Saratoga

Edited Press Release One month into this summer's Saratoga and Del Mar meets, XBTV.com has already uploaded more than 1,000 morning video workouts for racing's marquee meets. This milestone provides handicappers with 'behind the scenes' access to the nation's top horses and future stars and remains available without cost to 1/ST account holders. XBTV's workouts are also available on TDN's homepage. "You can refer to published workouts and form assumptions based only on final time, but the opportunity to view the video and gain an understanding of how the drill...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Without hesitation, trainer Kenny McPeek used a four-letter word to describe his level of concern about Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) entering the GI $600,000 Alabama S. Saturday after missing the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. "None," he said. After the 'TDN Rising Star', owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, rebounded from an uncharacteristic poor performance in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks with a pair of impressive wins, McPeek aimed her for Saratoga's two big races for 3-year-old fillies. That plan was scuttled the evening of opening day, July 15,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale, which had a string of record-setting renewals interrupted only by its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic last summer, got back on track with a strong opening session at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Sunday evening. A total of 62 yearlings sold Sunday night for a gross of $6,497,500. The average was $104,798 and the median was $80,000. "It was an outstanding opening night to the 2021 New York-bred sale," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "I was thrilled to have the average...

Trainer Todd Pletcher has tested positive for COVID-19, and will continue to isolate until Thursday, he confirmed via text Sunday morning. Pletcher, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, August 6, said that he sought out the test after experiencing allergy-like symptoms and after a co-worker tested positive. "I got the results back this morning," he said via text. "Starting Monday, I thought I was experiencing some allergies. Since I've been vaccinated, I wasn't concerned as I didn't have any traditional Covid symptoms. Late Friday, a co-worker...

5th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-13, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:01.81, fm, 2 lengths. LADY DANAE (f, 2, Klimt--Anea, by Unbridled's Song) sparked some deja vu Friday, scoring at 11-1 a week after another Klimt juvenile won first out at the same odds sprinting also on the Saratoga lawn. This :10 flat OBSAPR breezer was bidding to become her freshman sire (by Quality Road)'s eighth winner overall, but was dismissed a bit by the bettors in an event with many viable options. Sitting in midpack while out in the clear, the chestnut...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Miles D (Curlin) proved himself to be graded stakes-worthy in the Curlin S. and trainer Chad Brown is aiming for Saratoga's biggest prize, the GI Runhappy Travers on Aug. 28. "We're headed to that race," Brown said. "We'll see how he works leading up to it, but I'm planning on taking a shot in that race." Brown said that Miles D, co-owned by Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta, will return to the worktab at Saratoga this weekend, probably on Saturday morning. Miles D was a solid second to...

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja (Honor Code) remains on target for next weekend's GI Alabama S. Aug. 21 at Saratoga. The GI Coaching Club American Oaks S. winner covered a half-mile breeze in :47.67 last Sunday while in company on the main track in her first work back since upsetting favored Malathaat (Curlin) in the nine-furlong CCA Oaks July 24. "She went a little quicker than I thought, visually," trainer Rob Atras. "She broke off a little quick and was rolling along and galloped out real nice. I never get too...

The contingent behind MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) has been carefully monitoring the weather this week as the 6-year-old turf specialist prepares for her third appearance in Saratoga's GI Fourstardave H. Possible scattered overnight thunderstorms leading up to Saturday's card could soften the turf more than the fan-favorite mare would prefer. "For a horse named Got Stormy, she doesn't like much rain," her recently inducted Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. "If the turf gets soft on Saturday, a mile is stretching her distance ability. We'll see what happens,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Four-time GI Runhappy Travers S.-winning trainer Shug McGaughey said Thursday that First Captain (Curlin) will not run in Saratoga's signature race Aug. 28. Godoplphin's Essential Quality (Tapit), the winner of seven of eight career starts, including the GI Belmont S., is the headliner for the 152nd running of the $1.25 million Travers. Though the chestnut colt is fine following his third-place finish in the Curlin S. July 30, McGaughey decided to pass on the Travers and point to the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25. "I just don't think...

Chad Brown has won so many big races with so many good horses that he can be forgiven if sometimes they all start to run together. But, for Brown, Sunday's second race at Saratoga will never be just another victory. The winner of the maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies was named McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}). She was named after Brown's first-ever employee, bookkeeper Mary McKulick. McKulick passed away last October at the age of 67, losing a battle with cancer. "When I decided to go out on my own,...

By Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis The 100th anniversary of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale, delayed a year due to the global pandemic, kicked off with a lively session of trade at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Monday evening. "It was a very solid opening session of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "It was certainly a very healthy market. It was very similar and reminiscent of the 2019 marketplace. Overall, we are off to a very good start." A colt by Uncle Mo brought...

Sunday, Saratoga SARATOGA OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $700,000, Saratoga, 8-8, 3yo, f, 1 3/16mT, 1:54.42, fm. 1--CON LIMA, 121, f, 3, by Commissioner 1st Dam: Second Street City (SW, $209,843), by Consolidator 2nd Dam: Trix City, by Carson City 3rd Dam: Always Nettie, by Vice Regent ($15,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $19,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP; $22,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro & Troy Johnson; B-Lisa Kuhlmann (TX); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Flavien Prat. $375,000. Lifetime Record: 13-7-5-0, $884,865. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click...