Sunday, August 19 2012

JACKSON BEND APPEARS OK AFTER MORNING TRAINING SCARE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Multiple Grade 1 winner Jackson Bend was involved in a mishap Saturday morning on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course, but appears to have sustained no serious injuries.

“Jackson [Bend] and [exercise rider] Carlos [Correa] were going on their normal morning gallop, and another horse came on at the gap and ran right into him,” said Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who added that Correa was uninjured in the collision. “I didn’t see it. Thank God I didn’t see it.

Saturday, August 18 2012

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Friday, August 17, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Godolphin Racing’s Alpha turned in his final serious work for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes on Friday at Saratoga Race Course, covering a half-mile over the main track in 48.91 under exercise rider Rob Massey.

“He worked well,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “I had him galloping out in 1:01 and 4/5. Officially I think they said 1:02 and 1/5, but he went great and all systems are go. Saturday is normally the day we work, but last week we worked Thursday because of weather and there’s chance of rain again today. The track had some moisture in it, but he handled it well.”

Tuesday, August 14 2012

HANDLE INCREASES HOLD STEADY INTO SECOND HALF AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Nationwide wagering on Saratoga races remains up compared to 2011 through the first 22 days of the 40-day meet, despite wet weekend weather which caused 13 of 17 scheduled turf races to be moved to the main track from Friday through Sunday.

All-sources handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga races both on-track and from simulcast facilities across the country, was $310,065,500, up 6.5 percent from $291,181,532 in 2011, according to The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).

DOMINGUEZ WINS 4, STRETCHES LEAD IN SPA JOCKEY STANDINGS

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the second time in five days, Ramon Dominguez won four races at Saratoga Race Course on Monday to widen his lead in the jockey standings.

With 39 wins through the first four weeks of the meet, Dominguez holds an 18-race lead over Javier Castellano and Jose Lezcano, who are tied for second in the jockey standings with 21 wins apiece.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: August 13, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Liaison, third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, will be Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s lone representative in the Grade 1, $1 million Travers as Zayat Stables’ Paynter has been declared from the Mid-Summer Derby.

Paynter, second in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes to Union Rags, won the Haskell Invitational on July 29 at Monmouth Park and two days later spiked a fever. Baffert had the colt examined at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Center in Ringoes, N.J., and later shipped him to Belmont Park.

FABULOUS FILLES DAY AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will celebrate women and their contributions to the thoroughbred industry while raising funds to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) at Fabulous Fillies Day on Friday, August 17 at Saratoga Race Course.

All fans who wear pink will receive free grandstand and clubhouse admission. Saratoga Race Course will also feature a pink NYRA flag in flight overhead.

Monday, August 13 2012

SPURIOUS PRECISION THE “REAL DEAL” IN SARATOGA SPECIAL

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Spurious Precision made it 2-for-2 at Saratoga Race Course and stamped himself a leader in the 2-year-old division with a front-running five-length victory in Sunday’s 107th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

An impressive maiden winner at the Spa on July 21, the son of High Cotton came back on short notice and under jockey Alan Garcia simply outran his five rivals in the 6 ½-furlong race. Bounding to the lead out of the gate, Spurious Precision zipped through an opening quarter-mile in 21.35 seconds and a half in 44.02 while under pressure from Southern Honor and Drum Roll, then shook clear in the stretch and cruised under the wire in 1:16.53.

KAUAI KATIE AIRS IN ADIRONDACK

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kauai Katie gave Stonestreet Stables their second straight Grade 2 Adirondack victory Sunday at Saratoga Race Course with a front-running score on Sunday in the $200,000 race for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course.

The daughter of Malibu Moon – a sharp 12-length debut winner on July 20, opening day at the Spa – was third out of the gate but grabbed the lead by the time the field had left the chute in the 6 ½-furlong race. In front by 1 ½ lengths following an opening quarter-mile in 21.77 seconds, Kauai Katie dismissed a pair of bids through a half-mile in 44.93, and stretched her lead while being driven home by jockey Rosie Napravnik to register a 2 ¾-length victory over Salamera.

COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO ATTEMPT WEST POINT DEFENSE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Compliance Officer will mount a title defense Thursday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course when he takes on seven other New York-bred turf specialists in the $150,000, 1 1/16-mile West Point presented by Trustco Bank.

The 6-year-old son of Officer was named New York-bred male turf champion in 2011 after reeling off five consecutive victories including a sweep of the summer and fall New York-bred turf route stakes: the West Point, the Ashley T. Cole, and the Mohawk. The gelding captured the Kingston Stakes at Belmont Park over fellow statebreds on May 27 in his 2012 debut, and then was second to Clear Attempt in the Grade 3 Poker on July 4.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Sunday, August 12, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wise Dan emerged in good order from his five-length victory Saturday in the Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 108 for completing the mile in 1:37.30 over yielding turf.

“He was pretty awesome,” said trainer Charles Lopresti of the 5-year-old gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry. “On the backstretch, I wasn’t sure if he was going to get there, or get bogged down in the inside. But Johnny [Velazquez] said he was never worried.”

Saturday, August 11 2012

QUICK WIT OUTDUELS CSABA TO WIN HALL OF FAME

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After several disappointing starts in stakes races on dirt, Quick Wit began to turn around his career when trainer Dale Romans put the Sharp Humor colt on the turf.

Yet, when the 28th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for 3-year-olds came off the grass at Saratoga Race Course on Friday, Romans had a feeling Quick Wit might have an even better chance to win.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Friday, August 10, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Grade 1 Travers candidate Paynter arrived at Belmont Park this morning from New Jersey and will be monitored to see if he can make the $1 million “Mid-Summer Derby” on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

Two days after winning the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational by 3 ¾ lengths on July 29, the Zayat Stables-owned son of Awesome Again spiked a fever. After spending time in the barn of trainer Kelly Breen at Monmouth Park, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent Paynter to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, N.J.