Myra’s Boy has won both of his starts at the Louisiana Downs meet and the Beyer Speed Figures he has earned are the top two numbers at the current stand in Bossier City, La.
Myra’s Boy earned a meet-best 91 when taking an off-the-turf race for first-level allowance runners May 27. It was held at one mile and 70 yards. He returned to earn an 88 for a win in a one-mile turf allowance in his last start July 29. The next stop could be a stakes race.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Brad Cox uses words like “confusing” and “frustrating” to describe his Saratoga meet at which, through five weeks, he’s won just four races from 28 starters.
“It’s been a little bit of a head-scratcher, but we still got time to get it turned around,” Cox said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Goal Oriented has a new target.
Goal Oriented, the third-place finisher behind Journalism in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 20, has been rerouted from the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23 at Saratoga to the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Schwarzenegger, one of the most hyped 2-year-olds stabled at Saratoga this summer, will finally make his much anticipated debut here this week. When and against what caliber of competition is still to be decided.
Trainer Wesley Ward has entered Schwarzengger, a son of Not This Time, in a maiden special weight race on Thursday and the $150,000 Skidmore Stakes two days later. Both races are carded at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, with the weather ultimately to decide which race Ward chooses for his promising youngster.
By Anna Jeffs
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – South African native Ryan Munger likes his chances aboard Plate Trial Stakes winner Sedburys Ghost in the 166th running of the $1 million King’s Plate on Saturday at Woodbine.
Sedburys Ghost won his first stakes in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial over the favored Notorious Gangster while earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the highest in the King’s Plate field.
The colt Golden Tornado and the filly Carmel Coast were both impressive juvenile debut winners here over the weekend and are both likely heading to Grade 1 stakes at Aqueduct in the fall.
Golden Tornado, a son of McKinzie trained by Danny Gargan, won a six-furlong maiden race by 3 1/4 lengths over the highly regarded and heavily bet Oscar’s Hope. Golden Tornado ran the distance in 1:10.87 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
DEL MAR, Calif. – A day off in the middle of this week in a Southern California beach town may be the ideal way for jockey Tyler Gaffalione to celebrate a six-win day at Ellis Park on Sunday.
For Gaffalione, a trip west this week is a working one.
After riding at Ellis Park on Monday, Gaffalione was set to travel to Del Mar on Tuesday. He is booked to ride one race at Del Mar on Thursday and three on Friday in advance of a mount on Lush Lips in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, the primary reason for the trip to California.
DEL MAR, Calif. – A loaded cast of juveniles has run to expectations for trainer Bob Baffert through the first four weekends of the Del Mar summer meeting.
Baffert swept the two six-furlong Grade 3 stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday and Sunday, winning Saturday’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes with Desert Gate, who won by 8 3/4 lengths, and Sunday’s $150,500 Sorrento Stakes for fillies with Himika, who was first by only 4 1/4 lengths.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The 12th and final race at Saratoga on Saturday was conducted at the incorrect distance, but the race was made official before the error was realized, so it will have no impact on the mutuel payoffs.
The allowance race for New York-breds was scheduled to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon Turf Course. But the race was run at 1 1/16 miles due to the starting gate being placed in the wrong spot. The race was won by Fidelightcayut, who returned $10.80 to win.
