Tue, 07/15/2025 - 18:01

Gaffalione to return from injury at Ellis Saturday

Barbara D. Livingston
Gaffalione broke his ankle in late March at Gulfstream Park.

For the second time this month, Eclipse Award finalist Tyler Gaffalione plans to return from an extended injury layoff and ride at Ellis Park beginning Saturday.

Tue, 07/15/2025 - 14:13

Journalism draws post 2 for Haskell Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Journalism won the Preakness in a thrilling finish and was second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

If the reporting proves accurate, Journalism ships from Southern California to the Jersey Shore this week ready to make more headlines Saturday at Monmouth Park in the $1 million Haskell Stakes.

Tue, 07/15/2025 - 11:40

Hawthorne drops plan to add Mondays to racing schedule

Four-Footed Fotos
There are currently 650 horses on the Hawthorne grounds, down from approximately 750 at this time last year.

Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois, will ask the Illinois Racing Board on Thursday for approval to drop the pending addition of Mondays to its live racing schedule, according to horsemen’s officials. 

The request will be the third in as many years by the track to amend its live racing schedule midway through the year to remain at two live racing days a week. According to David McCaffrey, the executive director of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, horsemen have signed off on the plan. 

Mon, 07/14/2025 - 13:47

Dazzling Move won't sneak up on Shuvee rivals

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Saffie Joseph Jr. concedes that a sloppy track likely aided Dazzling Move in the Ogden Phipps.

Dazzling Move was the longest shot in the field when she finished second in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps last month in Saratoga. Friday, she could be second choice to likely favorite Raging Sea in the Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga.

Dazzling Move set the pace before being passed by Dorth Vader – the second-longest price in the field – in the Ogden Phipps, a race run over a sloppy track that Raging Sea didn’t like, as she checked in third.

Mon, 07/14/2025 - 13:43

Immersive looks to turn tables on Take Charge Milady

Barbara D. Livingston
Immersive didn’t make her 3-year-old debut until the June 14 Monomoy Girl at Churchill, where she was beaten a neck.

Immersive, who started her championship 2-year-old campaign at Saratoga last summer, will look to bounce back from her neck defeat to Take Charge Milady in the Monomoy Girl Stakes when the two meet again in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Mon, 07/14/2025 - 13:37

Nakatomi hopes to turn back the clock in Vanderbilt

Barbara D. Livingston
Nakatomi hasn't won since notching a 1 1/2-length victory over Skelly in last year's Vanderbilt.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Thus far, Nakatomi’s 6-year-old campaign has not looked much like his 5-year-old season. Trainer Wesley Ward hopes that changes Saturday when Nakatomi seeks a repeat victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga.

A Grade 1 race a year ago with a $350,000 purse, the Vanderbilt will be run as a Grade 2 this year, but it did get a purse increase to $400,000.

Mon, 07/14/2025 - 10:48

Truly Quality nears comeback, eyes Del Mar Handicap

Benoit Photo
Truly Quality has the Del Mar Handicap as a goal this summer.

Truly Quality, the Grade 2 winner who emerged as a top distance turf horse in California last year, is on the comeback trail for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The 5-year-old gelding, winner of Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup in November at Del Mar, has not raced since a puzzling sixth-place finish Feb. 8 as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.

Comeback options for Truly Quality include the Grade 2 Eddie Read on July 27 at Del Mar, which Thomas said may be “coming up too quick.” Truly Quality worked his second half-mile on July 12.

Mon, 07/14/2025 - 10:45

Full Serrano returns to work tab

Debra A. Roma
Full Serrano hasn't started since his victory in last November's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Del Mar horse-for-course Full Serrano, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in his last start Nov. 2 before being sidelined, has resumed serious training for John Sadler. Full Serrano’s two-furlong workout on July 7 was the first recorded drill of his comeback. Sadler expects Full Serrano to return late in the summer meet.

The layoff was longer than planned. Full Serrano was taken out of training in December. Sadler said Full Serrano had “a couple little setbacks. He should be working every week now.”

Mon, 07/14/2025 - 10:41

Del Mar: Deep edition of Oceanside tops opening-day card

Barbara D. Livingston
Iron Man Cal will make his second start of 2025 in Friday’s Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar.

Fields are full for the start of the Del Mar summer meet on Friday, including a deep edition of the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, a restricted turf mile for 3-year-olds that is the traditional feature on opening day.

Iron Man Cal, runner-up last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, stakes-placed Cali Cat, and improved Day and Age are among the favorites in the 10-runner Oceanside. Average field size for Friday’s 10-race card is 10 runners per race, not counting also-eligibles.

Sat, 07/12/2025 - 12:04

Journalism leads trio of workers ready to ship east

Barbara D. Livingston
Journalism is expected to start as the favorite in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A trio of top California 3-year-olds including the multiple Grade 1 winner Journalism is headed to the East following strong workouts Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita. 

Journalism and Goal Oriented will target the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 19 at Monmouth Park; Baeza will ship to Saratoga for the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 26.