Aqueduct

7th-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 9-13, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.06, fm, nose. NOBLE DYNASTY (c, 2, Kingman {GB}--Delta's Royalty {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a hard-charging second on Saratoga debut Aug. 7, validated 8-5 favoritism--if only just--while making his second trip to the races Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct. By one of Europe's top stallions, the maternal grandson of three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (Empire Maker) was trapped out four wide entering the first turn, but when longshot Golden Rule (Goldencents) went on with it to put a bit of...

The state of New York will implement penny breakage, a horseplayer-friendly measure that will result in all wagers placed on NYRA races being paid to the penny instead of the tiered breakage model that was previously in effect under New York Law, NYRA announced Thursday. The new breakage will be in effect for Saratoga's closing day. Beginning Monday, September 1, New York will join Washington and Kentucky as the only racing jurisdictions in the country to eliminate breakage on races hosted within their state. "This is a common-sense reform that...

Legion Racing, MHM Stables, Ed Stefanski and William Conlin's  Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach), a 5 1/2-length debut winner at the Spa Aug. 10, will point to the GI Frizette Stakes on Oct. 4 at Belmont at the Big A, according to trainer Whit Beckman Sunday. The one-turn mile Frizette is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series for the GI Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The connections opted to bypass the upcoming GI Spinaway on closing weekend. "We're going to wait for the Frizette," Beckman confirmed. "We knew she...

By the time you're reading this article, the New York Racing Association (NYRA)'s years-long rebuild of Belmont Park that is on target to be finished by September 2026 will have reached or be very close to achieving a significant milestone. "The inner turf course will be complete by possibly [Friday] if not Monday with all the sod," Glen Kozak, NYRA's senior vice president of operations and capital projects, said July 25. "This was a big, big step for us, and now we're rolling right into the Widener turf course." Kozak's...

8th-Saratoga, $110,000, Alw, 7-17, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:51.22, ft, 7 1/4 lengths. STARS AND STRIPES (c, 3, Not This Time--Pearl River, by Quality Road) went off at odds of 31-1 in his debut at Aqueduct May 17 and, though he wound up third, impressed with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Slammed down into favoritism to break his maiden going this distance at Aqueduct on a sloppy track June 15, he responded with a resounding 10 1/2-length win. Facing winners for the first time Thursday at Saratoga, the 4-5 favorite...

The mandatory quarantine covering horses previously stabled in Barn 66 at Saratoga Race Course has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture (NYSDA) effective immediately, announced the New York Racing Association (NYRA) via press release. To minimize any impact on the general horse population at Saratoga, and to allow for Barn 66 to be cleaned and disinfected under NYSDA protocols, the group of horses completed the mandatory quarantine at Aqueduct Racetrack. As a result, horses previously stabled in Barn 66 are permitted to return to Saratoga and...

Executing a well-timed turn of foot like a seasoned professional, Laurelin (Zarak {Fr}) ran to her odds and in the process swept up the Penn Oaks at dusk. The chestnut came in as a deserving favorite, since her record was without blemish. After breaking her maiden at first asking during the Belmont At The Big A meet last October, the filly picked up the Tepin Stakes at the Big A in mid-November. Turned out for the winter, Laurelin returned to Ozone Park and promptly took home the Memories of Silver...

Last week, economics professors Marshall Gramm and Nick McKinney published a study in these pages showing the impacts at Aqueduct the past four winters from CAW players during the last flash across all the pools. According to that study, the percentage share from CAW players of monies wagered last-minute into the Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and Early Pick 5 pools (among others) had jumped significantly between 2022 and 2024. In light of that published study, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has issued a statement explaining that, in the fall of...

Jockey Dylan Davis, who began a three-day suspension Sunday because of an infraction caused in a June 6 allowance at Saratoga, will also miss Thursday and Friday's cards, reports DRF. He was suspended by the New York stewards because of a ride aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Strategic Focus (Gun Runner), who crossed the wire first but was subsequently demoted to second behind stablemate Malarchuk (Nyquist). Both colts are trained by Chad Brown. Davis, who served a two-day suspension June 12-13 because of a whip violation stemming from a ride at...

1st-Belmont The Big A, $82,450, Msw, 6-15, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.19, sy, 10 1/2 lengths. STARS AND STRIPES (c, 3, Not This Time--Pearl River, by Quality Road) debuted in third at long odds during the Belmont At The Big A meet May 17. Trying two turns as the 85 cents on the dollar choice here, the colt was second and continued to flank a longshot leader for much of the backstretch. Pressing the pace at the top of the stretch, Stars and Stripes took off for home and quickly opened...

1st-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 6-12, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:08.34, fm, 3 lengths. NONNA'S LOVE (f, 2, Caravaggio--Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty) was the lone previously raced member of the seven-strong field that loaded the stalls for the first race back down at the Belmont at the Big A meeting Thursday afternoon and made the most of her experience advantage, leading past every pole to get the program off on a high note for the favorite backers. Drawn two, the 5-4 chalk--making her first start on the grass after...

Pending relevant licensing, Scott Jordan will take over the post of head starter at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks beginning May 23, the organization announced Monday afternoon. With more than 20 years of experience in the position and a tenure at Churchill Downs which began in 2006, Jordan has also worked roles at Keeneland, Ellis Park, and Kentucky Downs. In addition to managing NYRA's team of assistant starters and starting gate operations at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga, he will also work with trainers and riders to aide...