DEL MAR, Calif. - Sirocco Strike is finished for the meeting after being placed first in an eventful running of the $100,690 Green Flash Handicap for turf sprinters on Wednesday.
Trainer Jeff Mullins said Thursday that Sirocco Strike will not start again until the Santa Anita autumn meeting, which begins Sept. 27. Races at a mile and turf sprints will be considered for the 6-year-old gelding.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Big Blue Kitten has only one blemish on his record over the last 5 1/2 months, that setback coming at the hands of Boisterous in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes on June 9.
[bc_video_id:301514:]SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Here’s a scary thought: As good as Princess of Sylmar has been in races up to 1 1/8 miles, her trainer, Todd Pletcher, believes she may not have run a race at her preferred distance yet.
“She’s a filly we always felt wanted to run as far as they write dirt races for fillies,” Pletcher said Thursday. “I actually think the mile and a quarter is maybe going to be her best distance.”
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – If there’s a standout 3-year-old turf horse lurking somewhere in North America, he’s not readily apparent among the entries for the Grade 1, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes on Saturday at Arlington.
Jack Milton probably will be favored to give trainer Todd Pletcher his second Secretariat win, but his edge on the competition – if one exists at all – is slight.
Onepointhreekarats, gunned out of the gate by jockey Jeremy Rose, maintained a daylight lead throughout Thursday’s $51,100 Unbridled Belle Stakes for fillies and mares at Delaware Park.
Making her first start in slightly more than two months, the 5-year-old Onepointhreekarats ($7.80) clicked off fractions of 23.56 seconds, 46.90, and 1:10.36 en route to a 1 1/2-length victory while completing a mile and 70 yards on a fast main track in 1:39.98.
Trainer Andrew Leggio has leading contenders in four of the eight stakes that will make up the $570,000 Louisiana Cup program at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, but all of his starters have questions to answer. Hud’s Rebellion is cross-entered in the $100,000 Turf Classic and $60,000 Sprint; Skip the Pinot will have to get 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Derby; Kisses for Carrots goes long for the first time in the $75,000 Oaks; and Joyce’s Rebel seeks his first stakes win in a deep Sprint.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With little fanfare, Al Khali has competed at the highest level of racing for the last five years. Still lacking that signature victory, Al Khali will try again in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar officials are projecting a retroactive purse payment after the conclusion of the current meeting Sept. 4 based on strong handle figures for the first four weeks of the season.
AUBURN, Wash. – Stikine Slough, the easiest of winners in his last start, and Noosito, a full brother to an Emerald Downs legend, headline Saturday’s feature race, the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at 6 1/2 furlongs. First post for the 10-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Arlington loves all things international. Its Hanshin Cup has a sister race of the same name in Japan. The track’s scenic property is ringed by grapevines, French-style. Even the very word “International” has crept back into Arlington’s official moniker.
