The 3-year-old colt Conagher is a likely starter Aug. 27 in the Grade 1, $500,000 Allen Jerkens Stakes over seven furlongs on dirt following his sharp win Monday at Colonial Downs in the Housebuster Overnight Handicap.  

The 2-year-old colt Sharp Aza Tack has speed to spare, as he showed winning his career debut, a Santa Anita turf sprint, and the July 30 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park. In both races, Sharp Aza Tack set or contested a fast pace, though quick splits had no effect on him in the Tyro, which he won by more than seven lengths with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.  

The 3-year-old filly Shahama is headed back to Grade 1 competition after winning the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks on July 31.  

Shahama will make her next start in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing, trainer Todd Pletcher said in a text message Wednesday. Pletcher also trains Nest, the leader of the 3-year-old filly dirt-route division after airing in the Coaching Club American Oaks and finishing second in the Belmont Stakes and in the Kentucky Oaks. 

War At Sea, the winner of three consecutive races including the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita in June, will miss Sunday’s Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar because of a bruised foot.

Trainer Ron Ellis said the bruise was detected after War At Sea worked six furlongs in 1:16.20 on turf last Sunday. War At Sea stumbled as he was being pulled up after the exercise.

“He stumbled just a little bit,” Ellis said. “We X-rayed him and he’s fine. He is a little tender in one part of his foot.

After a hard-fought win in his 2022 debut in June, Give Me the Lute continues his campaign in turf sprints in an $86,000 allowance race at Del Mar on Friday.

Give Me the Lute won his first start of 2022 in the Albany Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Golden Gate Fields, leading throughout to prevail by a neck against a talented field of eight Northern California rivals.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs will run the Arlington Million and Beverly D. on a special Aug. 13 program, but has canceled two other graded turf stakes because of continuing troubles with its new turf course. Dirt racing will fill out the balance of the 11-race card, which in recent days had come under serious consideration of being transferred to another venue.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Matareya, undefeated in four starts this year including the Grade 1 Acorn, and Hot Peppers, a winner of five of six starts this year, head the field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered in the Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes at seven furlongs.

The Test and the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational, for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles on turf, head the undercard stakes on a 12-race program topped by the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes for older males on dirt.

Adding to what already has been a fabulous year, Saffie Joseph Jr. won five of the 11 races run last Saturday at Gulfstream, marking a personal high.

“We did four already, but this was the most,” said Joseph. “It was a great day.”

Only two of the five winners were favorites, and Joseph had a starter in only one other Saturday race, that being Treasure King, seventh in the Bear’s Den. The final odds on his winners were 9-5, 6-5, 7-1, 9-2, and 6-1.

Michael Yates will have a top contender in each division of the Florida Sire Stakes when the first legs of the annual series for 2-year-olds are run Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Yates will saddle Cajun Hope for the $100,000 Dr. Fager and Go Lil Lady for the $100,000 Desert Vixen in twin six-furlong races that lead off the series restricted to the offspring of accredited sires standing in Florida. The Dr. Fager is for 2-year-olds and the Desert Vixen for 2-year-old fillies.

Gulfstream is hosting a forceout of its growing Rainbow 6 pool Sunday. Entries are drawn Thursday.

Assuming the Rainbow 6 jackpot isn’t swept by a solo winning ticket Friday or Saturday, several million dollars in new handle can be expected with the forceout, given this week starts with a carryover of $222,085. A $350,000 pool guarantee is in effect as a new three-day weekend begins Friday.