Wed, 07/22/2020 - 16:05

Jockey Denny Velazquez suspended for electrical device and weapons charge

Coady Photography
Denny Velazquez was third in the Canterbury rider standings coming into Wednesday's race card.

A leading jockey at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., has been suspended and denied access to the grounds after a search of his vehicle turned up a device used to shock horses and at least one gun, according to a ruling from the Minnesota State Racing Commission.

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 15:36

Vanderbilt win would put Mind Control in history books

Barbara D. Livingston
If he wins the Alfred G. Vanderbilt on Saturday, Mind Control would become the first horse to win a Grade 1 stakes in three consecutive years at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mind Control will be attempting to make history at Saratoga when he seeks a Grade 1 victory for the third consecutive year in Saturday’s $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at six furlongs.

In the graded stakes era, no horse has won Grade 1 stakes three years in a row at Saratoga. Sky Beauty was disqualified from first in the 1992 Spinaway and won the Alabama in 1993 and Go for Wand in 1994. Heavenly Prize and Ginger Punch are the only horses to have won three Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga, but they each won two in one season.

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 15:36

Aquaphobia staying in the marathon ranks, with Sword Dancer next up

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Aquaphobia wins United Nations last Saturday at Monmouth Park, earning a career-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

Aquaphobia, the one-length winner of last Saturday’s Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer on Aug. 29 at Saratoga, trainer Mike Maker said.

Aquaphobia, claimed for $62,500 in January, earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the United Nations victory, which came in his first start going 1 3/8 miles. The Sword Dancer is run at 1 1/2 miles.

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 15:26

Sistercharlie shines brightest in Brant's constellation of stars

Barbara D. Livingston
Sistercharlie (inside) returns to action in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa on Saturday and is pointing toward an unprecedented third victory in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes on Aug. 23.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Peter Brant has owned such magnificent horses as Kentucky Derby winner Swale and champions Gulch and Waya. So, when he says that Sistercharlie is “the best horse I’ve ever owned” it carries significant weight.

“She’s an outstanding, outstanding horse, and I don’t say that lightly,” Brant said of the 2018 female turf champion. “I’ve been very fortunate to have some really top horses but never had a horse that was as consistent and as hard-trying as her, and she had a bit of bad luck. She had pneumonia a couple of times. She’s a very special mare.”

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 14:26

Grade 1 winner Bolo retired

Emily Shields
Bolo scored his signature victory in the 2019 Shoemaker Mile (above).

Bolo, the winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in 2019 and three other stakes, has been retired after a series of disappointing performances in recent months.

Trainer Carla Gaines made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday.

“It is with pride, joy and a heavy heart that we have decided it’s time to retire (Grade 1 winner) Bolo from racing,” Gaines wrote. “He is happy, healthy and sound. He just doesn’t seem interested in racing anymore.”

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 14:26

Smith, a veteran of 11 coronavirus tests, will ride Del Mar at least through August

Joe Labozzetta/Equi-Photo
Mike Smith celebrates after winning last weekend's Haskell Invitational aboard Authentic.

By his count, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has undergone 11 coronavirus tests since the pandemic began earlier this year.

“I’ve had every one I can think of – throat, the nose, the antibody one,” he said. “I’ve taken them all.”

An extensive travel itinerary in recent months, in which Smith has ridden at Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Monmouth Park, and Santa Anita, has led to the many tests, all negative.

Last Saturday at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, Smith won the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes with Authentic. Smith had two coronavirus tests last weekend.

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 13:56

Casse hasn't lost the faith in Got Stormy

Debra A. Roma
Got Stormy has put up six consecutive 100-plus Beyers going into the Endeavour Stakes on Saturday at Tampa.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse is well aware people are saying Got Stormy is not the horse she was last year after opening her 2020 campaign with four consecutive losses, including a fourth-place finish earlier this month in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont Park.

But Casse is not about to give up yet on the two-time Grade 1 winner and runner-up in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Mile, who is being pointed toward a defense of her title in the Fourstardave here Aug. 22.

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 13:26

Jockeys return to Del Mar and so does racing

Benoit Photo
Del Mar averaged more than $17 million per day in all-sources handle during its opening weekend.

Del Mar will have opening day, Take 2, on Friday.

After racing for three days, from July 10-12, to start the summer meeting, Del Mar halted racing for July 17-19 after 15 jockeys tested positive for the coronavirus on July 14. Track officials said they were asymptomatic.

When racing resumes Friday at 2 p.m. Pacific, those riders will be back in action even though they will not have been required to undergo another coronavirus test, according to track president Josh Rubinstein.

Wed, 07/22/2020 - 12:34

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for week of July 22, 2020

Barbara D. Livingston
Country Grammer, with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, wins the Grade 3 Peter Pan over Caracaro.

WHO’S HOT