Saratoga
It was announced last week that in order to properly renovate and reimagine Belmont Park for 2023 and beyond, the New York Racing Association would be shifting this year's fall meet at Belmont to Aqueduct, and Wednesday, NYRA CEO Dave O'Rourke joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to discuss the process and future ramifications of this major capital investment in Big Sandy. O'Rourke said that the main objective of the construction project is the building of two major tunnels to...
NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss an exciting upcoming weekend of racing in Saratoga and the recent announcement that the 2022 Belmont Fall Meet will be held at Aqueduct Racetrack.
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...
MGISW Life Is Good (Into Mischief) will break from outside in post six in Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga. The winner of four of five starts in 2021, including the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the imposing bay annexed this season's Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream and Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S. July 2. He also finished fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March. "I wasn't really concerned too much about the post position in a compact field like this," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who also...
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Trainer Wesley Ward turned to football to explain why Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) has turned out to be what he has said is the best horse he has handled during his 32-year career. "Look at all the special running backs in history," Ward said. "What makes them so special? They are naturally blessed with talent is what it comes down to. They are extremely fast and a lot of them have the mind for it as well. He's got both." Nearly two months after a disappointing...
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - At this time last year, trainer Todd Pletcher and his staff were getting to know Life Is Good (Into Mischief). Some 400 days after he arrived and with four wins from six races, the bay colt is an unquestioned standout in Pletcher's powerful and deep stable. Up next for Life Is Good in a season that could yield an Eclipse Award and possibly even a Horse of the Year title is the $1-million GI Whitney S. Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The historic Whitney, first run...
In the same way which astronomical stars largely form in groups, so too did the 'TDN Rising Stars' this past Sunday. Not one, not two, but three leading ladies emerged from the nebulae of Del Mar and Saratoga, each with her own brand of brilliance. Chief among the splendor, and the last to show her shine, was Justique (Justify), whose brilliant turn of foot and effortless dismissal of rivals summoned forth comparisons to another glorious 'Rising Star' in her hayday--a John Shirreffs masterpiece, Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire})....
Mike Ryan's Be Your Best (Ire) (Muharaar {GB}--Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro) came out swinging Sunday at Saratoga to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' moniker. Let go at 8-1 among a competitive-looking group of juvenile fillies, the Horacio De Paz trainee sat off the pace early and was hung a bit wide around the first bend. She traveled well down the backside, and caught the eye when making a three-wide move around the home bend into a six-furlong split of 1:14.29. Still going strongly out in the enter of the course...
Capture the Flag (Quality Road--War Flag, by War Front) entering with some positive workout notes and backed at 5-2 for the notoriously patient Shug McGaughey barn, turned in an auspicious debut in Saratoga's Saturday opener that seemed like just the tip of the iceberg. Last away in the field of five, the hulking bay quickly narrowed the gap and mounted a three-deep move into the turn. Going much easier than the two foes to his inside approaching the stretch, he was confidently ridden out by Luis Saez, bounding home by...
Champion Corniche (Quality Road) makes his highly anticipated return to the races and first start for trainer Todd Pletcher Sunday in Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S. The 'TDN Rising Star' spent some time at WinStar after his championships season and, with Bob Baffert serving his suspension, was sent to Pletcher in May with an eye on the late season sophomore highlights. (Click here for Pletcher's thoughts in Mike Kane's Saturday feature). "We're hoping that with the good fortune we had with his sire Quality Road and him making his debut for...
Juddmonte homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (c, 3, Arrogate--Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper), a very promising maiden winner second out going a one-turn mile at Belmont June 10, potentially punched his ticket to the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27 with an eye-catching victory in Friday's Curlin S. at Saratoga. Drawn widest of all in post eight while making his two-turn debut in this 1 1/8-mile affair, the 5-2 chance tucked in to race in a perfect spot in a ground-saving fourth. Locked and loaded beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. on far...
Registration for the Fourstardave Handicapping Challenge scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 at Saratoga officially opened July 29, announced officials at NYRA. Participants may register through Friday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. ET on the official webpage with an option to either play online via NYRA Bets or on-track at Saratoga, where seating and lunch is included as part of the entry fee. The contest will run in conjunction with the 38th running of the one-mile GI $500,000 Fourstardave H. over the inner turf, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for...