SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jeremiah Englehart is sending River Dog against the wolves of the 3-year-old male sprint division in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.

River Dog, a New York-bred son of Twirling Candy who beat restricted company in his two starts, will meet multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie’s Warrior and Grade 1 Woody Stephens winner Drain the Clock in the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

The Amsterdam drew a field of six, including Crowded Trade, Flash of Mischief, and Mister Luigi.

At this time last year at Del Mar, a first-time starter closed from sixth in the last furlong to win a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at 16-1. Rombauer showed a sharp rally to win that day and has grown up nicely, winning the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May.

Saturday at Del Mar, there are eight 2-year-olds in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf. The field has two first-time starters, including the well-regarded Astronomer trained by Simon Callaghan.

Medina Spirit, who tested positive for the banned medication betamethasone following a win in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds on Thursday at Del Mar, his first recorded workout in more than six weeks.

Medina Spirit has not started since a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes on May 15 at Pimlico. Trained by Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit worked three furlongs in 37.60 seconds on June 14 at Santa Anita.

There are several reasons why Warren’s Showtime could start in the second Grade 1 race of her career in Sunday’s $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

“Breeders’ Cup. Money. Prestige. Broodmare value – all the above,” trainer Craig Lewis reflected Thursday.

The Hirsch is run at 1 1/16 miles and is the top race of the summer meeting for fillies and mares on dirt. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here Nov. 6.

Del Mar’s press box on Saturday will be named in honor of Dan Smith, the track’s longtime publicist and marketing chief who retired last year. The dedication was postponed from last summer owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Churchill Downs Inc. had net income of $108.3 million in the second quarter this year, and the company will spend more than $200 million in the next two years on renovations at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville and at a casino south of the track, the company announced Wednesday.

Training on the new dirt track installed at Laurel Park in Maryland will begin on Aug. 10, track officials said during a conference call on Wednesday with horsemen, two days after trainers and their horses are let back on the grounds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Colonel Liam, a winner of two Grade 1 turf stakes this year, will be getting a break and will most likely miss the major fall races in the turf division, trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday.

Pletcher had been pointing Colonel Liam to Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga. But Pletcher said he wasn’t pleased with how the 4-year-old colt galloped Tuesday morning and planned to send the horse to Kentucky for an evaluation.

Jess Savin Candy is the nation’s most accomplished 2-year-old racehorse this year with wins in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity on June 12 and last Sunday’s $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. A gelding, Jess Savin Candy has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $846,400 for owners Jim Streelman and Bill Dale, who race as Dutch Masters III.

Now comes the hard part – a time trial for the All American Futurity at 440 yards on Aug. 20 or 21. Jess Savin Candy must have one of the five fastest qualifying times on his trial day to earn a berth in the $3 million final on Sept. 6.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Firenze Fire came up on the short end of a thrilling seven-furlong battle with Mind Control by a head in the Grade 2 John Nerud Stakes at Belmont on July 4.

While Mind Control will wait for the Grade 1 Forego on Aug. 28, Firenze Fire will run back in a salty renewal of Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.

The Vanderbilt, run at six furlongs, drew a nine-horse field including reigning sprint champion Whitmore and Grade 1 winner Mischevious Alex.