Thu, 08/31/2017 - 15:10

Apprentice jockey Katie Clawson sidelined with injury

Linscott Photography
Apprentice jockey Katie Clawson will be out at least another week to recover from a training accident.

Apprentice jockey Katie Clawson, who has been leading rider for most of the long Indiana Grand 2017 race meet, has ridden only one race since Aug. 23 after falling in a morning-training accident. Clawson visited a doctor Wednesday and said via text message she is out of action until at least late next week. She said she has a follow-up medical examination scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 7, to “see how things have progressed with my healing.”

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 15:10

Smoke ‘n' Gloat, Devileye face off in Arlington Heights Stakes

Four-Footed Fotos
Smoke 'n' Gloat won his first four starts in 2017.

The two sharpest Illinois-bred 3-year-olds to race at Arlington this year, Smoke ‘n’ Gloat and Devileye, face off Saturday in the $65,000 Arlington Heights Stakes, a seven-furlong Polytrack race restricted to statebreds.

The Arlington Heights is one of six overnight stakes added last week to Arlington’s schedule because of a surplus in the track’s purse account. Arlington’s policy is to end its season with a zero balance in the account, which has led to purse cuts in recent years.

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 15:00

St Patrick's Day among potential stars in maiden race

Barbara D. Livingston
St Patrick's Day will face stiff competition for his second start in a maiden race.

DEL MAR, Calif. – One cost more than $1 million. Another is a full brother to a Triple Crown winner. Three others are first-time starters purchased for six figures.

A maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs Saturday at Del Mar, the day’s eighth race, could be one of the more productive races of the summer. There are certainly plenty of contenders.

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 14:46

Mor Spirit returns to work tab, drills quick half-mile

Justin N. Lane
Mor Spirit wins the Met Mile by more than six lengths on Saturday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Met Mile winner Mor Spirit, who was given an easy fortnight when he wasn’t training satisfactorily, returned to the work tab in a big way Thursday morning at Del Mar with a half-mile drill in 47 seconds that was the best of the morning at the distance.

“Worked nice. Just freshened him up,” said Bob Baffert, who had not worked Mor Spirit since a dull drill Aug. 12. “The Met Mile was a hard race on him. When he first got here, he was losing interest. He was struggling with the track. He’s fresh now, seems good.”

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 13:29

Gas Station Sushi likely to scratch from Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, Calif. – Gas Station Sushi, who would have been one of the top contenders in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Saturday, likely will scratch after running a high temperature on Wednesday, and then not training Thursday morning, trainer Richard Baltas said Thursday.

Baltas said he would wait until Friday to put in a scratch for Gas Station Sushi. He initially said he was "95 percent" certain she would not run, then, as he kept talking, made it sound like it was closer to 100 percent.

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 11:56

Summer Revolution nearing 2017 debut for Rodriguez

Barbara D. Livingston
Summer Revolution, winner of an allowance on Aug. 6, remains a candidate for the Travers, but is more likely to run in the seven-furlong King's Bishop.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Summer Revolution was a hot topic in the 3-year-old division here last summer for trainer Rudy Rodriguez after launching his career with a pair of impressive victories, including a three-length entry-level allowance tally for which he received a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 11:20

Handicapping the riders key to new Jockey7

An innovative addition to the daily wagering menu at Kentucky Downs will make its debut this meet with the Jockey7 Wager, which allows horseplayers to bet on individual jockeys and their mounts. The Jockey7 will span the last seven races (4-10) each day.

Win-place-show, exacta, and trifecta wagering will be held on the Jockey7, which will consist of 13 jockeys and their assigned mounts, plus a “field” as a 14th entry.

Wed, 08/30/2017 - 16:06

Torrealba willing to take on all comers with Gun Runner

Barbara D. Livingston
Gun Runner works an easy half-mile in 50.28 seconds on Monday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Whether it’s reinvigorating Three Chimneys Farm or taking on champions like Songbird or Arrogate, Goncalo Torrealba enjoys a challenge.

“I don’t run from a challenge,” Torrealba said. “I definitely don’t.”

Wed, 08/30/2017 - 15:56

Spinaway, pair of turf stakes top Woodward undercard

Barbara D. Livingston
Pure Silver's Adirondack victory was the first graded stakes win for her sire Mission Impazible.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Grade 1 Spinaway may have come up short on numbers when it was drawn Wednesday, but certainly won’t be lacking for quality when it is run on Saturday. Not with a quartet of undefeated 2-year-old fillies in the lineup, led by Pure Silver, runaway winner of the Grade 2 Adirondack here earlier this summer, and a trio of impressive debut winners, Separationofpowers, Lady Ivanka, and Maryland invader Maya Malibu.

Wed, 08/30/2017 - 15:30

Sam Houston, spared by Hurricane Harvey, accepting displaced horses

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston escaped significant damage from Hurricane Harvey and is accepting displaced horses for stabling, said the track’s president, Andrea Young.

“We were very fortunate,” she said.

There is not yet a timetable for resuming simulcasting at Sam Houston, which does not have a live meet until January.

“We’ve been closed since Sunday,” Young said Wednesday. “It’s very dangerous to be on the road right now. It’s still raining.”