ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Owner-breeder Frank DiGiulio Jr. announced Thursday that his 2024 Canadian Horse of the Year, Patches O’Houlihan, was euthanized, 12 days after suffering a serious suspensory injury while winning the Grade 2 Highlander on the main turf at Woodbine.
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DRF Past Performances
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It did not have all the feels of a traditional opening day at Saratoga and it was reflected in the business for Thursday’s “opening-day” program of the traditional 40-day Saratoga summer meet.
The $3 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses will be run at The Downs at Albuquerque for the second consecutive year on Labor Day after a massive flood decimated the Ruidoso Downs racetrack in southern New Mexico on Tuesday, Ruidoso Downs track owner Johnny Trotter said on Thursday.
Tuesday’s flood has forced the cancellation of racing at Ruidoso Downs for the remainder of the summer.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Southern California-based trainer Richard Baltas won last month’s Grade 1 Jaipur at Saratoga with Ag Bullet and is back here this weekend with Lady Claypoole in Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana.
Baltas could have two more horses aiming for Grade 1 stakes later at this meet. He mentioned the Grade 1 Ballerina is possible for Sweet Azteca, who upset Kopion in the Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos.
“It’s up to the owner,” Baltas said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Book’em Danno, who won the Grade 3 True North here last month, was expected to ship to Saratoga by the weekend to prepare for a start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt going six furlongs on July 19.
Trainer Derek Ryan was choosing between the Vanderbilt and the $100,000 Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs on July 26, but opted for the more prestigious and lucrative spot for the New Jersey-bred millionaire.
“He’s doing really good. I don’t think it’s going to be a big field again,” Ryan said. “I suppose it’s the logical step.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When East Avenue didn’t show up on the nominations for the Grade 1 Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park, it seemed possible that he would be turned back in distance for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong race on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.
But trainer Brendan Walsh on Wednesday called the Jerkens “doubtful” and said there is no current plan for East Avenue, who won the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 8 at Churchill Downs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ewing, the impressive 12-length winner of his debut July 5, will more than likely run in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 2, trainer Mark Casse said Thursday.
Casse said after that win, for which Ewing earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, that he could simply wait for the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 1.
“Long-term I want to get some races into him,” Casse said. “Obviously, the goal is always to get to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., has boosted the purses for the stakes races at its fall meeting by $1.25 million to a record $10.85 million, the track announced on Thursday.
Leading the way is the Grade 1 Turf Mile, one of 11 stakes scheduled for opening weekend as stepping stones to the Breeders’ Cup races four weeks later at Del Mar in Southern California. The Turf Mile will be worth $1.25 million this year, up from $1 million last year.
Jockey Ramon Vazquez, who leads the Lone Star Park colony with 50 wins through Thursday, is considering riding at Del Mar following the close of the Texas meet on Sunday, according to his agent, Cody Autrey.
“We’re discussing going to Del Mar over the break between Lone Star and Remington,” said Autrey. “Nothing’s set in stone yet.”
Autrey said Vazquez plans to ride this fall at Remington. Vazquez has a 16-win lead in the Lone Star standings over David Cabrera.
Trainer Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez has a lot at stake during the final week of the Lone Star Park, which closes Sunday.
Ramirez-Rodriguez, 45, is battling Lone Star’s all-time leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, for the title. It would be a first for Ramirez-Rodriguez, who began training on his own last August after serving as a longtime assistant to trainer Karl Broberg.
“We’re trying to beat the main man at Lone Star,” Ramirez-Rodriguez said. “So, all we can do is just try, just keep trying. We’ve got some live shots this week, but you never know.