ELMONT, N.Y. – It may be a while before we get Round 3 in the budding rivalry between Catholic Boy and Analyze It.
The 1-2 finishers from Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.2 million Belmont Derby, Catholic Boy and Analyze It both emerged from their performances in good order but appear to be targeting different summer objectives.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. now has won with 13 of his last 14 starters in Louisiana after both of his entrants on the Saturday card at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City won their races. The streak includes wins at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas.
Stall’s next starter in the state will come on Monday with Belle Force in the fourth race at Louisiana Downs. She is 2-1 on the morning line for the maiden special weight at a mile on turf. The race is for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Good Magic, Vino Rosso, and Prince Lucky were the prominent 3-year-olds on the work tab Saturday at Belmont Park, while Gronkowski for the second straight week was not.
Good Magic, preparing for the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 29, worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.81 in company with Backyard Heaven. The pair got their last quarter in 24.39 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.10.
Good Magic, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, has not run since finishing fourth in the Preakness Stakes after dueling with Justify.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Los Alamitos canceled the final six races on Friday’s program after jockeys told track officials that excessive heat was causing difficulties for horses.
Darrell Haire, the western regional manager of the Jockey’s Guild, said he spoke with riders after the second race and that he was told the heat had intensified between the first two races. At 2:30 p.m., the temperature was approximately 107 degrees, according to accuweather.com.
“They told me a couple of horses were struggling when they were coming back,” Haire said.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Up the Ante, the 3 1/2-length winner of Wednesday’s $100,000 Manila Stakes for 3-year-olds, will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3, trainer Christophe Clement said Friday.
Up the Ante went gate to wire under Javier Castellano in the Manila, easily defeating heavily favored Raging Bull, the 1-2 favorite.
ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association will increase purses while also reconfiguring purse distribution when the Saratoga meet opens July 20.
Purses for maiden, allowance, starter allowance, and most claiming races for winners will each increase by $2,000, according to Martin Panza, senior director of racing operations for the New York Racing Association.
“The purse account is very healthy at the moment. It’s time to disperse some of that money,” Panza said. “We’re generating more than we’re giving out.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was back at his Belmont Park barn Friday, just four days after he underwent heart surgery to have two stents put in following a heart attack.
Jerkens was in good spirits and is looking forward to the upcoming Saratoga meet. One horse he is expected to run there is Delta Prince, who came off a near 10-month layoff to win the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes under Javier Castellano at Woodbine last Saturday.
After dueling and fading while racing on the inside in the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes last out, Golden Mischief got a comfortable outside trip and easily won the $100,000 Saylorville Stakes on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows. She ran six furlongs in 1:09.49 and got a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, the second-highest of her career.
“I think she prefers being outside horses,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She’s a really nice filly.”
Mr. Jagermeister barely turned a hair in winning the Victor S. Myers Stakes on Wednesday at Canterbury Park by more than six lengths under Leandro Goncalves. He got a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 for what amounted to a glorified workout.
“I’d discussed with Leandro the fact he was running back on 10 days’ rest,” said trainer Valorie Lund. “I said he was going to win the race, so just use what you need to win.”
The eye-catching win by She’s a Julie on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows in the Iowa Oaks was a long time in coming.
“We’ve been waiting for it for a year and a half,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains She’s a Julie for Carrol Castille’s Whispering Oaks Farm.
