Wed, 08/21/2013 - 16:53

Saratoga: Declan's Warrior among 14-horse lineup for King's Bishop

Barbara D. Livingston
Declan's Warrior should get an honest pace to set up his closing kick in Saturday's King's Bishop.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Nick Zito did a bit of a double take when handed the overnight for Saturday’s Travers Day card. That reaction coming after he got his first glance at the field for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, which surprisingly drew a field of 14 3-year-olds, including Zito’s horse Declan’s Warrior.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 16:28

Del Mar: Reneesgotzip eyes Breeders' Cup race

Benoit & Associates
Reneesgotzip, setting a Del Mar record for 6 1/2 furlongs in the Rancho Bernardo, could go in the BC Turf Sprint, Filly and Mare Sprint, or Sprint.

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DEL MAR, Calif. - Reneesgotzip, winner of the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap in track-record time last Sunday, will make her next start in a Breeders’ Cup race at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 or 2. A decision on a specific race may not be made until the preceding weekend.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 16:27

Remington Park: Strategic Leader in seventh Red Earth Stakes

Dustin Orona Photography
Strategic Leader has not raced since the Remington meet a year ago.

Strategic Leader will be making his seventh appearance in the $50,000 Red Earth when he runs in Friday night’s renewal of the Oklahoma-bred fixture at Remington Park. A field of 12 will start in the 7 1/2-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 16:22

Travers: Godolphin's hopes rest with intriguing longshots Transparent, Romansh

Barbara D. Livingston
Romansh did not wear blinkers when he was out for exercise on Tuesday, but will race wearing them in Saturday's Travers.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In recent years, trainers Kiaran McLaughlin and Tom Albertrani have won the Travers with horses from whom big things were expected.

Saturday, in the 144th Travers Stakes at Saratoga, McLaughlin and Albertrani are back in the race with horses that could be intriguing longshots in a field highlighted by Haskell winner Verrazano, Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, and Kentucky Derby winner Orb.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 16:00

Del Mar Derby could be split into divisions

Shigeki Kikkawa
Kid Dreams could run in the Del Mar Derby on two weeks' rest.

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DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar officials are considering dividing the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 1, provided the race receives sufficient entries and that business continues to show improvement over last year.

Director of racing Tom Robbins said Wednesday that the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby would need at least 16 intended runners to be divided. Ten can start in each race.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:36

Louisiana Downs notes: String King a lucrative handful for Smith

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
String King has swept the state’s biggest races for Louisiana-breds on grass – ”The Louisiana Turf Triple.”

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Everything is going according to plan these days for Charlie Smith and his blue-collar runner String King. If you are the owner, breeder, and trainer of a horse who regularly takes down six-figure stakes events, that kind of order can be a wonderful thing.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:32

Hastings: Andallthatitmeans, Architecture to be favored in CTHS Sales Stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Andallthatitmeans is going to be a very short price and should be tough to handle when he runs in the colts-and-geldings division of the CTHS Sales Stakes for 2-year-olds at Hastings on Friday.

The fillies division also will have a solid favorite, Architecture, but she might have her hands full with Elusive Lily, who appears primed to pull off a small upset.

Each race is worth $50,000 and covers 6 1/2 furlongs. Post time for the first of seven races is 7:15 p.m. Pacific.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:19

British Columbia Derby may be too close back for Broadway Empire

Ryan Haynes/Coady Photo Services
Broadway Empire could make his next start in the Oklahoma Derby.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Timing is everything in sports, and the timing of the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby for Broadway Empire last Saturday at Northlands Park worked out perfectly. A few hours later, and Broadway Empire wouldn’t have made the race. Luckily for his connections, he did, and his display of speed and stamina in winning the 1 3/8-mile race with Rico Walcott aboard was very impressive.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:15

Saratoga: The Lumber Guy takes first step towards Breeders' Cup in Chowder's First

Barbara D. Livingston
The Lumber Guy, shown working out this summer at Saratoga, is shooting for a return to the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race in which he finished second last fall.

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SARATOGA, N.Y. – The $100,000 Chowder’s First Stakes for New York-bred sprinters would normally garner little attention on a card that is highlighted by a race like the Grade 1 Ballerina.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:15

Del Mar: CTT and TOC Handicap distance deciding factor for Topic

Shigeki Kikkawa
Topic will run in the 1 3/8-mile CTT and TOC Handicap instead of the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Oaks.

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DEL MAR, Calif. – The longer, the better, it seems for the turf filly Topic. Winless in five races at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, she finally broke through with a victory against maidens going 1 3/16 miles, then stretched out to 1 1/4 miles and was a good third last time out in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Betfair Hollywood Park.