Mon, 08/21/2017 - 14:56

Gun Runner looks good in work for Woodward Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Gun Runner works five furlongs Monday ahead of the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gun Runner, the dominant winner of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 6, drilled a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.31 on Monday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes here Sept. 2.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 14:56

Thermistor has options following Gold Rush win

Coady Photography
Thermistor wins the Gold Rush Futurity last week at Arapahoe Park.

The undefeated 2-year-old Thermistor could see stakes action at Kentucky Downs or Remington Park next, according to trainer J.R. Caldwell.

Thermistor won Colorado’s richest race, the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity, on Aug. 13 at Arapahoe Park, improving his career record to 2 for 2. Caldwell said the horse will be considered for the $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile, a seven-furlong turf race Sept. 2, or the $75,000 Kip Deville over six furlongs Sept. 24 at Remington Park.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 14:56

American Dubai heads to Ruidoso for higher-elevation work

Coady Photography
American Dubai rolls to a nine-length victory in the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap.

American Dubai was to be shipped to Ruidoso Downs on Monday to train at a high elevation in advance of a possible start in the Keeneland Korea Cup at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea, said his trainer, Rodney Richards.

American Dubai, the winner of the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap and the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap, has been stabled at owner Richard Keith’s farm in Hobbs, N.M., with plans to eventually be based at nearby Zia Park.

Richards has been working on the logistics of sending American Dubai to South Korea. The race is Sept. 10.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 14:30

Nakatani gets honor at Japanese festival

Benoit & Associates
Danzing Candy received a 107 Beyer Speed Figure in the San Carlos.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Corey Nakatani was the parade marshal Sunday in Los Angeles for the 2017 Nisei Week Japanese Festival, a prestigious honor made all the more poignant by the fact that Nakatani’s late father, Roy, was housed at Santa Anita as a youth during World War II when the track was temporarily used as a relocation facility for Japanese Americans.

Nakatani did not ride Sunday because of the commitment.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 13:36

Sadler's Joy solid in work for Sword Dancer

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Sadler's Joy, shown winning the Pan American Stakes, will go in Saturday's Grade 1 Sword Dancer.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Tom Albertrani doesn’t typically use a jockey to work his horses, but on Monday, Julien Leparoux put Sadler’s Joy through a five-furlong work in 1:01.88 over the Saratoga main track. Sadler’s Joy is pointing to Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer.

Albertrani said he has been shorthanded with help and that since Leparoux will ride the horse Saturday, he had him work the colt Monday. Leparoux won the Grade 2 Pan American on Sadler’s Joy in April at Gulfstream.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 13:30

By the Moon tries again for Grade 1 win at Spa in Ballerina

Barbara D. Livingston
By the Moon (left) finishes third to Paulassilverlining in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though By the Moon is already a Grade 1 winner, her connections would like nothing more than to get a Grade 1 victory at Saratoga. Considering how well the mare has run in Grade 1 stakes here, it would seem like she is due one.

At age 2, By the Moon was second in the Spinaway, albeit beaten 13 1/4 lengths by the slop monster Condo Commando. At 3, By the Moon finished third in the Test, and last year she was second in the Ballerina.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 13:16

Golden Gate Fields carries momentum into summer meet

Golden Gate Fields hopes to continue the positive trend from its long winter-spring meeting when racing resumes Thursday for a 16-day summer meeting.

The meet runs Thursdays through Sundays and ends Sept. 17. First post is 1:45 p.m. Pacific. General admission is free Sundays.

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Mon, 08/21/2017 - 13:06

Songbird likely to face four in Personal Ensign

Barbara D. Livingston
Songbird is scheduled to arrive at Saratoga on Tuesday for Saturday's Personal Ensign Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Two-time Eclipse Award champion Songbird on Tuesday was scheduled to arrive at Saratoga, where on Saturday she is expected to face four rivals in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes on the Travers card.

On Sunday at Del Mar, Songbird completed her preparations for the Personal Ensign by working four furlongs in 47.20 seconds.

“She just does everything nice and easy,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “She galloped out well, looked real good.”

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 13:00

Classy Tune targets Raven Run Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Classy Tune, the 5 1/2-length winner of an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies Sunday, likely will be pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes on Oct. 21 at Keeneland for her stakes debut, trainer Simon Callaghan said Monday.

Classy Tune, by Maclean’s Music, has won her last two starts, both at Del Mar.

“She deserves a shot at a stakes after that performance,” Callaghan said. “We’ll probably go to the Raven Run.”

Callaghan’s best 3-year-old filly, Test winner American Gal, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Monday at Del Mar.

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 13:00

Zatter, St. Patrick's Day may meet again in Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. – Zatter and St. Patrick’s Day, who ran one-two in their debuts in a strong six-furlong race for maiden 2-year-olds on Sunday, both are under serious consideration for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on closing day, Sept. 4, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday.

Zatter, by Midnight Lute, is owned by the Zayat Stables of Ahmed and Justin Zayat, who owned American Pharaoh, the 2015 Triple Crown winner who is the older full brother of St. Patrick’s Day.