Wed, 07/23/2025 - 13:25

Quarantine lifted on Saratoga barn

Barbara D. Livingston
La Cara was stabled in Barn 28 and had to be scratched from an intended start Saturday in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

A temporary quarantine that was placed on Barn 28 at Saratoga on Saturday was lifted Wednesday by the New York State Department of Agriculture after it was determined that a horse residing in that barn did not test positive for strangles. 

Wed, 07/23/2025 - 12:32

Johannes coming east for Fourstardave

Benoit Photo
Trainer Tim Yakteen is bypassing the Eddie Read for the Grade 1 Fourstardave, which is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Johannes, a finalist for the Eclipse Award in the male turf division in 2024, is scheduled to make his 2025 debut in the Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 2, trainer Tim Yakteen said Tuesday.

The Grade 1 status of the Fourstardave, a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, made the Fourstardave the choice over this weekend’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar, Yakteen said.

Wed, 07/23/2025 - 12:29

Elliott's whirlwind month takes him to the Bing Crosby

Chris Elliott April 5 2025
Barbara D. Livingston
Chris Elliott, who is now a journeyman rider, will ride in his first Grade 1 Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It’s been quite the whirlwind month for jockey Chris Elliott – and July isn’t over.

Elliott, who began the month as an apprentice jockey, won stakes without the weight allowance at Prairie Meadows and Saratoga within a two-week period. In between, he narrowly escaped injury after being unseated a quarter-mile into the first race of the traditional Saratoga meet on July 10.

Wed, 07/23/2025 - 12:20

D'Angelo' sprint team arrives from Florida

Barbara D. Livingston
Howard Wolowitz will run once at Saratoga for Jose D'Angelo, then head to the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The speedsters Bentornato, Howard Wolowitz, and Gabaldon, who could be major factors in their respective divisions during the second half of the season, arrived here from South Florida earlier this week. All three are likely to make one start at this meet, according to their trainer, Jose D’Angelo.

Wed, 07/23/2025 - 12:09

Fierce and Strong headed back to statebred company off Wolf Hill win

Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Fierce and Strong will head back to statebred company after winning the Wolf Hill at Monmouth.

After winning the $100,000 Wolf Hill at Monmouth Park last weekend, trainer Michael Salvaggio Jr. said that 5-year-old gelding Fierce and Strong will make his next start against statebred rivals in the $75,000 Marshall Jenney Stakes at Penn National on Aug. 15.

“I always thought he was going to be a better route horse, but I’m not so sure now,” Salvaggio said. “It almost looks like he might be a better sprinter, so for right now, we’re probably looking to keep him sprinting.”

Wed, 07/23/2025 - 12:07

Johnston to retire as director of racing at Penn National

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Eric Johnston has announced his retirement as Penn National's director of racing.

When Eric Johnston left his hometown of Grantville, Pa., in the 1980s, he thought he was leaving for good. His career in the racing industry kept him elsewhere for decades, but when he finally returned to Penn National Race Course in 2014, his old home was familiar and foreign all at once.

Tue, 07/22/2025 - 18:36

Thistledown cancels through Thursday due to racing surface problems

Thistledown racetrack outside Cleveland, Ohio, has canceled its Wednesday and Thursday race cards, according to a notification the track sent to Equibase, among concerns about rocks in its racing surface.

The track had already canceled its Monday and Tuesday cards when the notification went out. According to Heriberto Rivera Jr., the Jockeys’ Guild representative who is working with the track’s riders, rocks began appearing in the surface on Monday, and despite some work on the surface Monday and Tuesday, the situation had not been resolved.

Tue, 07/22/2025 - 16:41

Oaklawn boosts Fantasy purse to $1 million, Honeybee to $750K

Coady
At $1 million, the Fantasy is the richest race in the country for 3-year-old fillies prior to the Kentucky Oaks.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has moved its Rebel Day card to a Sunday spot on the calendar and boosted the purse of the Fantasy Stakes to a record $1 million from $750,000 in the most significant changes to its more than $18 million stakes schedule announced Tuesday.

The 64-date season opens Dec. 12, with a “holiday meet” that extends to Jan. 4. Following a three-week winter break, the meet resumes Jan. 30 and continues to May 2.

Mon, 07/21/2025 - 14:27

Ryan noncommittal on Book'em Danno plans

Book'em Danno wins Vanderbilt at SAR July 19 2025
Debra A. Roma
Book’em Danno earned a 111 Beyer Speed Figure for his powerful victory in the Vanderbilt.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Derek Ryan said Book’em Danno exited his popular and impressive 2 1/2-length victory over Mullikin in Saturday’s Grade 2 Vanderbilt in good order but remained noncommittal about what the future might hold for arguably the leader of the sprint division at the midway point of the season.

Book’em Danno earned a career- and division-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort in the Vanderbilt while keeping his record unblemished in four starts at six furlongs.

Mon, 07/21/2025 - 13:49

White Abarrio turns in promising workout

Barbara D. Livingston
Saffie Joseph Jr. was encouraged by White Abarrio's Monday workout.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio turned in arguably his most impressive work since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the Met Mile six weeks earlier when breezing four furlongs in 48.42 seconds with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard Monday. White Abarrio, who galloped out six furlongs in a strong 1:13.16, is being pointed to the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 2.