SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In years past, an enjoyable day at Saratoga for Barry Schwartz meant simply watching one of his horses run or tackling the challenge of handicapping the card. Oh, how times have changed.
"I honestly don't sit with a newspaper and handicap anymore, there's just not enough time," Schwartz, 58, said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jerry Bailey set a track record with 50 wins last summer en route to his sixth Saratoga riding title in the last seven years.
But despite his dominance here and despite a North American-leading $12.8 million in purse earnings this year and second-best 33 stakes wins, Bailey finds himself feeling a bit vulnerable heading into Wednesday's opening of the Saratoga meet.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While Saratoga's opening-day feature is the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes for juvenile fillies, it is the race immediately before it that holds the most intrigue.
Macho Uno, last year's champion juvenile colt, makes his long-awaited 3-year-old debut in a third-level allowance race at seven furlongs. It is his first start since Nov. 4, when he desperately held off Point Given to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr., who was arrested on Friday night and charged with two counts of assault, was free on $1,500 bail Saturday night and returned to race-riding Sunday at Belmont Park. He should be able to ride the entire Saratoga meet, as he is not scheduled to appear in court again until Sept. 10.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Almost 14 months have passed since Guided Tour's last turf start, a fifth-place finish in a Keeneland allowance race. Now, after Guided Tour's four-length Washington Park Handicap win Saturday, his connections are pondering a return to turf in the Aug. 18 Arlington Million.
Either the Million or the Pacific Classic at Del Mar the following day probably will be the site of Guided Tour's next race, trainer Niall O'Callaghan said Sunday.
ELMONT, N.Y. - An entertaining race for the Belmont jockey's title went down to the final furlong of the final race on the final day Sunday, with John Velazquez guiding Exaltado ($11) to a half-length victory over the Edgar Prado-ridden St. Sunset. The victory gave Velazquez the title, with 66 wins to Prado's 65.
DEL MAR, Calif. - For a horse who has usually not trained nor raced with distinction at Del Mar, Budroyale appears to be thriving here this summer. He has turned in a strong series of workouts for his comeback in Sunday's $250,000 San Diego Handicap, and completed his training Monday morning with a brilliant seven-furlong work in 1:25.60.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Officer is the fastest 2-year-old in trainer Bob Baffert's barn, a colt good enough to run against the best juveniles on the grounds. But since Officer is a California-bred, Baffert does not have to run him against open company just yet, because Wednesday's $125,000 Graduation Stakes for comes up at just the right time.
As a result, Officer gets to make his stakes debut against a group of California-breds who are not nearly as highly regarded. He should be an odds-on favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong race, which opens Week Two at Del Mar.
STANTON, Del. - As if anyone ever needs reminding, the unpredictability of horse racing is always around the bend, even in the kind of idyllic setting that Delaware Park presented last weekend.
Of course, odds-on favorites still come through on occasion, as Broken Vow and John's Call proved in stepping-stones toward Grade 1 races.
Broken Vow, headed to the Iselin and if all goes well the Breeders' Cup Classic, got the job done in the Carpenter Stakes on Saturday.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Steve Henson said he was excited about running first-time starter Lasting Code in the $35,668 Timber Music Stakes last weekend at Hastings Park. Now we know why.
Sent off as the 8-5 second choice, Lasting Code made an impressive debut, winning the 6 1/2-furlong Timber Music by 1 1/4 lengths over favored Beautiful Stranger. Final time for the distance was 1:19.89.