Tue, 07/29/2025 - 11:15

Thistledown cancels Tuesday card amidst track safety concerns

Thistledown racetrack outside of Cleveland, Ohio, has canceled its Tuesday race card amidst ongoing discussions about safety concerns at the track.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:48

Dazzle d'Oro suffers catastrophic injury

Coady Media
Dazzle d’Oro suffered a fractured sesamoid in his left foreleg and was euthanized.

Dazzle d’Oro, a first-out maiden winner at Churchill Downs, suffered a catastrophic injury at the conclusion of a workout Monday morning over the main track at Saratoga in preparation for a start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

According to trainer Tom Amoss, Dazzle d’Oro suffered a fractured sesamoid in his left foreleg and was euthanized after being taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:46

Eclipse obsession continues to fuel Irad

Barbara D. Livingston
Through the first 14 days of the 40-day meet, Ortiz has won 28 races.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On his cell phone, underneath his alarm, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has three emojis: a trophy, a goat, and prayer hands. It is a daily reminder of the motivating force behind all the work Ortiz does each day – another Eclipse Award.

Though Ortiz has won five Eclipse Awards as North America’s champion jockey – he was unseated last year by Flavien Prat – he wants more.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:40

Om N Joy ready to test open company in Torrey Pines

Benoit Photo
Om N Joy will likely test open company next in the Torrey Pines at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Om N Joy is likely to start in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on Aug. 30 after extending her winning streak to four races with her third consecutive stakes win in Friday’s $152,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for statebreds.

“I think the Torrey Pines would be a good place to jump into open company,” trainer Aggie Ordonez said on Monday.

“I know it’s a big step up. I feel like she’s doing well enough here and the timing is just right. It gives her five weeks.”

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 13:37

Barocio headed to Breeders' Cup with Lovesick Blues

Benoit Photo
With an 18-1 upset of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, the Librado Barocio-trained Lovesick Blues earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Lovesick Blues earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1 with his late rally in Saturday’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar – with one caveat.

Lovesick Blues must be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup program for $100,000 when pre-entries are due on Oct. 20.

It’s an investment owner and trainer Librado Barocio is preparing to make as of Sunday.

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 10:49

Prairie Meadows moves Monday card to Thursday due to extreme heat

Coady Media
The Monday decision follows a weekend in which Prairie Meadows adjusted its post times to cope with extreme heat.

Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, has moved its Monday card to Thursday due to extreme heat, the track announced on Monday morning.

The Monday card, including trial races for the Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge, will be run as drawn on Thursday, with a first post of 6 p.m. Central Time. The decision was made in consultation with Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse groups and the state racing commission, according to Prairie Meadows.

Sat, 07/26/2025 - 14:05

Pletcher to keep his top two separate as Fierceness will go solo in Whitney

Barbara D. Livingston
Fierceness worked a half-mile in 49.64 seconds over Saratoga's main track Saturday morning.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When entries close Sunday for the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, expect to see Mindframe’s name on the overnight. 

When the gate opens for Saturday’s Whitney, don’t expect to see Mindframe breaking from it. 

Fri, 07/25/2025 - 14:56

Splendora gets back on track with easy win

Splendora wins at DMR July 24 2025
Benoit Photo
Splendora had lost four straight races prior to her Thursday victory. Trainer Bob Baffert is now pondering a start in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The Baffert-trained Splendora ended a four-race losing streak in graded stakes with a comfortable win in an allowance race for fillies and mares at six furlongs at Del Mar on Thursday.

Ridden by Hernandez, Splendora closed from fourth of seven to win by 3 1/2 lengths, finishing in 1:09.73.

“That was pretty impressive,” Baffert said.

Baffert said in the winner’s circle that he rates Splendora as a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

“We’ll sit down and we’ll think about it,” Baffert said.

Fri, 07/25/2025 - 13:37

Friend Ofthe Devil works quick for stretch out

Barbara D. Livingston
Friend Ofthe Devil worked five furlongs in 59.70 seconds on Friday morning in preparation for the Cab Calloway,

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The speedy Friend Ofthe Devil zipped five furlongs in 59.70 seconds on Friday morning over the Saratoga main track in preparation for the $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series on turf on Aug. 14.

The move was a little quicker than trainer Carlos Martin was looking for as he hopes Friend Ofthe Devil will be able to ration his speed when he attempts to stretch out from six furlongs to a mile in the Cab Calloway. Friend Ofthe Devil is 3 for 3 going six furlongs on turf.

Fri, 07/25/2025 - 13:31

Brown might cut Chancer McPatrick back for Jerkens

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Chad Brown will likely shorten up Chancer McPatrick (middle), winner of the Curlin Stakes, for the Allen Jerkens.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though Chancer McPatrick won his first two-turn race on Thursday, taking the Curlin Stakes by a head over So Sandy, trainer Chad Brown said Friday that his initial inclination is to cut him back in distance for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 23 rather than seek more ground in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers the same day.

The Jerkens is run at seven furlongs, the same distance at which Chancer McPatrick won last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful. The Travers is run at 1 1/4 miles.