
San Diego Attracts Take Control, Son of Azeri
Take Control, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar.
Take Control, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar.
Centre Court, weaving through traffic in the stretch run on the Saratoga Race Course turf under Julien Leparoux, got the lead in deep stretch and prevailed in a roughly-run renewal of the $200,000 Lake George Stakes July 25.
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred Centre Court overcame a rough trip to post a narrow victory in Wednesday's Grade 2, $200,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/lakegeorge12.pdf">Lake George Stakes </a>at Saratoga, surging late among a tight pack to score by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile turf affair. Grade 1 winner Stephanie's Kitten, the 2-1 favorite, was not so fortunate, finishing less than a length back in fourth after being stopped and forced to alter course in deep stretch.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Gung Ho is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the inaugural running of the $150,000 Mystic Lake Derby July 28 at Canterbury Park.
Zagora won the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) in 2011, but the 5-year-old mare faces a steep challenge this time around at Saratoga Race Course as Tapitsfly, Winter Memories, Hungry Island, and two European invaders join the fray.
A deep, competitive field of eight will face off in the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) July 28 to determine who continues to the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 25.
Trainer John Sadler reported that Holy Candy, pulled up as the favorite in the second division of the opening day Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar July 18, has undergone successful surgery for a bone chip in his right front ankle.
Zagora will take on the top three finishers from the Grade 1 Just a Game and a pair of runners from Europe when she aims for a title defense in the Grade 1, $600,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/diana12.html"> Diana</a> going 1 1/8 miles on the turf Saturday at Saratoga.
Eight evenly matched three-year-olds hoping to step into the void left by the stars of the Triple Crown will gather at Saratoga Saturday afternoon for the 49th running of the Grade 2, $600,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/jimdandy12.html">Jim Dandy</a>.
Quarter Horse trainer Adan Farias, arrested last month by federal authorities on money laundering charges involving a notorious Mexican drug cartel, has had his license revoked for two years by the CHRB in an unrelated case.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert currently has an embarrassment of riches in the older male ranks in Southern California, led by Game on Dude, Richard's Kid and Jaycito, all of whom are potential candidates for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic later in the Del Mar meet.
Team Valor International has established a new partnership that will designate a portion of the race earnings from the juvenile filly Tuttipaesi to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure charity.
Two summers ago, British trainer John Gosden brought H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan's Irish-bred Debussy from his European base of operations to win the 28th running of the Grade 1 Arlington Million. Now it seems increasingly likely that Princess Haya's Irish-bred colt Colombian may make that same Atlantic crossing as a Gosden representative in the 30th anniversary edition of the Arlington Million on August 18.
Steve and Lenny discuss the sophomore horses and who to watch during the second part of the year. They also talk about the fillies, New York Times, California stakes names, and Salix.
While many of racing's major issues were discussed at the July 25 meeting of the board of directors of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, the agenda called for few decisions to be made.
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be aboard 2011 2-year-old champion Hansen when the colt makes a start in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) Aug. 4, owner Dr. Kendall Hansen confirmed July 25.
Steve and Lenny discuss the sophomore horses and who to watch during the second part of the year. They also talk about the fillies, New York Times, California stakes names and Salix.
Next week's graded stakes at Saratoga begin on August 3, with the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.
Gemologist is expected to be in the starting gate for the 45th running of the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park July 29.
Gemologist will be in the starting gate for the 45th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday.
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">SARATOGA NOTEBOOK </font> </b></i>
Camelot heads 36 entries for this year's Group 1 St Leger as the outstanding unbeaten colt bids to become the first winner of the English Triple Crown since Nijinsky II in 1970.
In response to the cancellation of the slots-at-racetracks program, the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association has developed a plan for "a viable and sustainable horse racing and breeding industry."
It feels inadequate to refer to Tom Durkin as a race caller.
Editor's note: This article is part of TheHorse.com's ongoing coverage of topics presented at the 2012 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum, held May 30 - June 2 in New Orleans, La.