SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It appeared as though Jackson Bend's career was over when he left Saratoga following a last-place finish in the Grade 1 Forego last September.
Though he escaped a frightening training accident a few weeks before the Forego relatively unscathed physically, his performance in the race seemed to signal that mentally he had enough.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Bardstown, a ridgling by Stormy Atlantic who had two quick workouts in early August, makes his career debut in what could be a productive maiden special weight for 2-year-olds in Sunday’s sixth race.
Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Bardstown may go favored. He was purchased for $400,000 at the Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training.
“He’s a good horse,” Hess said on Friday. “He likes this surface.
AUBURN, Wash. – The handicap division at Emerald Downs spent much of the past week licking its wounds after a Canadian shipper dominated the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile last Sunday.
Herbie D, based at Hastings in Vancouver, British Columbia, essentially toyed with the field in the Northwest’s signature race, setting a fast pace to repel his would-be pace adversaries and then easily holding off a wall of closers through the final furlong. Herbie D earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100, the first triple-digit speed figure in the Longacres Mile since 2006.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Winning Prize, a three-time Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2012, won his American debut so convincingly at Del Mar on Thursday that trainer Neil Drysdale hopes to send the colt to Keeneland for the $750,000 Shadwell Mile on Oct. 5.
The Shadwell Mile is expected to include Wise Dan, the reigning Horse of the Year.
AUBURN, Wash. – Chu and You, who has yet to be headed in two starts, looms the horse to beat Sunday in the $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes at Emerald Downs. The meeting’s second stakes race for 2-year-old fillies attracted a field of seven, with Chu and You likely to start as a narrow favorite over recent maiden winner Charismata. First post for the 10-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Royal Delta regained her spot on the throne of the older filly and mare division with a dominant victory in last month’s Grade 1 Delaware Handicap.
Sunday, she will try to keep her position against two would-be queens – Authenticity and On Fire Baby – in the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The reinvention of Goldencents as a sprinter can continue in Sunday’s $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.
Already this year, Goldencents has won the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles, and finished a game second in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs here on July 28.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Obviously is such a standout in Sunday’s $200,000 Del Mar Mile that the three rival trainers with runners in the five-horse field are approaching the race with trepidation.
Obviously may be impossible to beat from the front in the Grade 2 turf race.
“If Obviously runs his ‘A’ race, it’s his,” said trainer John Sadler, who is running He Be Fire N Ice and Tigah.
Palace, with a little help from his entrymate, N. F.’s Destiny, played the spoiler when rallying to upset The Lumber Guy in Friday’s $100,000 Chowder’s First Stakes at Saratoga.
The Lumber Guy, who finished second in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was making his first start since being reunited with trainer Mike Hushion earlier this year. The Lumber Guy finished off the board in two subsequent starts following the Breeders’ Cup when left on the West Coast with trainer Neil Drysdale.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Game On Dude is the best horse in the Pacific Classic. But he is not racing on his best surface.
The way Del Mar’s richest race of the season falls on Sunday centers on Game On Dude. If he runs to what he is capable of doing at his absolute best, he will win. If Polytrack again proves his Kryptonite, he will not.
