Tue, 07/21/2020 - 12:43

Barrow off to strong start as rookie trainer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – For a rookie trainer, Rodney Barrow has a wealth of experience, which helped him make quite a splash during the early portion of the Woodbine meet.

Barrow has won with 5 of 16 starters here in his first training stint, good for a 31 percent win average. Last Sunday, he sent out Forester’s Fortune to win his second race in a row in an Ontario-sired allowance. Last year at 2, Forester’s Fortune bolted at the top of the stretch before ending up a distant third in each of his first two starts, against maidens and in the Victoria Stakes.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 15:16

Travers in the mix for Caracaro

Barbara D. Livingston
Country Grammer, with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, wins the Grade 3 Peter Pan over Caracaro.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Caracaro, narrowly defeated by Country Grammer following a stirring stretch duel in the Peter Pan here on Thursday, could be a candidate for the Grade 1 Travers, according to Gustavo Delgado Jr., whose father, Gustavo Delgado, trains the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo.

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Mon, 07/20/2020 - 15:16

Rough trip in CCA Oaks won't derail Tonalist's Shape from Kentucky Oaks bid

Barbara D. Livingston
Tonalist's Shape has been rerouted from the Ashland Stakes to next Saturday's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said that even though Tonalist’s Shape hit the rail “pretty hard” in the run to the first turn in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, she came out of the race well and is still being pointed for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 15:06

Sistercharlie all set for return in Ballston Spa

Ronnie Betor
Sistercharlie

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sistercharlie completed preparations for her highly anticipated return to the races in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa Stakes by working a half-mile in 50.66 seconds Sunday over the turf course at Oklahoma.

Sistercharlie, the female turf champion of 2018, went in company with Eliade, with the pair going their first quarter in 26.48 seconds and galloping out in 1:03.03.

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Mon, 07/20/2020 - 15:06

Midnight Bisou sharp working in company for Personal Ensign

Barbara D. Livingston
Midnight Bisou (right) and the graded stakes winner Tenfold work six furlongs at Saratoga on Monday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The champion Midnight Bisou worked a strong six furlongs in 1:12.69 Monday morning over Saratoga’s main track, her last serious move before she seeks a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes here on Aug. 1.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 14:40

Del Mar weekend cards jam-packed with races, stakes

Benoit Photo
Sharp Samurai (left) is entered in both the San Diego and Eddie Read, but is likely to stay on grass for the Eddie Read.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The cancellation of racing last weekend at Del Mar has resulted in 11-race cards for Friday and Saturday, with seven stakes now to be run Friday through Sunday, and a Monday card added for July 27.

Friday’s stakes are the $125,000 Fleet Treat going seven furlongs for California-bred 3-year-old fillies, including Been Studying Her and Smiling Shirlee, and the $65,000 Daisycutter at five furlongs on turf for female sprinters, including Stealthediamonds and Tomlin.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 14:30

Uncle Chuck gears up for Travers with smart Del Mar work

Benoit Photos
Under substitute rider Luis Saez, Uncle Chuck draws off to four-length win in the Los Alamitos Derby.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Authentic is in in the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Chuck is trying to get there. Two days after his colt Authentic won the Haskell to earn the right to move on to the Derby, trainer Bob Baffert on Monday morning here at Del Mar sent out Uncle Chuck for an eye-catching workout as the exciting, late-developing colt continues to progress toward the Travers on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 12:30

Trombetta off to perfect start

Debra A. Roma
Escape Fund upsets a maiden race at 34-1 on opening day last Thursday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Michael Trombetta got his Saratoga meet off to a perfect start going 2 for 2 the first week. He won on opening day with the first-time starter Escape Fund ($71) and came back Friday to win a starter allowance with Universal Payday ($11.80).

“Pleasant way to get going,” Trombetta said.

Trombetta said he liked Escape Fund, a daughter of Lea, but was concerned whether she could overcome the inside post sprinting in her debut.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 12:26

Clement gets off to hot start at Saratoga

Barbara D. Livingston
Speaktomeofsummer (left), trained by Christophe Clement, wins the Grade 2 Lake Placid on Sunday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement had an excellent start to his Saratoga meet by winning five races over the weekend, including a pair of turf stakes for 3-year-olds.

While Decorated Invader was expected to win Saturday’s Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, Speaktomeofsummer went off the third choice at 9-2 in the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid. She split horses in deep stretch under Joel Rosario and beat Stunning Sky by a head. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 08:56

Tiz the Law closes at 5-2 favorite in Pool 6 of Derby Future Wager

Debra A. Roma
Tiz the Law, seen working Saturday at Saratoga, closed as the 5-2 favorite in Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tiz the Law closed as a clear-cut favorite when Pool 6 in the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday following the customary three days of betting.

Pool 6 coincided with a second futures pool toward the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, with an Oaks-Derby double future wager also being offered again.