DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Corey Nakatani will be sidelined for an undetermined period of time with back injuries sustained in a two-horse spill in Saturday’s 10th race at Del Mar.
Nakatani, 47, was hospitalized overnight on Saturday and was scheduled to return to his home in the Los Angeles area on Sunday, according to his son and agent, Matt Nakatani.
“We’re going to go home to LA and see a specialist for evaluation,” Matt Nakatani said. “We’ll schedule something in a couple of days.”
Hence has now won two of the most significant races in New Mexico after he stormed to a 6 1/2-length victory over Oh So Regal in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Saturday night. The race was the meet's marquee offering for Thoroughbreds. Hence also is a winner of the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby.
The Albuquerque Handicap shared a card with the $55,000 Albuquerque Distaff, won by K P Wildcat.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockeys Corey Nakatani and Geovanni Franco were taken to a local hospital after they were involved in a two-horse spill in early stretch of Saturday’s 10th race at Del Mar.
Both riders were taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in nearby La Jolla for further evaluation about 40 minutes after the incident. Track chief executive officer Joe Harper was told by paramedics that the riders were moving their arms and legs.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Brill, the outstanding juvenile filly prospect, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Del Mar on Saturday, part of preparations for an expected stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 1.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for Larry Best, Brill won her debut in a maiden race at five furlongs on July 18, overcoming a stumble at the start to win by 1 1/4 lengths after a wide trip.
Brill’s workout on Saturday was her second since that race. She worked a half-mile in 48 seconds on July 28.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Lava Man, the popular Hall of Famer who was a multiple stakes winner in the late 2000s, is scheduled to leave a local equine clinic in the coming days after undergoing emergency surgery for colic last Tuesday.
“It’s all good,” trainer Doug O’Neill said on Saturday. “I think in a day or two, he’ll go to the farm.”
O’Neill said Lava Man will continue his recovery at a farm “somewhere near Santa Anita.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Go On Mary ran fourth in a $50,000 claimer at Santa Anita in January. She may leave Del Mar at the end of the summer as a multiple stakes winner.
Go On Mary won her first stakes in Friday’s $81,330 Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares. Her next objective may be the $75,000 CERF Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs on Sept. 3, according to trainer Doug O’Neill.
The CERF Stakes may be the next time Go On Mary is seen at Del Mar.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Eleven horses headed by ... well, not really headed by anyone, were pre-entered Friday for the Aug. 11 Arlington Million.
Oscar Performance, Robert Bruce, and Money Multiplier look like they could be the top three choices – or not. Spring Quality won the Grade 1 Manhattan last out, and though he was 18-1 in that race, he’ll take considerably more betting in the Million. Almanaar also will have his supporters, as will Deauville, who was third, beaten less than a length, in the 2017 Million.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saturday’s 11-race Whitney card at Saratoga took a big hit from Mother Nature, and the New York Racing Association elected to cancel the final two races on the card – both stakes scheduled for the turf.
The $100,000 Lure Stakes (race 11) will be brought back next Saturday. The Grade 3, $200,000 Waya (race 10) will be brought back Aug. 12. Thus, today’s card will consist of nine races, ending with the Grade 1 Whitney. First post remains 1 p.m. Eastern.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Long On Value was forced to miss Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Troy Handicap due to “a foot issue,” trainer Brad Cox said.
“He needs a little time,” Cox said.
Long On Value, a 7-year-old gelding owned by Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables, is coming off a neck victory in the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine.
Cox said that depending on how quickly Long On Value gets over his foot problem, he could be pointed to the Woodbine Mile on Sept. 15 or the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes going six furlongs at Woodbine on Oct. 13.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The regally bred Dream Pauline is likely headed to the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes here on Sept. 2 after winning a first-level allowance here Thursday by two lengths.
Dream Pauline, a daughter of Tapit out of the Grade 1 winner Dream Rush – making her a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia – was making her first start since Dec. 3, when she won first out at Aqueduct.
