Wed, 06/04/2025 - 12:07

Immersive set for 3-year-old debut in Monomoy Girl

Barbara D. Livingston

Immersive, last year's juvenile filly champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner, will return in the Monomoy Girl.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Immersive, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2024 who was sidelined earlier this year by bone bruising, is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 14, trainer Brad Cox said.

At 1 1/16 miles, the Monomoy Girl could set Immersive up for a return to graded stakes company later this summer at Saratoga with potential spots being the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19 and/or the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 16.

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 14:05

Belmont Stakes 2025: Rispoli ready for Journalism's next chapter

By David Grening

Journalism.Umberto Rispoli after Preakness May 17 2025

Barbara D. Livingston

After Journalism came off the bridle during the Preakness, Umberto Rispoli believes staying inside on the far turn and splitting horses into the stretch was his only chance to win the race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bumpy at times, yes, but Journalism has taken jockey Umberto Rispoli on the ride of a lifetime this spring.

Mon, 06/02/2025 - 17:23

Belmont Stakes 2025: Journalism draws post 7 as 8-5 favorite; Sovereignty 2-1

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Journalism finished second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, bulled his way to victory in the Preakness, and will make his third start in five weeks in the Belmont Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Six of the eight spots in the starting gate had been assigned for Saturday’s 157th Belmont Stakes and the name Journalism had not yet been called. The rail and the seven remained.

It caused a little bit of anxiety for Aron Wellman, president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which co-owns Journalism, who didn’t want his horse and jockey Umberto Rispoli to start from the rail. Wellman exhaled when it was announced Journalism drew post 7.

Mon, 06/02/2025 - 14:43

Belmont Stakes clocker: Journalism shows plenty of energy in drill

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Baeza works a half-mile in 48.96 seconds on Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track.

Sunday, June 1
Saratoga
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 46°
Main track: Good
Training track: Good

Mon, 06/02/2025 - 09:14

Ouzts wins 7,500th race as jockey

By Nicole Russo

Perry Ouzts rides Decree to victory on Saturday at Belterra Park. The win was Ouzts's 7,500 as a jockey.

Jockey Perry Wayne Ouzts continues to make milestones as he rode his 7,500th career winner on Saturday at Belterra Park.

Ouzts, who turns 71 on July 7, rode a pair of winners Saturday at Belterra Park for trainer Barbara Riley – taking the second race, a maiden special weight, on Calculated Move and then hitting the milestone win in the fourth race, an allowance, aboard Decree.

Ouzts closed May on a hot streak. In the final four days of the month at Belterra, he had four wins, two runner-up finishes, and a third.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 18:07

Future Is Now goes for repeat victory in Intercontinental Stakes

By David Grening

Coady Media

Future Is Now has won five of her last six starts and could go favored in Thursday's Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Future Is Now hopes to strike up memories of the past when he seeks a repeat victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental Stakes on Thursday at Saratoga.

The Intercontinental, at 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf course, drew a field of nine turf runners and one main-track-only entrant. It is one of four stakes on a 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:47

Look Forward preps to stretch back out in Acorn

By David Grening

Debra A. Roma

After cutting back to win the Eight Belles, Look Forward will stretch back out in the Acorn.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Look Forward, who made a successful turnback in distance winning the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 2, will again try to stretch out when she starts in the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga.

On Friday, Look Forward worked a half-mile in 47.21 seconds over Saratoga’s main track, going in splits of 23.96 for the opening quarter and galloping out five furlongs in 59.92 seconds, six furlongs in 1:13.07, and seven furlongs in 1:27.92.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:46

Baffert to remove blinkers from Citizen Bull for Woody Stephens

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Bob Baffert has confirmed Citizen Bull for the Woody Stephens and he will be removing blinkers for the race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After initially indicating he was going to remove blinkers from Citizen Bull for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert said he is going to take the blinkers off the 2-year-old champion for the Grade 1, $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga.

Citizen Bull, who finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby, was confirmed Friday by Baffert as a starter for the seven-furlong Woody Stephens after Citizen Bull worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Santa Anita.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:44

Miguel Clement has first runners on action-packed statebred card

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

After taking over for his father Christophe, who passed away last week, Miguel Clement will have his first NYRA runners on Wednesday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Six stakes for New York-breds, each worth $200,000, highlight the Wednesday card at Saratoga, the first day of the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Miguel Clement, the 33-year-old son of trainer Christophe Clement, who passed away last weekend, will start his first four horses at NYRA on that card. That includes Drake’s Passage, who will look to repeat in the $200,000 Commentator Stakes. His main competition appears to come from Bank Frenzy and Mama’s Gold.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:42

Pletcher preps Fierceness for cutback in Met Mile with half-mile move

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Fierceness worked a half-mile in 49.68 seconds over the Oklahoma training track in company with Tuscan Sky on Friday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fierceness on Friday morning geared up for his cutback to one mile in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 7 by working a half-mile in 49.68 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.

Fierceness, starting just off of workmate Tuscan Sky, went in splits of 12.71 seconds, 24.83, and came home in 24.85, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, who had Fierceness galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.63 and six furlongs in 1:15.58 over a rather dull-playing surface.

Subscribe to Track Notes