Fri, 07/20/2018 - 15:33

Broberg's well-oiled machine keeps churning out wins

Emily Shields
Karl Broberg has won more races in North America this year than any other trainer.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Karl Broberg leads all trainers in wins in North America this year and sits atop the meet standings at his home track of Lone Star Park, Evangeline Downs, and Prairie Meadows. Running his stable involves a lot of moving parts, but the 47-year-old Chicago native keeps things tight.  

Fri, 07/20/2018 - 15:30

Small fields likely for Curlin, Jim Dandy stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Flameaway worked four furlongs in 47.86 seconds over the main track in company with the 3-year-old maiden Bernotchie on Friday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The ranks have thinned considerably among 3-year-olds to the point where the two stakes in the division scheduled for Saratoga next week are likely to attract small fields.

Next Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes has only three horses that, as of Friday, are considered definite – Hofburg, Bourbon Resolution, and Zing Zang.

Fri, 07/20/2018 - 14:30

Moonshine Memories to visit Spa for Prioress Stakes

Emily Shields
Moonshine Memories, shown training at Belmont Park on June 8, is 1 for 3 this year.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Moonshine Memories, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2017, on Thursday won for the first time in three starts this year, taking an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar.

The win confirmed plans to send her to Saratoga for the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes on Sept. 3. The $250,000 Prioress is run at six furlongs, a distance Moonshine Memories may prefer at this stage of her career, trainer Simon Callaghan said.

“I think six furlongs might be better for her than 6 1/2,” he said. “The way she is, she’s definitely more of a sprinter.”

Fri, 07/20/2018 - 14:26

Indiana Derby winner Axelrod targets Travers Stakes

Linscott Photography
Axelrod got up for a head victory over Trigger Warning in Saturday's Grade 3 Indiana Derby.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Axelrod, the winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand on July 14, is scheduled to have his Grade 1 debut in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 25.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said on Friday that the purse and distance of the Travers Stakes make it an appealing race for Axelrod, who races for Slam Dunk Racing.

“He was surging the other day,” McCarthy said of the Indiana Derby. “It will be a new dimension if we choose that.”

Fri, 07/20/2018 - 14:26

Back from vacation, Smith enters earnings season

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Midnight Bisou rebounded from a third-place effort in the Kentucky Oaks with a dominant Mother Goose victory.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Summer vacation ended for jockey Mike Smith with the start of the Del Mar meeting on Wednesday.

The Hall of Famer won Wednesday on Shivermetimbers, his first mount in more than two weeks. He did not have another mount scheduled until Friday.

“I’ve been gone so long that I didn’t have much business,” Smith said in the stables on Thursday.

Thu, 07/19/2018 - 15:40

Distinctive colt Southern Phantom gets first afternoon test

Barbara D. Livingston
Southern Phantom schooled in the Saratoga paddock on Thursday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Southern Phantom has certainly caught people’s attention because of his looks. Saturday, we’ll find out if there’s more to the story.

Southern Phantom, the 2-year-old with the all-white face and two different colored eyes, makes his career debut in the sixth race at Saratoga going 5 1/2 furlongs.

“He’s been famous since he came out of the womb,” trainer Eric Guillot said Thursday. “He’s got a good mind because of that.”

Thu, 07/19/2018 - 15:36

Awesome Slew seeks class relief in salty allowance

Barbara D. Livingston
Awesome Slew drops into allowance company Saturday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Awesome Slew won a first-level allowance race at Monmouth Park on May 21, 2016. Since then, he’s competed in 17 consecutive stakes races, winning a trio of Grade 3 events.

Following an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap last month, Awesome Slew will run in a stakes-caliber allowance race Saturday at Saratoga.

“It’s a lot easier than what he’s been running in,” trainer Mark Casse said.

Thu, 07/19/2018 - 15:36

Racing officials clear David Cohen to ride

Barbara D. Livingston
David Cohen is expected to be named on horses at Saratoga beginning with Sunday's card.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey David Cohen, who was refused a jockey’s license by the New York State Gaming Commission on July 12 due to failure to comply with licensing requirements, was granted a valid receipt on Thursday and is cleared to ride.

Cohen, who was unable to be named on horses for either Friday or Saturday’s cards at Saratoga, was expected to be named on horses for Sunday and Monday’s Saratoga programs. Entries for those cards were taken Thursday.

Thu, 07/19/2018 - 15:06

Dream Maker to await Saratoga Special

Coady Photography
Dream Maker won his maiden by three lengths on June 7 at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Mark Casse entered two of his more promising juveniles, Dream Maker and Strike Silver, in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sanford, but with the intent to run only one. In the end, he made the choice to start Strike Silver while holding Dream Maker out for the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 12. Both colts are owned by John Oxley.

“I was going to make the final decision based on if one of them drew a bad post, but neither did,” said Casse. “Dream Maker is a little lighter-made horse, so I just decided to give him a little extra time and wait for the Saratoga Special.”

Thu, 07/19/2018 - 14:30

Oceanside winner Restrainedvengence to wait for Del Mar Derby

Benoit Photo
Restrainedvengence, who got an 89 Beyer Figure in winning the Oceanside, will not race again until the Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Restrainedvengence upset Wednesday’s Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf, and is unlikely to start again until the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2.

Trainer Val Brinkerhoff said the six-week gap between races gives Restrainedvengence ample time to recover from his first stakes win in the Oceanside. Brinkerhoff, 61, frequently gallops Restrainedvengence and has worked for several months to teach the gelding to not be as eager early in races.