Zayat Stables' Mr. Z, runner-up by a neck last time out to Big Trouble in the Sanford Stakes (gr. III), gets a second chance at his first graded stakes win Aug. 10 in the $200,000 Toyota Saratoga Special (gr. II).
Team D's Big Trouble, an easy 4 1/2-length debut maiden winner at Belmont Park, won the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) July 19 at Saratoga Race Course by a neck over Mr. Z.
Claire Novak and Frank Angst preview the Diana Stakes and the Sanford Stakes, both July 19 at Saratoga. Watch Video
The $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. III) July 19 at Saratoga Race Course pits two undefeated stakes winners in Bessie's Boy, six-length winner of the Tremont at Belmont, and impressive Bashford Manor victor Cinco Charlie.
New York-bred Wired Bryan upset the $300,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at odds of 7-1 July 21 at Saratoga Race Course, running away from his rivals through the stretch by 5 1/4 lengths.
Bashford Manor (gr. III) winner Debt Ceiling, undefeated in three starts for Maryland-based trainer John Robb, faces six others in the 99th running of the $200,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) July 21 at Saratoga.
Repole Stable's Overdriven, an undefeated 2-year-old in 2011 and dominant winner of the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course, has been retired from racing and will stand the 2013 breeding season at Ocala Stud.
Favored Bern Identity stalked a hot pace before sweeping to victory over front-running Handsome Jack in the $200,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course July 22.
Among Todd Pletcher's top 2-year-olds this year are Rose Junction and Onetwentyeight, who headline the $200,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) going six furlongs July 22 at Saratoga.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Overdriven follows Uncle Mo as a standout 2-year-old for owner Mike Repole. The Tale of the Cat colt's pedigree offers many clues to how he'll develop as a runner.
Trainer Todd Pletcher says he's not comparing new stable star Overdriven to last year's champion 2-year-old colt Uncle Mo. But he may have trouble keeping others from doing so after an easy win in the Sanford Stakes July 24.
Todd Pletcher, who has won three of the last seven editions of the Sanford (gr. II), will have another strong chance when he sends out impressive maiden winner Overdriven July 24 at Saratoga.
Embarrassed to enter the hat contest, an elegantly dressed owner from Louisville got to hold her head up high when Maybesomaybenot won the Sanford. Read Blog
Overlooked Maybesomaybenot took the lead from the inside post for jockey Julien Leparoux and never looked back, springing a 9-1 surprise in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) by 1 1/2 lengths July 25 at Saratoga.
The two premier summer meets get underway with plenty of exciting stakes action. Read Blog
Dogwood Stable will send out a pair of juveniles for Saratoga's opening weekend Sanford Stakes (gr. II), including the only stakes winner, Lou Brissie.
Favored Backtalk is undefeated in three starts after motoring home on the outside of a closely grouped field to win the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds by a neck over Enumerate at Saratoga Race Course July 30.
Two-year-old colts take center stage at Saratoga July 30 as nine up-and-coming young Thoroughbreds look to take the next step on their budding career paths in the 95th running of the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II).
Desert Party, purchased by Darley for $2.1 million earlier this year, received a rail-skimming ride from Edgar Prado and ran away from three rivals in the scratched-diluted $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) July 24 in the mud at Saratoga.
A duo of juveniles who fetched high prices in the sale ring have garnered particular interest in the July 24 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga, where both are looking to prove they are worthy of such expensive investments.
Nine colts and geldings are entered in the 93rd running of the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Saratoga July 26. The most experienced entrant is Ready's Image, the only stakes winner in the field.
After being a Thoroughbred trainer for 10 years, Todd Pletcher should be used to the racing spotlight. This is especially true at Saratoga Race Course, where he has been the leading trainer for the past four years and also holds the single-season win record.
A group of 11 2-year-olds has been entered for the 91st running of the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) on Thursday at Saratoga's famed Race Course. Known for its annual showcasing of quality youngsters, the Spa's second day of racing has a crack line-up of 2-year-old colts going six furlongs in the Sanford, headed by multiple stakes winner Lunarpal.
Todd Pletcher's powerful barn will be in early evidence during the Saratoga season when he saddles a pair of favorites, Chapel Royal and Heckle, in Thursday's $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds.
They call it the Sport of Kings. But sometimes the little guys have their moments, too. One of those little guys is James E. Jones. A farrier in Central Kentucky, he is the breeder of Whywhywhy, winner of the Sanford Stakes (gr. II).
Whywhywhy answered a lot of questions Thursday afternoon with an authoritative 2 3/4-length victory in the Sanford Stakes for 2-year-olds at Saratoga.
Todd Pletcher, fresh off earning his second Belmont Park training title, seeks to keep the ball rolling as the New York racing season shifts from Belmont to Saratoga. Pletcher will be looking for his first stakes win of the meet on Thursday when he sends out Hussar in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. II), going six furlongs.
Buster's Daydream made Saratoga's Sanford Stakes (gr. II) his fourth win in a row with an impressive 5 1/2-length win over a muddy track. The 4-1 third choice in the field, Buster's Daydream and jockey John Velazquez had the jump on the field at the break and never let a rival get a nose in front.
Buster's Daydream has some serious momentum going into the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course. But the going will get tough when he takes on five rivals, including Heavyweight Champ, Draw Play, and Proud Citizen, in Thursday's $100,000 Sanford.
The 2-year-old Carson City colt City Zip led early, dropped back off the pace on the backstretch, saved ground on the turn, and came on again in the stretch outside of a tiring Yonaguska to win Thursday's $108,700 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga.
Michael Tabor-owned, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Yonaguska heads the field for Thursday's Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.
