DEL MAR, Calif. – Byrama worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Del Mar on Sunday, a workout that left trainer Simon Callaghan debating whether to start the 4-year-old filly against males in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 25.
The winner of the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park in June, Byrama would be the only female in the Pacific Classic, the meeting’s top race for older horses.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The connections of Princess of Sylmar have not ruled out running their three-time Grade 1-winning filly again this year but won’t be in a hurry to make a decision.
“There’s still a chance we’ll run again,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Princess of Sylmar for owner and breeder Ed Stanco. “I haven’t really had a chance to talk to Ed, and I don’t think we’ll come to any firm conclusions for a little bit.”
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Mike de Kock watched the Arlington Million from the office in his stables at Newmarket in England. As the race concluded, de Kock saw his runner, The Apache, cross the finish line first, holding clear a late challenge from Real Solution.
“It was only a side-on view, so it was difficult to see anything,” de Kock said. “Then there was the call to hold all tickets and the jockey’s objection. When we saw the head-on view, my heart sank.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Following Princess of Sylmar’s victory in Saturday’s Alabama Stakes, trainer Todd Pletcher has won 11 stakes, including three Grade 1 scores, from his 27 winners at the 2013 Saratoga meet.
And the best may be yet to come.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was business as usual at trainer Chad Brown’s barn Sunday morning, less than 12 hours after his team celebrated not one but two Grade 1 victories Saturday, with Big Blue Kitten at Saratoga in the Sword Dancer Invitational and Real Solution, who won the Arlington Million via the disqualification of The Apache.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Sweet Lulu is unbeaten, and she’s about to be tested.
The winner of all three of her starts in impression fashion, Sweet Lulu will make her stakes debut against Grade 1 company in the $500,000 Test on Saturday at Saratoga, according to her trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer.
Prayer for Relief edged a resurgent Worldly by a head to win the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Saturday night, earning a $15,000 bonus from the track’s parent company, Global Gaming.
Prayer for Relief was the lone horse eligible for the bonus by virtue of his participation in three designated races run between Remington and its sister track, Lone Star Park near Dallas. It is to be split equally by his owner, Zayat Stables, and trainer, Steve Asmussen.
Lucy’s Bob Boy rebounded nicely from his first loss of the season by romping to a 5 1/4-length victory in Saturday night’s $50,000 Frank Gall Memorial for West Virginia-breds at Charles Town.
Ridden by Gustavo Larrosa for trainer Sandra Dono and owner Michael Furr, the 4-year-old Lucy’s Bob Boy ($2.20) led comfortably from start to finish and completed seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:25.14. He is now 14 for 18 lifetime with earnings of $536,030.
Golden Set finished second, two lengths in front of Son of a Bear.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There is a pick six carryover of $189,822 for Sunday’s 10-race program at Del Mar.
With one exception, bettors will sort through large fields in Sunday’s pick six, which covers the fifth through 10th races on a program that starts at 2 p.m. Pacific.
The fifth race is an optional claimer over a mile on turf. Midnight Crooner was scratched on Saturday, leaving 11 runners. The race will have a safety limit of 10 starters. Stoney Fleece remained on the also-eligible list overnight. The final field will be announced on Sunday morning.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Discreet Marq proved she is more than just a front-running filly in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks. She is equally dangerous when given a target.
Making her first start in a Grade 1, Discreet Marq closed from third in a field of 10 to win the Del Mar Oaks by three-quarters of a length over a determined Wishing Gate. The Del Mar Oaks was Discreet Marq’s third consecutive win and the most prestigious of her 10-race career.
The Del Mar Oaks marked the first time Discreet Marq had won by running from off the pace.
