Coil, one of the top 3-year-olds in America last year but unraced since October, showed he hasn't lost a step in the meantime with an authoritative victory in a $78,000 allowance/optional claiming race at Del Mar July 26.
Dolphus Morrison, breeder of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, will disperse his Thoroughbred holdings during the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
One year ago this weekend, Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Coil stamped himself as a top-level performer with a victory over Shackleford in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. In Thursday's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/coil7-26.pdf">7TH</a> race at Del Mar, the Bob Baffert trainee signaled his intentions to be a major player in the second half of 2012 with a stylish return victory.
Ben's Cat will be back to defend his crown against nine rivals in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup on the night of July 28, at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/amsterdam12">Amsterdam Stakes </a>at Saratoga has attracted seven sophomores, including Grade 1 winner Currency Swap and recent Grade 3 Carry Back victor Fort Loudon. The 6 1/2-furlong test serves as a prep for the Grade 1 King's Bishop at seven furlongs August 25, and both races were captured last year by Caleb's Posse, who went on to add the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to his resume.
Grade 1 winner Jersey Town breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 Thursday morning on the fast main track at Saratoga in preparation for an anticipated start in next Sunday's Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at six furlongs.
Top California-based sprinters The Factor and Amazombie will meet for the third time in Sunday's Grade 1, $300,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/bingcrosby12">Bing Crosby</a> at Del Mar. The six-furlong Polytrack test serves as a rubber match between the classy competitors, who tower over the remaining three entrants in the field.
Three-year-olds are back in the spotlight Sunday at Monmouth Park as a strong field of six will contest the Grade 1, $1 million <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/haskell12">Haskell Invitational</a>. Belmont Stakes runner-up Paynter has been established as the 3-2 favorite on the morning line for the 1 1/8-mile event, with Grade 1 winners Dullahan and Gemologist the 3-1 co-second choices.
Five other contenders line up for their shot at a $1 million purse, joining the Bob Baffert trainee in trying to bring excitement to a summer season lacking major 3-year-old stars.
Sprint champion Amazombie and The Factor will duke it out one more time in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I), the headline event at Del Mar July 29.
Roxy Gap, enjoying a solid campaign so far this year with a pair of graded wins and two seconds in her past four starts, tries to transfer her form to turf against a good field in the $150,000 Royal North Stakes (Can-IIIT).
Miami Valley Gaming & Racing, a joint venture of Delaware North Gaming & Entertainment and Churchill Downs Inc., announced plans July 26 to relocate harness track Lebanon Raceway in Ohio and install VLTs at the new facility.
What remains of the three-year-old crop?
Three Chimneys Hopeful (gr. I) winner Currency Swap returns to the scene of last year's great triumph at Saratoga Race Course as the 5-2 favorite in a field of seven for the $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) July 29.
Unbeaten Frankel will face a maximum of seven rivals as he bids to become the first two-time winner of the QIPCO Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) at Glorious Goodwood Aug. 1.
Claire and Pete handicap the Jim Dandy Stakes, Haskell Invitational, and Curlin Stakes.
Not only licensed trainers, but also owners who fail to monitor their trainers and the veterinarians who provide or facilitate the administration of illegal substances could be subject to exclusion.
Claire and Pete handicap the Jim Dandy Stakes, Haskell Invitational, and Curlin Stakes. Download Brisnet Past Performances for the Jim Dandy Stakes.
Afsare is one of 11 declared runners for the Group 2, £100,000 York Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs at York on Saturday.
Starting with the Haskell Invitational Handicap, six racing events will be the focus of America's Best Racing's fan development initiative focused on the start of the "Second Season."
Equine Sales of Louisiana has cataloged 282 horses for its inaugural yearling sale. The auction is scheduled for Sept. 5 in Opelousas, La.
The Illinois Racing Board agreed July 26 to require race tracks to include "field size bonus" money in the base purse amount used to calculate owners' and breeders' awards.
Oaklawn has increased purses on 13 of its 32 stakes planned in 2013, including a majority of its three-year-old stakes races. Overall, the track has raised stakes purses by nearly $400,000 to $5.7 million, the richest program in its history.
Saratoga Race Course will bring horse racing fans a little extra luck during the fourth annual Mid-Summer St. Patrick's Day next Thursday. The day-long celebration of Irish culture and heritage will feature traditional Irish food and drink as well as Irish music, dance and entertainment.
Even though it's more than a week away, the Aug. 3-5 stakes extravaganza at Saratoga Race Course is taking shape, with the release by the New York Racing Association of a list of probables for the four graded stakes.
"She's special. She really is," trainer Steve Asmussen responded when asked if he expected his pupil to set a track record.
In early May, 26-year-old Thistledown stablehand Janet Duhon went to her doctor complaining of a stomachache. With bewildering speed, the routine appointment turned into hospitalization, major surgery for cancer and complications that kept her in intensive care for weeks.
Britain's Racing for Change has announced that three racetracks plan a trial run at using metric weights and distances as a way to make "the sport more accessible to overseas visitors and younger adults."
Oaklawn Park has increased purses on 13 of its 32 stakes planned for 2013, including a majority of the 3-year-old stakes races, and has lengthened the Feb. 18 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) from one mile to 1 1/16 miles.
Betting opportunities abound at Saratoga. A man with a rabbit's foot and a hat pin and program can line his pockets by wagering on overlays.
