Arthur's Ride

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--The easy thing would be to blame the racetrack. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert wasn't going to do that the day after his National Treasure (Quality Road) finished a non-threatening sixth in Saturday's $1 million GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. National Treasure, who had been at the top of most lists as the best older horse in the nation, laid an egg as the 4-5 favorite. "He just didn't show up," Baffert said on the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning. "Once he didn't get into the...

Saturday's big winners at Saratoga Race Course all came out of their races in good order Sunday. 4-year-old Arthur's Ride (Tapit), provided a timely update to his family tree for his breeders Joe and Helen Barbazon with a win in the GI Whitney Stakes. "Oh, we're just tickled to death," said Joe Barbazon. "We've got two of his half-sisters and of course this helps their value. We still have his mama here and it's a huge plus for us. It was very exciting, and there was a lot of yelling....

Junior Alvarado wasn't among this year's class of inductees over the weekend at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. But the 38-year-old veteran put on a mini-clinic across the street at Saratoga Race Course that underscored his versatility as an unheralded rider on an ultra-competitive circuit who consistently coaxes the best out of his mounts, regardless of surface, distance, running style or odds. Although the headline-grabber among his trio of victories was Saturday's decisive wiring of the GI Whitney Stakes aboard the older-horse division's newest phenom, Arthur's...

A 12 3/4-length winner of a rare 10-furlong allowance with a gaudy 111 Beyer Speed Figure during the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga June 7, Glassman Racing's Arthur's Ride (Tapit) was well-backed at odds of 6-1 in Saturday's GI Whitney Stakes at the Spa despite the presence of GI Met Mile winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and other, proven handicap horses. Making his stakes debut on top of everything else in the Breeders' Cup Classic 'Win and You're In' event, Arthur's Ride was intent on the lead, set a searching...

Juddmonte homebred Batten Down (Tapit) is probable for next Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes, per Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The gray won the nine-furlong GIII Ohio Derby last out June 22 at Thistledown. "I guess that is the way we are going," Mott said. "When you have a horse like that, you look at all the options and think of where you fit. We felt it was time to reach out and take a chance in the Jim Dandy." Mott added that the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug....

Arthur's Ride (Tapit), who impressed by taking pace pressure on the lead and clawing out a 1 1/2-length victory in a Feb. 11 one-turn-mile MSW at Gulfstream Park, has been sidelined and won't be pursuing prep races leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby. Trainer Bill Mott disclosed the news in a Tuesday phone call. The Hall-of-Fame conditioner did not want to elaborate on the colt's condition. "He's off the Derby trail. He's going to have to have some time off. He's on vacation, probably for the rest of the...