SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Mike Luzzi, severely injured in a paddock accident at Aqueduct last November, has been cleared by doctors to return to the saddle, Luzzi said Friday.
Luzzi, 45, has been getting on horses in the mornings for the last few days and hopes to return to race-riding in the near future.
“When somebody gives me a mount, I’ll accept it,” said Luzzi, who has ridden 3,420 races since his career began in 1988 and was the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 1989.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Liam’s Map worked a very fast five furlongs Saturday in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher is not so sure that was a good thing.
Liam’s Map went in 58.42 seconds, going his first three furlongs in 34.03 over the Saratoga main track. Despite going so quick early, he got his final quarter in 24.49 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.62 and seven furlongs in 1:25.17.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Daredevil, the Grade 1 Champagne winner on dirt at age 2, will make his turf debut in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.
For the third straight week, Daredevil worked on turf Saturday, breezing a sharp half-mile 47.75 seconds in company with Charming Kitten. He shaded 23 seconds for his final quarter.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The purse of the Travers Stakes would increase to $1.6 million from $1.25 million should Triple Crown winner American Pharoah start in the race Aug. 29, the New York Racing Association announced Saturday.
The winner’s share of the Travers would increase to $850,000 from the current guarantee of $675,000 should American Pharoah start.
The extra money would come from the purse account and comes with the blessing of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, according to Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Motown Men won for the third time in his last five starts in a competitive optional claimer in Friday’s sixth race at a mile. The win will lead to a start in the $80,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile Aug. 26, trainer Ted H. West said on Saturday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Obey gave trainer Sam Scolamieri his first stakes win in more than 18 years when she won the $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar on Friday night.
Scolamieri might only wait another month for his next big win.
On Saturday, Scolamieri, who is based at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in northern San Diego County, said Obey will be considered for the $150,000 Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs Aug. 28.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Adding spice to an already solid card at Saratoga, there will be a pick six carryover of $309,846 into Saturday’s 11-race program.
The pick six starts with race 6 (3:53 p.m. Eastern) and includes three stakes races – the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Grade 2 Bowling Green, and Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the latter of which will have a four-horse field.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – V. E. Day, the 2014 Travers winner, worked a stamina-building six furlongs in 1:14.17 on Friday over Saratoga’s main track in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes.
With Kelvin Pahal in the irons, V. E. Day went in fractions of 25.63 seconds, 37.51, and 49.08 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:28.16.
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he was happy with what he saw and believes that despite V. E. Day having had only two starts this year, his fitness level is where it needs to be to face a star-studded cast shaping up for the Whitney.
Trainer Peter Walder could have graded stakes starters on two fronts Aug. 15. He said Come to Mischief is on deck for the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga, while Maid On a Mission is possible for the Grade 1, $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park.
“I might need to clone myself,” said Walder.
The California Horse Racing Board has rejected a request by Patrick Valenzuela to allow the troubled jockey to resume his career.
In a closed hearing at Del Mar on July 17, the racing board rejected the opinion of a hearing officer, who recommended that the 52-year-old Valenzuela be allowed to ride. The decision was announced in a statement released by the racing board Friday.
Valenzuela’s case before the hearing officer was held earlier this year.
