Saratoga

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at both Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attracts 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. Already this year at Saratoga, City Man (Mucho Macho Man), Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) and Empress Tigress (Classic Empire)--each...

The fleet-footed Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) rebounded from a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot with a gritty victory in Saratoga's GIII Troy S. Friday. Away in good order, the 1-5 favorite stalked from a two-wide third as True Valour (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) clicked off a :21.93 opening quarter. Moving up to draw alongside the top two turning for home, Golden Pal locked horns with True Valour as their temporary threat Carotari (Artie Schiller) quickly found the waters too deep and backed out of it. Those two battled stride-for-stride to the...

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at both Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attracts 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. Already this year at Saratoga, City Man (Mucho Macho Man), Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) and Empress Tigress (Classic Empire)--each...

Jockey Julien Leparoux as the winner of the 2022 Mike Venezia Memorial Award, NYRA announced Friday. He was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of The Jockeys' Guild and retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore. Leparoux will be recognized in a winner's circle ceremony at Saratoga Aug. 12. The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a...

Hall of Famer Todd A. Pletcher, currently sitting in second place in the Saratoga trainer standings, will be locked and loaded in a pair of Grade I events at the Spa Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney S. With the unbeaten sensation and 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) awaiting the GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 3, a pair of New York-based heavyweights in the handicap division will throw down in the 12-race card's feature. The uber-talented 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into...

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Longines Test S., a prestigious 3-year old filly event on the Saratoga calendar for the past century. Ah, the Test, the glorious Test. Remember the scintillating call--already 20 years ago--by Tom Durkin during the epic stretch battle between You and Carson Hollow? This race has been so good for so long. At seven furlongs since its second edition, it has delivered pulsating stretch...

Barry "The Sniper" Spears, a successful handicapping tournament player, public handicapper, podcast host and influential voice in the world of horse racing Twitter, joined the latest episode of Bettor Things with Joe Bianca this week for a wide-ranging conversation on topics inside the sport and out. Spears has been an outspoken advocate for better minority representation in racing, and talked to Bianca about the importance of pointing out the subtle racism that the industry has been slow to address over the years. Spears and Bianca also discussed the good, bad...

6th-Saratoga, $88,000, (S), Msw, 8-4, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.44, fm, 1 1/4 lengths. LACHAISE (r, 2, Oscar Performance--Elusive Rumour {MSP, $140,050}, by Elusive Quality), made the 5-2 favorite for Thursday's start, came away near the front and settled three wide in third a length off of pacesetter Provision (Goldencents). Content to let the top pair go on with it, Lachaise took back a bit and raced two wide around the far bend. Commencing a rally  midway on the turn, he found himself three abreast for the lead at the top...

2nd-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-4, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.45, fm, 1/2 length. ALLURING ANGEL (GB) (f, 2, Fastnet Rock {Aus}--All of Me {GB}, by Teofilo{Ire}), a 48,000gns weanling purchase out of the 2020 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, went off as the 4-1 third choice Thursday in her career debut. Far back off the pace with only one horse beat through the opening furlong, she raced two wide outside of Gustiamo (Blame) before clearing to the rail midway around the bend. Under a ride past the quarter pole, Alluring Angel swung...

After a 15-year hiatus, the Budweiser Clydesdales will appear at Saratoga Race Course in partnership with Anheuser-Busch and local distributor Saratoga Eagle. The Budweiser Clydesdales will return to Saratoga Wednesday, Aug. 10 and Friday, Aug. 12. "It's an honor to welcome the Budweiser Clydesdales back to Saratoga Race Course," said Don Scott, NYRA Vice President of Marketing. "These horses are globally renowned and we are thrilled that our fans will have the opportunity to see them in person. We thank Saratoga Eagle for helping to secure the Budweiser Clydesdales and...

The speedy sophomore Conagher (c, 3, Jimmy Creed--You Should Be Here, by Niagara Causeway), a very sharp wire-to-wire winner of Monday's Housebuster Overnight H. at Colonial Downs, will get his chance at the big leagues in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 27. "We'll find out how high we can go with him," trainer Michael Tomlinson said. "Saratoga is an exciting and fun place to be. The atmosphere is unmatched, that's for sure." Off as the 2-5 favorite from his inside draw, Conagher flashed his usual...

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at both Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attracts 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. Already this year at Saratoga, City Man (Mucho Macho Man), Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) and Empress Tigress (Classic Empire)--each...