SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - If Wise Dan makes it back to run in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap on Aug. 9, he might face a familiar rival in Seek Again, who came within a head of Wise Dan in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
Originally thought to be headed for the Arlington Million, Seek Again is now being pointed to the $500,000 Fourstardave, according to trainer Billy Mott.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Like a runner on the anchor leg of a relay race, Phil D’Amato has taken the baton and run with it. After working as an assistant to trainer Mike Mitchell for 11 years, D’Amato heads into his first Del Mar meeting with a large stable and very well could compete for the title as leading trainer, a position often held by his mentor.
Mitchell recently stepped down following a career in which he won a record 476 races at Del Mar and led the standings here for seven summers.
A day later than usual, Del Mar launches its popular summer race meeting Thursday. But this year, the party does not stop Labor Day week.
Two months after the summer meeting closes Sept. 3, Del Mar will run a monthlong autumn meeting in November. The new meeting is part of a redistribution of racing dates following the closure of Hollywood Park last year.
“It’s a different year and a lot of uncertainty in all areas,” said track president Joe Harper. “We’ll learn some lessons and see how it works out.”
Drayden Van Dyke had a set routine at Del Mar last summer. He was an all-around stable hand for trainer Tom Proctor, working before dawn and in the afternoon.
“I’d work in the morning and get done at 10:30 and be back for 2:30 to 4:30 for afternoon chores,” he recalled a few days ago. “Tom wanted me to be a horseman, to do the raking, work in the shed row, and work at feed time.”
Van Dyke, 19, will have a much different routine this summer. Afternoon chores will not be required. Van Dyke will be after the title of leading rider.
Apprentice rider Stephanie LaRicci won with her first career mount when Language of Love led virtually gate to wire for an easy victory in the third race Sunday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
LaRicci is a 25-year-old native of nearby Homestead and has been working as an exercise rider for about four years for veteran trainer David Fawkes. She was met after the race with the traditional shower of ice water, raw eggs, shoe polish, and baby powder from her fellow riders.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The charismatic international riding star Frankie Dettori will ride at Saratoga over the first four days of the session, beginning with Friday’s opening-day card.
Dettori, who has never ridden at Saratoga, is coming to the United States at the behest of trainer Wesley Ward, for whom he guided Undrafted to a fourth-place finish last week at Newmarket in England.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Seffeara impressed the crowd in his career debut June 8, when he set a 4 1/2-furlong track record, and he built on that performance Saturday, when he captured the $150,000 Clarendon Stakes.
But heading into the far turn on the lead, Seffeara didn’t look like the winner, as he backed up along the rail.
“I was a little disheartened when I saw that,” said trainer Steve Owens. “He’s still a young, green 2-year-old who’s still figuring things out. But I was impressed with his late speed when it was called upon.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Unspurned bounced back from her fifth-place finish in the Woodbine Oaks with a front-running score in Sunday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine to give trainer Roger Attfield his first stakes win of the year.
“She’s a very competitive filly,” Attfield said. “We talked about how the race might come up, and it virtually came up the way we worked it out. When [Hot and Spicy] came to her, she just dug back in again.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Nicholas Gonzalez and owner Tucci Stables got off to a great start Sunday at Woodbine, capturing the first two races with the 2-year-old first-time starter Imperial Dream and the 3-year-old filly Wild N Clever. But the day got even better when Starless Night went gate to wire in the $150,000 Shady Well Stakes for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies to remain undefeated in two starts.
“It’s one of those dream days,” Gonzalez said. “That’s why you get up at a quarter after 3 every morning and head to the racetrack – for days like this.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running third in the July 6 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine, Asserting Bear will miss the rest of the season with an injury.
“He came out of the race with bone bruising,” said trainer Reade Baker. “He got bumped pretty hard turning for home. By the time we get him back and straightened out, the Triple Crown would be over, and I don’t want to keep him in training running against older horses.”
