SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – What appeared to be a courageous, game victory by Orino turned into a frustrating defeat after the lightly raced New York-bred was disqualified from first and placed second behind odds-on favorite West Hills Giant in Wednesday’s $100,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes at Saratoga.
Orino led throughout, then turned back a bid from the 3-5 West Hills Giant to cross the finish line 1 1/4 lengths clear in the one-mile Stallion Stakes, run on the inner turf course.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Delegation, winner of the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine in track-record time July 1, will run in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 25, trainer Mark Casse said.
Owned by Southern California resident Gary Barber, Delegation, a 4-year-old gelding by Speightstown, won the Dominion Day by 9 1/4 lengths, leading throughout. He finished 1 1/4 miles on a Polytrack synthetic surface in 2:01.51.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wise Dan won the 2012 Fourstardave Handicap from post 1, and if he’s going to successfully defend his title Saturday, he’ll do it breaking from the rail once again.
Wise Dan drew post 1 in a field of seven turf specialists set to go one mile over the inner turf in the Grade 2 Fourstardave. The reigning Horse of the Year will carry a staggering 129-pound impost, conceding 11 to 14 pounds to his rivals.
The competition, in post-position order, is Skyring (118), Za Approval (118), Mr. Commons (117), Willyconker (115), King Kreesa (117), and Lea (117).
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gary Contessa was in a good mood Wednesday morning until someone brought up the weather forecast for Friday.
“I don’t read the newspaper and I don’t watch weather reports,” Contessa said as he was driving to Belmont Park to check on his string down there.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Proven in sprints, Freakin Rocket will be given a second opportunity to show he can run around two turns in Saturday’s $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar.
AUBURN, Wash. – The Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile could have a distinct California flavor for its 78th running Aug. 18 at Emerald Downs.
Emerald Downs unveiled the list of 28 nominees this week, and track officials said they expect a full field of 12. The nominees include 14 graded stakes winners, three of whom – Fed Biz, Liaison, and Drill – are conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who captured the first Emerald Downs running of the Longacres Mile with Isitingood in 1996.
Stephanie’s Kitten, among the leaders of the older filly and mare turf division, will skip the Grade 1 Beverly D. on Aug. 17 at Arlington Park due to a hind-end issue, her connections said Wednesday.
Trainer Wayne Catalano was not pleased with how Stephanie’s Kitten trained on Wednesday in Saratoga. On Thursday, she was to be sent by van from Saratoga to the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. for a nuclear scan.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Garrett Gomez was removed from his scheduled three mounts for Thursday’s program at Del Mar on Wednesday after he was unable to meet requirements stated by the California Horse Racing Board regarding his treatment for alcoholism. He had been removed from his Wednesday mounts on Tuesday.
Gomez was unable to provide a doctor’s clearance allowing him to ride and showed an excessive level of antidepressants in a urine test taken Monday, according to steward Tom Ward.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Strut the Course concluded an eventful, long weekend with an impressive win here in Monday’s $125,000 Eternal Search Stakes.
“We finally got that done,” said Barbara Minshall, who trains the homebred Strut the Course for John Unger. “She was in good order and got a great ride from [Todd] Kabel.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Ken McPeek said that Friday’s $100,000 Alada Stakes at Saratoga seems like a perfect alternative for anybody seeking to avoid Royal Delta and Authenticity later this month in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. Which is why he has chosen the 1 1/8-mile overnight stakes for Flashy American, despite the fact she comes off a career-best effort when second behind Authenticity in the Grade 3 Shuvee earlier in the meet.
