SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ten days before the start of the Saratoga season, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was typically optimistic and realistic about how his stable might follow yet another solid summer at the Spa. Long a force at Saratoga, where he has won or shared nine titles, Mott was without most of [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y.–Ferocious's (Flatter) blowout victory in the sixth race at Saratoga Race Course Saturday produced a series of backward and forward moments in the winner's enclosure. Ramiro Restrepo and Gustavo Delgado, Jr., principals in Mage's (Good Magic) rise to prominence and victory in the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby, held court following the $100,000 [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–With his romp through mud in the opener at Saratoga Race Course Saturday, Reach for the Rose (Audible) hit the target that owner-breeder Ken Ramsey and trainer Saffie Joseph were aiming at. The 5 1/2-length victory in a $100,000 maiden special for 2-year-olds that had been taken off the turf gave colt his [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Much like he rides Thoroughbreds, jockey Joel Rosario turned in patient, thorough and well-timed remarks Friday during his induction into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Rosario was the closer of the nine-member Class of 2024 at the ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion. Dominican Republic diplomat and horse [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–In early June, while I was working on a story about the GI Met Mile for the TDN, one question led me to another. First: What year did two-time Met Mile winner Gulch go into the Hall of Fame? Second: How could Gulch, who won seven Grade I races, finished in the top [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.- When Joel Rosario arrived in California as a virtually unknown jockey from the Dominican Republic in 2006, his mission was simple: survive. Eighteen years after his first races at Fairplex and Golden Gate Fields, Rosario will be inducted Friday into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. He was elected in [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Two and a half months after winning the GI Kentucky Derby as co-breeders and co-owners of long shot Mystik Dan (Goldencents), Four G Racing picked up its first victory at Saratoga Race Course Sunday with another runner overlooked by handicappers. With a powerful run through the stretch under John Velazquez, Reining Flowers (Midnight [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A pinch of seasoning produced a maiden-breaking recipe for Simulate (Kitten's Joy) Saturday in the opener at Saratoga Race Course. Making his second career start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Simulate was in front from gate to wire on the inner turf course to win the $100,000 maiden special [...]

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — It is no surprise that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is confident that his GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate) is up to the challenge he will face Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes. Never shy about touting his horses, Lukas, 88, [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Add Virgin Colada (More than Ready) to the Resolute Racing's burgeoning list of firsts. So, so many firsts in its first season of racing. With her huge finish in the stretch in the seventh race Sunday at Saratoga Race Course, Virgin Colada got to the wire first, a half-length in front [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In The Derby Bar and Grill, nearly 3,000 miles northwest of Saratoga Race Course, breeder-owner John Gunther thoroughly enjoyed Without Caution's (Without Parole {GB}) solid victory Saturday in the first race on the program. It was still morning, 9:38 a.m. in Surrey, British Columbia, where Gunther watched the $100,000 2-year-old maiden [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With majority owner Alex Bregman in Seattle for the Houston Astros' game against the Mariners, his partner, Reagan Swinbank, took care of the winner's circle duties Friday at Saratoga Race Course following Governor Sam's (Improbable) impressive maiden-breaking victory. Swinbank said he jumped at the opportunity to buy an interest in the [...]