BOSSIER CITY, La. - Trainer Troy Young ought to pitch a tent in the winner's circle at Louisiana Downs, because that's where he's been living the past month. On average this meet, Young has won with almost every other horse he has started, building an 8-for-18 record that places him third in the standings behind Bret Thomas and Cole Norman.
Young rolled into town the week of July 4, and won with his first five starters. Over all, he is saddling winners at a 44 percent clip at Louisiana Downs.
CHICAGO - Hawthorne Race Course and the National Jockey Club of Sportsman's Park reached an agreement late Tuesday to merge business operations and race exclusively at Hawthorne beginning next year, according to an official involved in the deal.
The merger ends horse racing at Sportsman's Park, which is owned by the Bidwill family and has been in operation since 1932. The property at Sportsman's - a dual-purpose auto- and horse-racing facility - will be put up for sale, according to the official, who provided some details of the deal.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - You's electrifying nose victory over Carson Hollow in Saturday's Test Stakes - and specifically Jerry Bailey's ride - was still the buzz of the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning.
"It was the greatest ride I ever saw in my life,' said trainer Tom Voss as he approached You's trainer, Bobby Frankel, on horseback Sunday morning.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas took a quick look at the past performances for Wednesday's $47,000 allowance feature at Saratoga and didn't hesitate pinpointing the horse he felt his Beautiful Treasure had to beat.
"That's a pretty good filly [trainer] Bobby Hess has in there," Lukas said, referring to Heart Ofa Champion, who like Beautiful Treasure, returns to the allowance ranks after being no match for Mike's Wildcat in Belmont Park's Astoria Stakes on June 30.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - On Friday, the field for Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth was falling apart with three major defections and only three definite starters. But by Monday, the race had regained its luster as War Emblem put in his last workout and rejoined a prospective field that had swelled to six, with Mr. Mellon the latest addition.
War Emblem completed serious preparation for Sunday's Haskell by working five furlongs in 59.20 seconds with exercise rider Dana Barnes at Del Mar. The time tied the second fastest of 54 works at the distance Monday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Richard Migliore is prepared to give up the mount on Ohio Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Magic Weisner in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational to ride Iron Deputy in the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on the same day.
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Trainer John Salzman has decided to pass Friday's $100,000 Honorable Miss Handicap with Xtra Heat in lieu of Laurel's $125,000 Straight Deal Handicap the following weekend. It is also extremely doubtful Xtra Heat , 2001's champion 3-year-old filly, will run in the $250,000 Ballerina Handicap here on Aug. 25.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - For any other trainer, Nunatall's hard-fought head victory over Guana in Monday's $115,000 Lake George Handicap at Saratoga would have been a heart stopper. But after Bobby Frankel sweated out tight photos to win Saturday's Test and Diana here Saturday, his filly Nunatall's first career stakes triumph was a relative laugher.
"At least this one I knew I won," quipped Frankel, who trains Nunatall for owner Edmund A. Gann.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The top two finishers in both Grade 1 grass stakes this past weekend at Del Mar all could be headed to Arlington Park for their next starts on Aug. 17, though those going to the Arlington Million are more likely than those eligible for the Beverly D.
Sarafan and Beat Hollow, who finished one-two in Sunday's Eddie Read Handicap, are both being pointed to the Arlington Million. Affluent and Golden Apples, who finished one-two in Saturday's John C. Mabee/Ramona Handicap for fillies and mares, could run in the Beverly D., though their status is less certain.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - A familiar face was missing at the running of the Ernest Finley Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair on Saturday.
Multiple stakes winner Today a Star, a 10-year-old gelding with $285,460 in career earnings, suffered a career-ending injury as he pulled up following his final work for the Finley.
Today a Star, third in his final start, the six-furlong Sam J. Whiting Handicap at Pleasanton on June 29, had finished third in the Ernest Finley last year.
