Overnight purses at Del Mar have been reduced by approximately 20 percent for the summer meeting, which begins on July 10, a decline comparable to other major tracks across the nation this year.
The Del Mar summer meeting will begin without ontrack spectators because of the coronavirus outbreak. Handle will be generated from satellite and account-wagering sources. Tracks derive a higher percentage of revenue for purses from ontrack wagers.
Juan Hernandez, the dominant rider at Golden Gate Fields in the last year, is relocating to Southern California next month.
Hernandez, 28, will ride the final days of the Los Alamitos summer meeting, which runs from June 26 to July 5, and will focus on the Del Mar summer meeting, which goes from July 10 to Sept. 7, according to his new agent, Craig O’Bryan.
“Ideally, he wants to stay,” O’Bryan said.
ELMONT, N.Y. – The owners of Max Player will have to pay a double jockey’s fee for the Belmont Stakes after making a late switch from Dylan Davis to Joel Rosario, according to the stewards. Thus, whatever Rosario earns, Davis will also get.
The stewards said that Davis had a call with trainer Linda Rice to ride Max Player in the Belmont. On Sunday, Rice said Rosario would ride Max Player, leaving Davis without a mount for the race.
ELMONT, N.Y. – For the past five years, Larry Collmus and John Imbriale have shared the announcer’s booth on Belmont Stakes Day. Collmus would call the majority of the races, including the Belmont, while Imbriale would call the races following the Belmont.
WHO’S HOT
Late developers Uncle Chuck, who got a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 when debuting going two turns against maidens at Santa Anita, and Art Collector, who got an even bigger figure of 100 when beating allowance runners at Churchill Downs, are the two newest members of the Derby Watch top 20 following wins last week. Uncle Chuck is 15-1 on the line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby, with Art Collector at 20-1.
WHO’S NOT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission granting its approval Tuesday, Churchill will now extend its spring meet by one more day, through June 28, with Ellis Park delaying the opening of its summer meet to July 2.
Ellis runs July 2-5, followed by a five-day Keeneland meet July 8-12. Ellis will then resume racing July 17, conducting three-day weekends through Aug. 30. Churchill then runs its delayed Kentucky Derby week schedule Sept. 1-5, with Kentucky Downs starting its six-day meet on Labor Day, Sept. 7.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The $200,000 Wise Dan for older horses attracted 11 horses and the $100,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds has a field of eight. The races, both on turf, are the features on the Saturday card at Churchill Downs.
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Factor This figures to be favored in the Grade 2 Wise Dan off a 104 Beyer in winning the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds in his last start.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brendan Walsh is doing his best to give a straightforward response to, “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ron Moquett is fiercely proud of his Arkansas heritage, so there was a little something extra to a race he won last week at Churchill Downs.
Moquett sent out an Arkansas-bred named Man in the Can to win a 1 1/8-mile first-level allowance for 3-year-olds on Friday. He earned a second straight 87 Beyer Speed Figure and is now 4 for 5, and likely will get a shot at making the Kentucky Derby with his next start.
“I think he’ll fit with a lot of these other 3-year-olds,” said Moquett. “He’s an improving horse at the right time.”
Trevor Denman, the popular and influential racecaller who has been at the helm at Del Mar since 1984, will miss this summer’s meeting out of an abundance of caution related to the coronavirus pandemic, as he is choosing not to travel from his home in Minnesota, which he does every year for the summer and fall meets.
Fortunately for Del Mar, a top free agent was available to pinch hit.
