Saratoga

Even Saratoga Race Course bettors, usually a decisive lot, could not come to a firm commitment in Thursday's GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H. Would it be Moscato (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) or Optimus Prime (Fr) (Deportivo {GB})? They were that close. Rosbrian Farm's highweighted Optimus Prime was the betting favorite until a few flashes before post time, when Bruton Street-US's Moscato benefited from some late money to become the 1.70-to-1 favorite. Optimus Prime went off at 1.95-to-1. They were together through the first 1 1/2 miles of the 2...

Seven sophomore turf sprinters and one entered only in the event the race comes off the main track are set to contest Friday's GIII Quick Call S. at Saratoga, but it looks all over a two-horse test. Jack and Noah (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) is the even-money favorite on the morning line and with good reason. A €47,000 Arqana August yearling turned €160,000 Arqana May juvenile purchase by Justin Casse, the gray colt won the six-furlong Atlantic Beach S. at Aqueduct last November, but failed to stay a when sixth...

5th-SAR, $62K, Msw, (S), 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 3:28 p.m. ET SAMBORELLA (Outwork), the most expensive of 66 yearlings to change hands from the first crop of her sire when bringing $500,000 from Gold Square, It's All About The Girls Stable, Paul Braverman, Fortune Farm and Harlow Stables at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred Yearling Sale, debuts for Jeremiah Englehart. Produced by an unraced daughter of Tiznow, the bay is a half-sister to Bye Bye Hong Kong (Street Sense), SW & GSP-Eng; and last year's GIII Pilgrim S. third Our...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--While most everything looks and feels different at spectator-less Saratoga Race Course this summer, trainer Chad Brown has maintained standard form. Brown has won three of the last four meet training titles--in 2019 by a whopping 20 victories over Todd Pletcher--and led the standings through the first four days of the 40-day season. It is pretty much standard Saratoga stuff for Brown, 41, who grew up about 17 miles away in the small city of Mechanicville and was schooled in the sport at the historic track. Brown won...

There was no hotter trainer on the grounds through opening weekend at Saratoga than Christophe Clement, which is saying something considering the array of champion and Hall of Fame conditioners that occupy the backstretch of America's premier race meet. After winning five races from 13 starters in the first four days of the stand, including a pair of graded stakes victories, Clement joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to discuss his hot start. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, the French-born trainer...

The New York Racing Association will help connect four-legged friends with their forever homes by hosting a Virtual Dog Adoption Series during the 2020 meet at Saratoga Race Course, which runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. The series will highlight dogs available for adoption in partnership with the Saratoga County Animal Shelter and Greyhound Rescue of New York. NYRA will feature photos and a brief description of each dog with new dogs added as they become available throughout the meet. NYRA will underwrite the paperwork for each adoption up...

The spring steeplechase season was compressed by the coronavirus pandemic into 21 races at two June race meets, but it had some sweet moments. Perhaps none was as satisfying as the GIII Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase H. victory by Bruton Street-US's Moscato (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), named after the sweet Italian wine. Moscato will have an opportunity to make his season even sweeter in Saratoga Race Course's GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H. Thursday. Second in the weights to Rosbrian Farm's Optimus Prime (Fr) (Deportivo {Fr}), 9-year-old Moscato very likely will...

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will hold a drive-thru BBQ at the Saratoga Winery Aug. 11. Within the context of the ongoing pandemic, the event has been re-imagined as a drive-thru experience, featuring a drive around the grounds complete with miniature ponies, racing celebrities, and a special appearance by Joey, the TRF Herd Ambassador, who will be returning to Saratoga from the TRF Second Chances Program at Wallkill. "In this summer unlike any other, the TRF is committed to keeping our mission and our horses in the minds of the...

7th-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 7-19, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.33, ft. LUCIFERS LAIR (f, 2, Quality Road--Devil's Cave {GSW & GISP, $379,430}, by Put It Back), co-favored at 5-2 for this unveiling for the always dangerous Todd Pletcher barn, proved well meant and professional to score comfortably at first asking Sunday. Out-footed by only longshot Stone Town (Tapizar) early, the Maryland-bred sat perched off of that foe's right flank through an opening quarter of :22.37 and began to wear the pacesetter down after a :45.97 half. She seized command in the...

Paris Lights (Curlin), an impressive winner of two straight at Churchill Downs, made her stakes debut a winning one with a ultra-game decision in Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The 2-1 chance pressed runaway Bob Baffert-trained Santa Anita maiden winner Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon) from second through fractions of :24.43 and :47.82, and turned up the pressure as they hit the quarter pole. Paris Lights and Crystal Ball, both owned by WinStar Stablemates Racing, turned for home on even terms, and after a dramatic stretch duel, it...

The uber-talented Decorated Invader returned to the scene of his graduation last summer to earn his third graded victory from as many tries this season. He was reined in to sit second as Get Smokin zipped to the front and opened up a double-digit advantage. The favorite began to creep closer after six panels in 1:13.52, and looked to have the frontrunner in his sights as they straightened for home. Get Smokin wasn't done yet, and offered up some resistance to midstretch, but Decorated Invader found more in reserves and...

Momos (c, 2, Distorted Humor-Inspeight of Us, by Speightstown) kicked off Saturday's card at the Spa with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance. The :21 breezer at OBS March brought $180,000 from Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC and Secure Investments and was off at odds of 6-1 in this unveiling for Christophe Clement. He sped through an opening quarter in :22.20 from his inside draw, was under cruise control as they hit the quarter pole and took off in the stretch to run his five rivals off their feet. It was 6...