SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – What should have been a triumphant moment for Robert Falcone Jr. and his father turned tragic in a matter of seconds Thursday at Saratoga.
Butter Lou, a 2-year-old New York-bred colt trained by Falcone Jr. for his father, Robert, won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race by three-quarters of a length Thursday. But just nearing the wire, Butter Lou stepped in a hole, according to his rider Luis Saez. Saez pulled the horse up shortly past the wire and jumped off.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz will appreciate the class relief when he runs in a first-level allowance race that carries a $30,000 claiming option at Emerald Downs on Sunday. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds drew six horses and goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 2:30 p.m. Pacific.
Medina Spirit, who tested positive for a medication banned on raceday after winning the Kentucky Derby on May 1, is settling into a pattern of workouts at Del Mar, and recording fast times.
Thursday, Medina Spirit worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, the quickest of 34 works at the distance. On July 29, Medina Spirit worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds, his first workout since mid-June.
The undefeated 2-year-old filly At the Spa will have her graded stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5 after recording her second stakes win in Thursday’s $101,500 California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes.
At the Spa has won three starts, all at distances ranging from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 furlongs, and deserves a chance in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs, according to trainer Jorge Periban.
“That way you know what you have,” Periban said. “She’s always shown me a lot of ability.”
The Maryland Jockey Club will begin requiring horsemen to receive permission from its racing department to run an MJC-stabled horse at a track outside the state in September, the parent company of the track told horsemen on Friday.
The MJC, which owns and operates Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, made the announcement in an “open letter” to horsemen that said that the restriction was being put in place “in order to maximize our field sizes and maintain a healthy purse account.”
“We must put racing in the state of Maryland first,” the letter said.
Some numbers are more meaningful to Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith than others.
Through Thursday, Smith had won 2 races from 18 mounts at the Del Mar meeting, far less activity than expected since the season began on July 16.
“I’m aggravated I’m not doing more and riding more,” he said early Thursday afternoon. “I like to win. It’s what I’m about.”
Other digits, such as a 56th birthday this Tuesday, are taken in stride.
“I stopped counting them at 50,” he said. “As long as I keep feeling younger than that, I’ll keep going.”
Three European horses, including two trained by Aidan O’Brien, are shipping to Arlington Park for the trio of Grade 1 turf races on Aug. 14.
O’Brien is sending Armory for the $600,000 Mister D. and Santa Barbara for the $400,000 Beverly D. Stakes. Space Traveller, who ships from England, will start in the Mister D.
Big City Lights, the dazzling 2-year-old who won his first two starts at Santa Anita by nearly 20 combined lengths, will miss the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar and instead aim to the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 6.
Trained by Luis Mendez and owned by William Peeples, Big City Lights won his debut by more than 12 lengths, and followed with a romp by more than seven on June 20 in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity. His 93 debut Beyer at 4 1/2 furlongs is the season’s highest by a U.S. 2-year-old; his 85 in the five-furlong stakes is fifth-highest.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dalika, Luck Money, and Temple City – the 1-2-3 finishers from the Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park on July 10 – renew acquaintances in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Saratoga.
Dalika, trained by Al Stall, was part of the early pace in the Dick, and held off a late charge from Luck Money, who was 13 lengths back at one stage, and Temple City, who was 18 lengths back.
Also entered in the Glens Falls are Call Me Love, War Like Goddess, Orglandes, and My Sister Nat.
