SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Six jockeys broke horses out of the starting gate in the reconstructed Wilson Chute at Saratoga on Tuesday in a sort of trial race and walked away feeling a bit more comfortable about the logistics of running a race from there. However, the riders were not willing to commit to a definite maximum number of horses to run in a race until after they ride a real race from the chute on Thursday.

The veteran trainer Kelly Von Hemel has been in racing long enough to know how difficult it can be for plans to come together with a horse. But when they do, it can be, well, grand. 

Ain’t Life Grand hit a major target set by owner RPM Thoroughbreds and Von Hemel when he won Saturday night’s $300,000 Iowa Derby at his home track of Prairie Meadows. He defeated a notable field at 11-1 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee has continued its commitment to the Ontario Sire Heritage Series by increasing the purse for each leg to $100,000, raising the total purse value of the series to $800,000.

Established in 2021, the Ontario Sire Heritage Series is comprised of three opening legs and a $100,000 final for two divisions: 3-year-old colts and geldings and 3-year-old fillies. In 2022, as a result of the increase, all three legs of the series will be worth $100,000 each.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar, which previously announced it was going to limit capacity for its opening-day card on July 22 to better accommodate customers, on Tuesday announced that the event was a sell-out.

Del Mar has had upward of 40,000 on some opening days in the recent past, but those crowds strained both the facility and the nerves of customers. Track officials, exiting restrictions necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, decided to do a reset, in the belief that having a more manageable crowd would make for a better customer experience.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There will be some new wagers offered sporadically throughout the Saratoga meet, which begins Thursday.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, NYRA will offer the Triple Play, a $3 minimum pick three wager on specially selected races. NYRA debuted a similar wager at the Belmont spring/summer meet. The takeout is 19 percent.

NYRA will offer a two-day daily double on the Aug. 6-7 Saratoga Derby and Saratoga Oaks. The $1 base wager has an 18.5 percent takeout.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Coming out of the Triple Crown, where all three races were won by different horses, the 3-year-old division lacks a clear leader heading into the heart of summer. Perhaps one will emerge coming out of Saratoga.

Led by Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, Preakness winner Early Voting, and the runner-up in both races, Epicenter, the majority of the top contenders in the division are expected to race this summer at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.– One of the reasons Flavien Prat left California for the East Coast was to try and win more of the races that could put him in contention for an Eclipse Award. Many of those races are offered at Saratoga, where Prat will ride full time for the first time when the 40-day meet opens Thursday.

Workouts at any distance, including one or two furlongs, must be included in workout reports published by California racetracks effective immediately, according to a directive issued Friday by California Horse Racing Board executive director Scott Chaney.

Most one- or two-furlong workouts are recorded by juveniles, while horses 3 years old and up rarely have works of less than three furlongs on the work tab.

There have been some scintillating performances put in by 2-year-olds so far this year and more are likely to come over the course of the 40-day Saratoga meet, which begins Thursday.

Damon’s Mound, a 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs on July 2, is being pointed to the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special on Aug. 13 and then potentially the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 5, trainer Michelle Lovell said Sunday. Damon’s Mound has joined Lovell’s stable at Colonial Downs for the summer.

The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., is not known as a venue for a Breeders’ Cup hopeful. Trainer Doug O’Neill is hoping to change that this year with the 2-year-old filly Vegas Magic, who remained unbeaten after two starts with a come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $76,800 Everett Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“She’s shown she has above-average ability,” O’Neill said Sunday. “We’re dreaming about the Breeders’ Cup.”