Fri, 07/18/2025 - 13:41

Two wins shy of 4,000, Birzer sidelined after gate accident

Coady Photography

Jockey Alex Birzer will be out four to six months after suffering an injury in a gate accident.

Jockey Alex Birzer has begun what will be the longest layoff of his career, but the 51-year-old is motivated to return to the saddle after being sidelined during an accident in the starting gate June 30 at Prairie Meadows.

“I’ll make a comeback,” he said Thursday. “I’m two shy from 4,000 [wins]. I’m not going to shut it down with that.”

Birzer could be out for four to six months after breaking both the tibia and fibula bones above one of his ankles. He had surgeries July 1 and July 5. The accident happened as a filly he was aboard flipped in the starting gate.

Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:44

Medoro ready to make her return in Osunitas

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Medoro hasn't run since the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

The ultra-consistent filly Medoro returns to racing following a layoff of nearly seven months in Sunday’s $100,000 Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

Judging from her career record, and performances in previous comebacks, Medoro is easy to like as one of 10 stakes winners in a field of 12.

“I couldn’t be any happier with the way she’s going,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “I’m very pleased, put it that way.”

Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:41

Mandella may try Kopion at two turns in Hirsch

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Richard Mandella may try Kopion again at two turns in the Clement Hirsch.

The brilliant sprinter Kopion is likely to start at a longer distance for the first time in more than a year in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 2.

A move from sprints to a two-turn race may determine an autumn race schedule for Kopion, trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday.

“Right now, I’m thinking of running her,” Mandella said. “I’ll watch her and make a decision.

“She’s been acting like she wants to go farther. She settles in her races now.”

Fri, 07/18/2025 - 10:39

Glory Me impresses in debut for DeVaux

By Marcus Hersh

Coady Media

Glory Me earned only a 64 Beyer Figure for her maiden win, but was impressive doing it.

The 2-year-old filly Glory Me won her debut at Ellis Park on July 14 with enough verve that she’s headed to Saratoga.

By Gun Runner out of Our Khrysty, by Newfoundland, Glory Me, a $975,000 auction buy owned by Lael Stables, sat sixth during the early stages of a 6 1/2-furlong maiden, hit full stride coming into the stretch under Brian Hernandez Jr., and drew clear for a four-length win. Visually, the effort felt stronger than her 64 Beyer Speed Figure and suggested Glory Me will comfortably get longer distances.

Fri, 07/18/2025 - 10:33

Owen Almighty, Shred the Gnar heading back to the races

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

Owen Almighty, who ran a courageous fifth in the Kentucky Derby, had his first post-Derby work, three furlongs in 36.20.

The 3-year-old colt Owen Almighty, freshened since a valiant run in the Kentucky Derby, and the 3-year-old filly Shred the Gnar, scratched from the Acorn Stakes last month at Saratoga, both are on their way back to racing action for trainer Brian Lynch and owner Flying Dutchmen Racing and Breeding.

Thu, 07/17/2025 - 14:34

Sunshine meet stakes schedule unveiled

By Mary Rampellini

Debra A. Roma

The Princess Rooney has been a springboard for recent female sprint champions like Soul of an Angel.

Gulfstream Park has announced the stakes schedule for its Sunshine meet. The Grade 3, $200,000 Princess Rooney Invitational, which has been a springboard for recent female sprint champions Soul of an Angel (2024) and Ce Ce (2021), is set for Sept. 20.

The seven-furlong race is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint later this year at Del Mar. Soul of an Angel won last year’s Princess Rooney and BC Filly and Mare Sprint, while Ce Ce captured both races in 2021.

Thu, 07/17/2025 - 14:28

Royal Ascot pair to Saratoga

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Shisospicy’s stakes options are the $150,000 Galway on Aug. 7 at Saratoga and the Grade 2, $2 million Music City on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs.

Trainer Jose D’Angelo has had runners in Royal Ascot races each of the last two years, and those horses could both see stakes action next month at Saratoga. Shisospicy, a Grade 3 winner who was 15th in the Commonwealth Cup in her last start June 20 at Ascot, is now based at Saratoga, D’Angelo said.

“We’re looking to run at Saratoga one time or point for Kentucky Downs,” he said.

Thu, 07/17/2025 - 14:16

Prat coming in for mounts aboard Nysos, World Record

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Flavien Prat will be aboard Nysos in the San Diego on July 26 at Del Mar.

Flavien Prat, champion jockey of 2024 and currently third in the standings at Saratoga through Wednesday, will ride at Del Mar on July 26.

Prat is booked to ride Nysos in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, and World Record in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs.

Nysos, trained by Bob Baffert, is rated as a leading older horse and has won 4 of 5 starts, including the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs by 5 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on May 31.

Thu, 07/17/2025 - 14:08

Hollendorfer seeking first Del Mar stakes win in nearly five years in Oceanside

By Steve Andersen

Coady Media

Bodi Zafa will look to land Jerry Hollendorfer his first Del Mar stakes win in nearly five years.

At 79 and nearly five years removed from his last stakes win at Del Mar, Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer may produce an upset with Bodi Zafa in Friday’s $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on the opening day of the famous track’s summer meeting.

Bodi Zafa was second at 15-1 after a wide trip in his California debut in the Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 11. At the time, Bodi Zafa was trained by John Sadler, and was subsequently transferred to Hollendorfer by owner George Todaro.

Wed, 07/16/2025 - 14:10

Pasquarello named NYRA's clerk of scales

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Sandman worked a half-mile in 49.01 seconds Wednesday morning at Saratoga.

Rosemary Pasquarello was named clerk of scales by the New York Racing Association. She is believed to be the first woman to hold that position on this circuit.

Pasquarello replaces Jack Welsh, who resigned that position in March. Pasquarello has been working in the jockeys’ room, alongside assistant clerk of scales Brian Pochman, since March.

The clerk of scales is responsible for making sure the jockeys carry the correct weight, get to the paddock on time, and are wearing the correct silks.

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