Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 2

Horse Racing

Rain Forces GI Saratoga Derby Invitational And GII Troy To Shift To Saturday, Aug. 10

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) moved Saturday's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational [Race 7] and the GII Troy Stakes [Race 10] due to heavy overnight rainfall and will shift the races to Saturday, Aug. 10, the track said in a release Saturday morning. All of Saturday's remaining turf races [Race 1, Race 4, Race 9, Race 13] have been moved off the turf. Updated post times for Saturday's now 11-race card, which kicks off at 12:05 p.m. ET., are: Race 2 [12:45 p.m.], Race 3 [1:25 p.m.], Race 4...

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Into Mischief Colt Sonic Star Tries Stakes Company In Japan

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for Sunday running at Niigata Racecourse: Sunday, August 4, 2024 2nd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, f, 1600mT T O NILSSON (JPN) (f, 2, McKinzie--American Legend, by American Pharoah) was purchased by Tomoya Ozasa for the equivalent of $84,390 at last year's JRHA Select Sale and...

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Keith Asmussen Returns To Gallop Horses After Fall Two Months Ago

Jockey Keith Asmussen has returned to the saddle following serious injuries suffered in a riding mishap June 1 at Churchill Downs, a press release from the track said on Friday. Asmussen has been galloping horses for his Hall of Fame father, Steve, this week under the Twin Spires. The jockey was transported to the hospital in Louisville with extensive injuries, including a fractured right femur and three broken ribs, and had surgery the following day. His mount, Singsational (Audible), who clipped heels, was able to get up under his own...

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Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 3, 2024

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Saturday at Saratoga and Ellis Park: Saturday, August 3, 2024 Saratoga 2, $90k, 2yo,...

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NYRA And Churchill Downs Resolve Wagering Contract Dispute

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has reached a contractual resolution with Churchill Downs, Inc. that allows for TwinSpires customers to regain immediate access to all NYRA content, including pari-mutuel wagering, live video and race replays from the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, the organization said in a release on Friday. In addition, all Churchill Downs content will be immediately available to NYRA Bets customers. The impasse between the pair was reignited on Wednesday, July 31 when NYRA said that it was cutting off pari-mutuel wagering, live video...

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Monmouth Cancels Friday Card Due To Heat, Colonial Pushes Back Start Time

Monmouth Park has cancelled its eight-race card scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2 due to excessive heat, the track said in a release Friday morning. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, with the Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on the grass headlining the card. Earlier in the day, Colonial Downs said via X that they would be pushing back their start time because of the temperatures. First post was rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.

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Hall of Fame Ought To Take Another Look At Gulch

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 three in 25 of 32 career starts and earned over $3 million in the 1980s not be in the Hall of Fame? "Yeah. You've got it. You're right," breeder-owner Peter Brant said. "They don't always...

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Maximum Security Disqualified From 2020 Saudi Cup; Midnight Bisou Declared The Winner

Maximum Security (New Year's Day) has been disqualified from his victory in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) has been promoted to first, the stewards committee of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) announced on Friday. The change in finishing order of the Feb. 29, 2020 race was the result of an inquiry into the charges brought by the JCSA against Maximum Security's trainer Jason Servis, who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for doping horses under his care. The inquiry took place on...

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MGISW And California Sire Smiling Tiger Passes At 17

A MGISW and sire standing at Harris Farms in Coalinga, California, Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger--Shandra Smiles, by Cahill Road) was euthanized Aug. 1 after succumbing to a condition which affects coordination called ataxia, according to reports from several horse racing media outlets on Friday. The 17-year-old was responsible for nine crops, which amounted to 561 foals and currently 199 winners. Accounting for a champion (Ace Korea), a graded winner (Spiced Perfection) and a dozen black-type winners, Smiling Tiger currently has 74 juveniles to his credit. He stood at the...

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Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: Fierceness Back In The Travers Mix

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--After the impressive win in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last weekend, the chances of the winner, Fierceness (City of Light) showing up in the $1.25, GI Travers Stakes were--take your pick--slim and none. Much has changed in the last few days and now Fierceness may very well be on his way to a date with the likes of Dornoch (Good Magic), Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and the filly, Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). "That is what we are thinking about," Hall of Fame trainer...

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262-Acre Siena Farm Offered For Sale, Partnerships To Remain Intact

Siena Farm, site of a boutique breeding operation which includes 262 acres located at 1651 Winchester Road outside of Lexington, Kentucky, is available for purchase according to a Thursday post on the Biederman Real Estate's website. As for Siena's racing partnerships, COO Ryan Smith confirmed that those will remain intact. Founded by Anthony Manganaro with Nacho Patino and David Pope, Siena was named after the commercial real estate business in the Baltimore-Washington area which Manganaro built. The founder, who purchased what would become Siena Farm in 2007, passed away last...

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Fujita Unveils OBS-Sourced Pair Saturday at Niigata

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses. Horses of interest for Sunday's program at Niigata will appear in Saturday's TDN: Saturday, August 3, 2024 3rd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m SHIN BELIEVE (c, 2, Constitution--Sand Puce {Arg}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) was bought back...

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