ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Oscar Performance, the likely Secretariat Stakes favorite over an expected six rivals, has not won two Grade 1 races and is just shy of $1.5 million because he is an especially limited horse. But Oscar Performance is a front-running type who definitely benefited from making easy leads last out in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and two starts ago in the Pennine Ridge Stakes.
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DRF Past Performances
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – It probably will not be enough of an advantage to land either in the winner’s circle, but Arlington Million starter Oak Brook and Beverly D. runner Prado’s Sweet Ride are the only horses in those Grade 1 races Saturday at Arlington who will get to walk to the paddock from the stall they’ve inhabited all summer.
Those two are the entire home team in the three Grade 1 races Saturday at Arlington. Pre-entries for the Million, the Beverly D., the Grade 1 Secretariat, and the American St. Leger came last Friday, and the final fields were to be drawn Tuesday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Lady Eli, the winner of the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga during opening weekend, returned to the work tab Sunday, breezing a half-mile in 49.04 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course.
Lady Eli went in company with Antonoe. The two were head-and-head throughout a first quarter-mile in 25.16 seconds and a second quarter in 23.88.
“Both horses looked terrific,” trainer Chad Brown said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Green Mask earned his second consecutive 110 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in Sunday’s $250,000 Troy Handicap at Saratoga and will now target one more race before the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
Green Mask won the Troy by 1 1/2 lengths and covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:00.49, just 0.03 seconds off Lady Shipman’s course record. Green Mask also earned a 110 Beyer when he won the Highlander Stakes at Woodbine on July 2.
Trainer Brad Cox said Green Mask came out of the race in good order.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Speed is always dangerous in racing, more so in handicap races if the speed horse gets significant weight from the competition.
Those variables could be in play Saturday when the speedy Sassy Little Lila takes on the boys in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap going a mile at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Abel Tasman, the nation’s leading 3-year-old filly, worked three furlongs in 36.80 seconds Monday under jockey Martin Garcia as Baffert ponders her next start, which could be predicated on what Jerry Hollendorfer does with Songbird.
“I have a lot of options. I don’t have to decide until a week before,” Baffert said.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Two of the top contenders for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic turned in workouts at Del Mar on Monday that indicated both are coming up to the Aug. 19 race in ideal condition.
Accelerate, the upset winner over Arrogate in the San Diego Handicap in his last start, worked an easy five furlongs in 1:01.20 under jockey Victor Espinoza. About 75 minutes later, Collected continued his dazzling series of drills here with a one-mile work in 1:37.40 under Martin Garcia.
DEL MAR, Calif. – It’s rare to see a horse win by 17 1/2 lengths going just 5 1/2 furlongs, and rarer still to see a horse win a maiden-claiming race at Canterbury Park and then show up at Del Mar, but the filly Vallestina, who runs in race 6 on Wednesday, ticks both of those boxes.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Win the Space, who was second and third in Grade 1 races last year, may run out of time preparing for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 19.
Unraced since being eased in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November, Win the Space has worked steadily in recent weeks, but trainer George Papaprodromou said the $1 million Pacific Classic may be too demanding for a first race of the season.
“I don’t know if we’ll be ready,” Papaprodromou said Sunday.