SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Joe Rocco’s summer of fun continued at Saratoga on Saturday, as he guided the favored Summer of Fun to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Auntie Mame Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.
Effie Trinket, who set the pace under Joel Rosario, held second by a neck over Joy.
The win was the third of the day, the ninth of the meet, and the third stakes success for Rocco, who is riding full time at Saratoga for the first time.
“Ecstatic, great day,” Rocco said.
STANTON, Del. - Finding room along the rail a furlong out, Service for Ten came off a five-month layoff in winning form to capture the $50,000 Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths in near-track-record time Saturday at Delaware Park.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Ken McPeek couldn’t have been happier on Saturday when looking back on Flashy American’s 1 3/4-length victory the previous afternoon in the Alada overnight stakes. The win was the third in the last four starts for the steadily improving Flashy Bull filly, whose lone setback during the streak came at the hands of Authenticity in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap earlier in the meet.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - My Happy Face, runner-up to Princess of Sylmar in the Coaching Club American Oaks at 1 1/8 miles, will cut back in distance and make her next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Test at seven furlongs on Aug. 24.
The Coaching Club was My Happy Face’s first start around two turns. In six previous starts around one turn, My Happy Face had three wins and three seconds, including a victory in the Grade 3 Tempted at one mile at Aqueduct.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Carnival Court, the Darley-owned half-sister to 2011 Alabama winner Royal Delta, prepared for her own bid at the Grade 1 Alabama – to be run next Saturday – by working four furlongs in 50.67 seconds Saturday morning over the synthetic surface at her owner’s Greentree training center.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Skylander Girl ($6.60) disposed of the heavily favored Conquest Whiplash in the stretch en route to a comfortable win Saturday at Woodbine in the $140,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes.
Conquest Whiplash darted out to a clear early lead in the six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies. Skylander Girl took up the chase heading into the turn and then pressed the leader until midstretch, where she assumed command. Skylander Girl got home on top by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:11.05.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Tasty Treat is likely done for the Del Mar meeting after winning Friday’s $111,050 Daisycutter Handicap for female turf sprinters.
For owners Brian, Rhonda, and Tom Cunningham and trainer Mike Pender, this is an ideal time to reflect on the events of the last six months and how a terrible spring became a delightful summer.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro was pleased with the way Broadway Empire and Smart Promotion handled their final preps for the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. Both horses worked five furlongs Friday morning while preparing for the 1 3/8-mile Derby, which will be run Saturday.
A full field of 12 is expected to enter the derby Wednesday morning, with Broadway Empire the likely favorite.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Ron Moquett did a little tinkering with Right to Vote after the multiple graded stakes-placed gelding was purchased privately and transferred to his barn earlier this year. Those changes have Right to Vote running well enough of late to prevail in a well-matched field of seven older speedsters who have not won a graded stakes this year in Monday’s $100,000 Kid Russell Stakes at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While horsemen in Saratoga adjusted their training schedules Saturday morning over a wet main track or a drying-out training track, trainer Shug McGaughey had no such concerns while in Fair Hill, Md., to oversee Kentucky Derby winner Orb’s last major workout before the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24.
“It’s beautiful here,” McGaughey said by phone.
