SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Voodoo Song, who won four races at last year’s Saratoga meet, was entered Wednesday to make his first start of the 2018 Saratoga meet in the $100,000 Lure Stakes.
It is not certain he will stay in the race as owner Barry Schwartz on Wednesday indicated a desire to run Voodoo Song in the Grade 1 Fourstardave here on Aug. 11.
“I think it’s time to step up,” Schwartz said. “It’s his favorite track and distance; everything points to taking a shot.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Joe Sharp has gotten off to a great start at the meet, winning four races from his first eight starters.
On Saturday, Sharp will look for his first graded stakes victory at Saratoga when he sends out Mom’s On Strike in the Grade 3, $200,000 Waya Stakes at 1 1/2 miles.
Mom’s On Strike won her first graded stakes when she galloped to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Bewitch at the Waya distance. Last out, she finished fourth under Adam Beschizza, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 2 New York at 1 1/4 miles.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Classy Act had put away Mia Mischief, turned back the challenge of Sower, and seemed on her way to winning the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes last month at Belmont Park. But along the inside came 47-1 longshot Dixie Serenade to get up in the final jump and win by a neck.
“I really thought if she could have seen or felt that horse, she could have held her off,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She ran huge; she ran great. I do look for her to bounce back well.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Uriah St. Lewis liked to bet on horses. His wife thought he was too ill informed to be successful.
“You like to gamble, why don’t you learn the trade?” St. Lewis said his wife, Amanda, told him back in the early 1980s.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Fahan Mura, the winner of the Osunitas Stakes on July 20, will be entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Del Mar. A decision on whether she will start will be made on race day.
Wednesday, trainer Vladimir Cerin would commit only to entering Fahan Mura, who has won five of her last six starts.
“It costs nothing to enter and take a look,” Cerin said. “I’d run if there is no speed.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Lava Man, the Hall of Fame gelding turned stable pony, showed improvement on Wednesday, a day after undergoing a colic operation, trainer Doug O’Neill said.
Lava Man is recovering at a San Diego-area equine clinic.
“He’s doing well,” O’Neill said. “The first 24 to 48 hours is very crucial. He’s standing comfortably and they’re monitoring everything.
“He’s going after his food and that’s a good sign.”
Two years ago, trainer Jose Pinchin swept the male division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park with Three Rules, whose combined victory margin in the three-race series was more than 22 lengths.
Saturday, Pinchin will saddle Fully Loaded at the South Florida track when the son of Two Step Salsa comes favored in the $100,000 Dr. Fager for 2-year-old colts and geldings. The filly counterpart, the $100,000 Desert Vixen, also will be part of a 13-race card. Both races go at six furlongs.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads is hoping for Touching Promise to turn things around Monday in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff. The 1 1/16-mile Distaff is one of six open stakes races that will make up the bulk of the traditional B.C. Day holiday card.
Back-to-back allowances (races 6 and 7) for older horses will anchor an eight-race Friday card at Ellis.
The Friday program will coincide with a special remote presentation (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central) of the popular Fast Break Friday radio show, hosted by Bob Valvano and Mike Pratt of ESPN 680 in Louisville. The hosts will be on hand to raise funds for cancer research through a silent auction and a raffle of memorabilia and experiences.
A nine-race Saturday card also will be highlighted by two allowances. First post daily at Ellis is 12:50 p.m.
Easily the best day of racing so far at the Ellis Park summer meet will take place Sunday, when four $100,000 turf races – all with big fields expected – are held as previews for rich stakes next month at Kentucky Downs.
Entries for the Sunday previews were to be drawn Thursday at the western Kentucky track. All four races are completely funded from the $2.9 million granted earlier this year to the Ellis purse account by Kentucky Downs, and $25,000 from each purse is restricted to horses registered with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
Here’s an early look:
