SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Jockey Luis Cardenas will miss about two weeks of action after suffering a concussion as the result of a spill in Friday’s last race at Saratoga.
Cardenas was aboard Strong Momentum when that horse fell in the stretch -- suffering a catastrophic leg fracture -- hurling Cardenas hard to the turf. Cardenas said he was unconscious for almost 2 1/2 hours.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Tuesdays are generally the quietest day around the racetrack, with work tabs usually on the light side barring unforeseen circumstances, such as two consecutive days of rain which left both the main track and Oklahoma training surface wet and for the most part off-limits to workers here on both Sunday and Monday mornings.
In a battle of 5-year-old English Channel geldings, it was Bizzee Channel up by a neck over Two Emmys in the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes last Saturday.
Two Emmys led for much of the 1 3/16-mile Arlington, but Bizzee Channel and Jareth Loveberry slipped through along the fence in upper stretch, and the two horses engaged in a prolonged duel from which Bizzee Channel emerged victorious.
The margin was narrow, but Larry Rivelli, Bizzee Channel’s trainer, said his horse had plenty left in the tank.
When Naval Laughter won an Arlington maiden race on June 3 by almost 20 lengths, earning a stakes-level 96 Beyer Speed Figure, she seemed, more than anything, like a curiosity. The filly hadn’t raced in 19 months and went to the lead over Arlington’s speed-favoring Polytrack while facing a suspect group of non-winners, circumstances ripe for a performance that might not truly have represented Naval Laughter’s baseline.
DEL MAR, Calif. – All-sources handle at Del Mar from July 7-18 soared in comparison to a similar time frame in 2020, according to a track statement. The handle figures include Del Mar’s opening weekend of racing as well as simulcast betting before the meet opened.
Los Alamitos closed its daytime Thoroughbred meet July 5, and Del Mar was awarded California’s simulcast dates beginning July 7. There was no racing in Southern California from the end of the Los Alamitos meet until Del Mar opened on July 16.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainers Richard Baltas and Tim Yakteen were fined $500 by Del Mar stewards on Sunday for their involvement in a physical altercation following an argument during morning training at Santa Anita in late April.
They were cited for disorderly conduct in the incident, which involved intervention by Santa Anita security.
DEL MAR, Calif. – What in Blazes gave Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his first winner at Del Mar in 11 months when he won a maiden special weight race for California-bred 2-year-olds on Saturday.
The colt closed from fourth to take the lead on the turn and won the five-furlong race by 5 3/4 lengths at 2-5 under jockey Mike Smith. What in Blazes was second in his debut in a similar race on June 27 at Los Alamitos.
“I think he was unlucky to lose his first race,” Hollendorfer said. “He got trapped on the inside at Los Alamitos, which was not the place to be.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Award Winner ran the best race of his career when he scored a mild upset in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 29 at Santa Anita. Award Winner will have to run at least as well to win against a tougher field Saturday in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar.
A 5-year-old gelding trained by David Hofmans, Award Winner beat three rivals in the Whittingham, including United, a five-time stakes winner who was last in the Whittingham and is part of the field for the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – All-sources handle for the opening week of Saratoga was $90,112,254, a 12.1.-percent increase over the $80,325,660 handled during opening week 2020.
There were 41 races run during opening week in both years. This year, 26 races were run on dirt with 15 on turf. Five scheduled turf races were taken off the turf.
In 2020, there were 23 dirt races and 18 on turf with two scheduled turf races moved to the main track.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The presence of undefeated Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat and the defections of Crazy Beautiful and Tabor Hall due to the quarantine of Saratoga Barn 86 figure to leave Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks with a short field.
Clairiere, Maracuja, and Rockpaperscissors were three confirmed opponents for Malathaat, who will be making her first start since the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday.
Another possible entrant is Town Avenger, who is 1 for 2 with both starts coming on turf.
