Smoken Wicked

Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wicked One), a two-time stakes winner versus fellow Louisiana-breds, broke through at the graded level with a dominant performance in Friday's GII Amsterdam S. at the Spa. The 5-2 chance pressed favored Macho Music (Maclean's Music) through an opening quarter in :22.09, took over approaching the quarter pole and blasted off for home to win impressively by 5 3/4 lengths. Sixth behind the aforementioned Macho Music in the GII Pat Day Mile S. May 3, Smoken Wicked entered off a second-place finish in the Maxfield S. June...

Having been nothing less than spectacular in two prior starts, 'TDN Rising Star' Verifire (Authentic) took his step up to stakes company with aplomb, taking Sunday's closing day Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs. A $1-million OBS March purchase for Resolute Racing after selling for $260,000 at Keeneland the previous September, the son of Authentic debuted with a TDN Rising Star-earning 6 1/4-length victory at Colonial Mar. 15. Pounded down to 1-20 favoritism in his return, he rolled home a 6 1/2-length winner over next out winner Saxton (Mosler) in a...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- It was quiet trackside at Saratoga Race Course Friday morning. Everyone had a day off after the New York Racing Association canceled Friday's card after Thursday's was run. The reason was the havoc expected to blow through the area thanks to the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. The heavy stuff was predicted to come later in the afternoon. Horses, however, did not get the memo. They still went to work. As did the trainers and exercise riders and grooms and hotwalkers. "No days off," Hall of...