may be questions over whether Authentic can stretch his speed to 1 1/4 miles Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, but there is no question he's coming into the biggest test of his life as good as can be. This was confirmed Sunday morning at Del Mar when he completed his serious training for the Derby with a strong drill that capped off an excellent series since his victory in the Haskell.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner Charles Fipke announced on his Twitter account Saturday that his unbeaten 3-year-old colt Shirl’s Speight will miss next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby due to a cough.
“Unfortunately, Shirl’s Speight has come up with a minor cough today and he will not be going to the Kentucky Derby. His health is our number one concern, and we’ll look forward to his next race.”
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Honor A. P. is right where trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Mike Smith want him. In his final afternoon work here at Del Mar, his final work for the Kentucky Derby seven days hence, Honor A. P. worked a steady seven furlongs in 1:27.20, including a final quarter in 24.40 seconds, then galloped out a mile in 1:40.60.
“Really good,” Shirreffs said as Honor A. P. galloped back after the work. “I’m really happy. The only thing that could have gone wrong was to go too fast. He went nice and even all the way around.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher has confirmed plans for his 3-year-olds, with Money Moves going to next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and Dr Post, the Belmont Stakes runner-up, pointing to the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga the same day.
Money Moves, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, becomes the 18th confirmed starter for the Kentucky Derby. Money Moves, who has never run in a stakes race, has no qualifying points for the Derby, but points don’t matter if 20 horses or fewer are entered in the race.
Swiss Skydiver, one of the major contenders for next Friday's Kentucky Oaks, breezed a maintenance half-mile in 49.20 seconds on Saturday at Churchill Downs in her final major tune-up for the filly classic.
Swiss Skydiver, working solo during the training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks candidates, went her opening quarter in 23.40 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clockers. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20 under Brian Hernandez Jr.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mother Nature fought the Law and the Law won.
Before the rain came Saturday morning in upstate New York, Tiz the Law completed his major preparation for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby by working a fast five furlongs in 58.96 seconds over a fast Saratoga main track.
