Sat, 07/05/2025 - 13:31

Cox works Good Cheer for Alabama, Immersive for CCA Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston

Good Cheer, trained by Brad Cox, worked four furlongs in 49.55 seconds over the Saratoga main track Saturday morning.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Brad Cox plans to run both of his Grade 1-winning 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga this summer, but not it’s not expected to be against each other.

Immersive, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2024 who suffered her first career defeat in the Monomoy Girl Stakes last month at Churchill Downs, is targeting the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19. Good Cheer, winner of her first seven starts including the Kentucky Oaks before finishing fifth of six in the Grade 1 Acorn here on June 6, will train up to the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 16.

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 15:01

Jockey Abel Lezcano gets eight-day suspension

By Steve Andersen

Jockey Abel Lezcano has been suspended eight racing days – July 18 through 31 – for careless riding and excessive use of the whip in the ninth race at Los Alamitos on June 27, according to two recent rulings published by track stewards.

The suspension coincides with the first eight racing days of the Del Mar summer meeting.

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:57

Ag Bullet resumes training with sights on Kentucky Downs repeat

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Ag Bullet bested males in the Grade 1 Jaipur at Saratoga.

Ag Bullet, the 5-year-old mare who beat males in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga on June 8, has resumed training after a brief rest.

Trainer Richard Baltas said on Thursday that Ag Bullet had a three-week break after the Jaipur and is being prepared for the Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint, a $2 million race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 30. Ag Bullet won the same race in 2024 when it had a purse of $1.5 million.

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:47

Roll On Big Joe headed into Grade 1 company for Bing Crosby

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Now a two-time Grade 3 winner, Roll On Big Joe will step up into the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar.

The former claimer Roll On Big Joe is bound for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 26 after winning his second Grade 3 stakes of the year in the $250,000 Kelly’s Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 28.

The $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes is the leading sprint of the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins on July 18. The winner of the Bing Crosby receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:23

Santana thriving in New York

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Ricardo Santana Jr. has 22 wins since moving his tack to New York at the beginning of May.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. will carry some momentum into the traditional 40-day Saratoga meet that begins on Thursday.

When Santana got Awesome Czech to the wire a head in front of Vino Rouge to win Friday’s opener, it was his 22nd win since moving his tack to New York at the beginning of May. He has ridden winners for 16 different trainers.

“I have a new agent, P.J. Campo, who gave me the opportunity to come to New York,” Santana said. “This has always been my dream to be in New York. Things have gone really well.”

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:22

Iron Orchard impresses in debut

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Iron Orchard led every step of the way to win her debut by 5 1/2 lengths.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Iron Orchard was bet like she couldn’t lose her career debut on July 3 – and she didn’t. The New York-bred daughter of Authentic, who brought $500,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s 2-year-olds-in-training auction in April, broke running under Joel Rosario and led every step of the way to win by 5 1/2 lengths. The race was for horses who sold for $60,000 or less at auction or are New York-breds.

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:14

Fierceness works toward Whitney

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

ierceness (left) worked outside of Classic Catch (right) in his return to the work tab Friday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fierceness, runner-up in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, returned to the work tab Friday morning, covering a half-mile in 48.67 seconds over Saratoga’s main track.

Fierceness worked outside of Classic Catch, going his first quarter in 24.96 and his second in 23.71 while finishing a length in front and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.59.

“He was moving well, looked good. I had him reel him in on the gallop-out after the five-eighths,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I felt pretty good where he was and feel even better after the work.”

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:13

Mo Plex works; Haskell possible

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Mo Plex returned to the work tab Friday with a strong half-mile in 47.51 seconds over Saratoga’s main track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Less than two weeks after winning the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, Mo Plex returned to the work tab Friday morning with a strong half-mile in 47.51 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Mo Plex got his final three furlongs in 35.20 seconds and galloped out a strong five furlongs in 1:00.91 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.69.

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart is debating between the Jim Dandy on July 26 or the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 19 for his horse’s next start.

Fri, 07/04/2025 - 14:11

Sovereignty works well in preparation for Jim Dandy

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Sovereignty worked a half-mile in 48.68 seconds Friday over the Oklahoma training track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Following a slow workout last week that may have been more a by-product of track condition than anything else, Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, picked up the pace Friday morning, working a half-mile in 48.68 seconds over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for an expected start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes here on July 26.

Thu, 07/03/2025 - 15:19

Troy Stakes bumped back a day to Aug. 3

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

The Troy Stakes was one of three graded stakes originally scheduled for Aug. 2. Its date was changed in case it rains that day.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Grade 2, $300,000 Troy Stakes, scheduled for Aug. 2, has been moved to Aug. 3, the New York Racing Association announced Friday.

The Troy was one of three graded stakes scheduled for Aug. 2 along with the Grade 1 Fourstardave and Grade 1 Saratoga Derby. The Troy and Derby would be run on the Mellon turf course while the Fourstardave would be run on the inner course.

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