DEL MAR, Calif. – Beholder, a two-time champion, is the marquee name for the weekend’s stakes at Del Mar. She is scheduled to head the field in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Saturday.
The Clement Hirsch, at 1 1/16 miles, is the championship race of the meet for fillies and mares on dirt. Among those expected to face Beholder are Honey Ride, Thegirlinthatsong, Warren’s Veneda, and Yahilwa.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Dortmund, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness, is starting to put together a series of works after being knocked out from his spring campaign.
“He’s coming along slowly,” trainer Bob Baffert said after Dortmund worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds on Monday at Del Mar, his second work in seven days following a gap of one month. “He’s getting his weight back.”
Baffert said he had no plans just yet for Dortmund, who won the Santa Anita Derby earlier this year and went into the Kentucky Derby undefeated.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Derek Lawson has been a jockey agent for most of the past 30 years, but he’s having his greatest success representing Flavien Prat, who is tied atop the jockeys’ standings with nine wins after two weeks of the Del Mar meet.
Lawson, 61, often has represented riders from France, like Prat, because of his ability to speak fluent French. Lawson was born in New York, but moved as a youth to the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, and the name Lawson isn’t French, so what’s the French connection?
DEL MAR, Calif. – He’s not quite yet ready, but Obviously, the brilliant turf miler, is likely just a few works away from returning to action, and there is the distinct possibility he could attempt to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Mile for the third time in four years on Aug. 23.
Obviously has not raced since last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, finishing fifth after leading a world-class field with a furlong to go. He is up to five furlongs in his workouts, including a turf drill in 1:01.60 on Sunday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The standard of excellence for Beholder is so high that there is only one outcome of the 2015 season that will satisfy trainer Richard Mandella. She must be champion older female.
“That’s what I’m hoping,” Mandella said last weekend.
Monmouth Park will finally get its Triple Crown winner when American Pharoah runs in the Haskell Invitational on Sunday.
American Pharoah is the eighth Triple Crown winner dating back to 1941. Of the seven preceding winners, five raced in New Jersey either before, during or after their series sweeps. Oddly, none of the five raced at Monmouth, which opened in June 1946.
The West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer on Saturday drew a competitive field of 11 when entries were taken Monday, with Peter Pan winner Madefromlucky the likely favorite and Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve a top contender.
An up-and-comer in the group is Bent On Bourbon, who has been successfully moving up the ladder in both class and distance for trainer Eddie Kenneally and Bourbon Lane Stable. Bent On Bourbon will try to take another step forward in the 1 1/8-mile West Virginia Derby, which will be his toughest test to date.
DEL MAR, Calif. – American Pharoah is ready for his second act. He completed his preparation for the Haskell on Tuesday morning at Del Mar, with an easy half-mile drill in 48.80 seconds, and now is set to head to New Jersey’s Monmouth Park for Sunday’s race, his first start since becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner nearly two months ago.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Business was booming at Saratoga through the first four days of the meet, with double-digit increases in all-sources and ontrack handle from last season.
All-sources handle was $68,653,296, an 11.8 percent increase over the 2014 figure of $61,386,762. Ontrack handle was $17,304,651, a 17.1 percent increase over the 2014 figure of $14,776,040. Ontrack handle figures include money wagered on Saratoga’s races at Aqueduct, Belmont and through NYRA Rewards.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Drawing the rail in 5 1/2-furlong turf sprints is usually a recipe for trouble, and Shore Runner found plenty of that before finally getting clear to surge past Sharp Sensation at the wire for a nose decision in Monday’s $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga. The victory was the sixth in a row for Shore Runner and first in a stakes.
