DEL MAR, Calif. – Slow early, fast late. That was how Maximum Security worked on a warm Sunday morning at Del Mar, his final drill before he starts favored in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic next Saturday.
“He’s ready now,” trainer Bob Baffert said after Maximum Security worked seven furlongs in company following the 6:30 a.m. renovation. Maximum Security broke off behind McKale at the 5 1/2-furlong pole, rolled past his workmate in the lane, and galloped out a mile in 1:38.20.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Not since prior to the Santa Anita Derby had Mike Smith been able to get on Honor A. P. for a workout, something both he and trainer John Shirreffs believe is paramount to Honor A. P.’s development and progress.
The interruption was caused first by Smith’s travel in late June and early July to major races out of town, and once the Southern California circuit moved to Del Mar, jockeys were not allowed to work horses in the morning, a change of policy from Santa Anita, where horses were brought to the paddock pre-work when a jockey was employed.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Creed, a promising late-developing 3-year-old who won his last two starts, will be sidelined for 60 days due to an ankle injury, trainer Shug McGaughey said Friday.
Creed was diagnosed with the injury following a workout Aug. 3 at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Both Irad Ortiz Jr. and his brother Jose Ortiz will not be heading to Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby week, according to their agents, electing to stay at Saratoga through the conclusion of the meet on Sept. 7.
Jose Ortiz did not have a Kentucky Derby mount, while Irad Ortiz Jr. has ridden Derby probable Dr Post in two of his three most recent starts.
:: DRF's Saratoga headquarters – Stakes schedule, previews, recaps, past performances, and more
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dr Post worked five furlongs in 1:01.34 on Friday morning over Saratoga’s main track, after which trainer Todd Pletcher stopped just short of committing him to the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.
“I thought he worked great – steady breeze, strong gallop-out – the kind of work we’ve come to expect from him,” Pletcher said. “Right now, he’s training like a horse you’d have to strongly consider for the Derby.”
With a seven-figure price tag as a yearling, North Pole will understandably draw attention for his debut in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Sunday at Del Mar.
This may be a case where the experience will be more valuable and provide a foundation for a late summer or autumn campaign.
Jolie Olimpica, a two-time stakes winner at Santa Anita earlier this year, is under consideration for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile against males on Aug. 23, trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday.
Jolie Olimpica was the morning-line favorite for the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares on Aug. 8, but missed the race after she sustained a cut on a foot, Mandella said. Friday, Jolie Olimpica worked five furlongs in 1:01 on the main track, leaving the $150,000 Del Mar Mile, on turf, as an option.
The Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22 will have a small field with a touch of international intrigue.
As of Friday, track officials expected five or six runners in the $500,000 race at 1 1/4 miles, the richest of the meet. The list of candidates is led by Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old male of 2019 who won the Grade 2 San Diego Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on July 25, finishing a nose in front of Midcourt, another Pacific Classic candidate.
Kyle Frey won five straight races Thursday as Golden Gate Fields opened its summer meeting.
After running third on Quetta's in Charge in the first race, Frey won the next five races, including three for trainer Isidro Tamayo, before finishing fourth aboard favored Sunblessed in the final race.
Frey, who led all riders in the two-week Wine Country Racing meet with 10 winners from 38 mounts, won the second race aboard favored Barbaroni ($5) for trainer Jonathan Wong.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Wesley Ward is still not sure where Golden Pal will make his next start. Golden Pal, a maiden, finished second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Ward is hoping to run Golden Pal in the $85,000 Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 21. But the Skidmore is in jeopardy of not filling because 13 of the 18 nominees are trained by Ward and several of the other nominees have run recently. Entries for the Skidmore are to be taken Sunday.
