Quality Road an Easy Woodward Winner
Quality Road got back on track in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I), easily defeating an overmatched field under John Velazquez to earn his fourth grade I win Sept. 4 at Saratoga.
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Here Comes Ben Pulls Forego Upset
In a star-studded field that included some of the biggest name sprinters on the East Coast, it was little-known Here Comes Ben that came from off the pace to spring a 9-1 upset in the $250,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 4.
Rail Trip Tunes Up For JC Gold Cup
Rail Trip continued his preparations for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 with a brisk six-furlong breeze on the Saratoga main track Sept. 4.
Desormeaux Out at Least Three Weeks
Kent Desormeaux was awaiting the opinion of a specialist at Albany Medical Center on Sept. 4 to determine whether an apparent vertebrae fracture was a new injury or an old one.
Saratoga Diary: End of Days
- By Vic Zast
The party plan goes into effect to help attendance. Read Blog
Trio of Future Stars Meet in Hopeful
Three of the most impressive maiden winners this summer -- Boys At Tosconova, Stay Thirsty, and Wine Police -- headline a field of seven in the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), the marquee event for juveniles at Saratoga.
Indicators: Handle Off $100 Million in August
- By Tom LaMarra
Pari-mutuel handle was off by about $100 million in August compared with the same month in 2009, yet another indication any rebound will take longer than some in the industry imagined.
Saratoga Diary: Maidens No More
- By Vic Zast
Four horses leave the ranks of the non-winners. Read Blog
Pletcher With Half of Spinaway Field
Todd Pletcher, who has won the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) three times, will have a 50-50 chance at winning another when he sends out four of the eight starters in the Sept. 5 race for juvenile fillies.
Four Pick 6 Winners at Saratoga Get $377,883
Four winning tickets correctly selected the winners of each of the Pick 6 races Sept. 2 at Saratoga Race Course and were rewarded handsomely with payouts of $377,883.
Saratoga Diary: Big Zucchini
Jockeys aren't measured by how large or heavy they are, but by how well they ride. Read Blog
Godolphin Entry Has Edge in Strong Forego
The $250,000 Forego Handicap (gr. I) came up very strong, but the Godolphin coupled entry of Vineyard Haven and Girolamo will be tough to overcome.
Quality Road Looks to Bounce Back in Woodward
Quality Road will try to rebound from his narrow Whitney Handicap (gr. I) defeat last month when headlining the field in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 4 at Saratoga.
Pletcher Eyes 3rd Straight With Anticipation
Todd Pletcher sent out Bittel Road and Interactif to win the With Anticipation the past two years and will have another live chance when he sends out Sensational Slam in a field of 10 and two also-eligibles.
NYRA Releases 30-Day Comparisons for Spa
On-track attendance at Saratoga has declined 5.3% and on-track wagering is down 6% for the first 30 days of the current meet, when compared with the comparable 30 days a year ago.
Beldame Next on Agenda for Persistently
Phipps Stable's Persistently appeared well the morning after her one-length upset victory over reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in Aug. 29, grade I, $300,000 Personal Ensign Invitational.
Miner's Reserve to Miss Several Months
Trainer Nick Zito reported Aug. 30 that Miner's Reserve sustained a hairline fracture in his right knee in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) and the Mineshaft colt will be sidelined for several months.
Saratoga Diary: Ghosts in the Pine Trees
- By Vic Zast
The fans' appetite for a confrontation between horse racing's stars wasn't served, but it has probably subsided. Read Blog
Pletcher: Super Saver Will Undergo Tests
Kentucky Derby Presented By! Yum Brands (gr. I) winner was 10th in the Travers (gr. I).
Miner's Reserve Exits Travers With Sore Foot
He set the pace in the "Midsummer Derby" before finishing seventh.
Plans Not Firm for Travers Winner's Next Race
Afleet Express comes out of the "Midsummer Derby" in good shape, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
Handle, Attendance Rise for Travers Stakes
The attendance increased 33.7% from a year ago to 45,764.
Afleet Express Nips Fly Down in Travers
In a thrilling edition of $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I), Afleet Express held off Fly Down by the narrowest of margins to win the "Mid-summer Derby" Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Discreetly Mine Rolls in King's Bishop
If there was any question about who is the top 3-year-old sprinter on the East Coast, Discreetly Mine answered it emphatically Aug. 28 at Saratoga with a wire-to-wire win in the $250,000 NetJet King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I).
Mine That Bird to Get Blinkers for Woodward
The Birdstone gelding hasn't won since scoring an upset in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Victory Ride: Rapport Runs 'Em Off Their Feet
Rapport set blazing factions and still had something left in the tank for the stretch drive, as she rolled to a dominating 3 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III)Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Dynaslew Strikes in Ballston Spa
Live Oak Plantation's Dynaslew sat off of pacesetter Silver Reunion for a mile, pulled even in mid-stretch, and inched clear for a half-length victory in the $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Saratoga Diary: Between Beers
- By Vic Zast
A hiccup by the meet's leading jockey in a stream of good races on the pre-Travers card. Read Blog
Red-Hot Get Stormy Scores Again in 'Baruch
Odds-on favorite Get Stormy took over turning for home and inched clear of pacesetter National Kid to win the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) by 2 3/4 lengths Aug. 27 at Saratoga.
Saratoga Diary: Coming Together
- By Vic Zast
Fans of the sport's biggest and least noticed stars express 'That's Amore.' Read Blog
Rachel Returns to Grade I in Personal Ensign
Rachel Alexandra will make her first foray into grade I company since defeating older males in the Woodward Stakes last September when she takes on four fillies and mares as the 2-5 favorite in the $300,000 Personal Ensign.
Romans Hoping First Dude Can Break Through
The 3-year-old bay colt ran second in the Preakness, third in the Belmont Stakes and the Haskell Invitational (all gr. I), and has earned more than $500,000 despite only a maiden victory in nine career starts.
THS: Travers and Pacific Classic
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of TwinSpires.com preview the Travers (gr.I) and Pacific Classic (gr.I). Watch Video
Saratoga Diary: God On His Side
- By Vic Zast
The meet's leading jockey finds a narrow hole to ride the winner of a race named for nuns. Read Blog
Beyondallboundarys Ready for Victory Ride
Beyondallboundarys will be going for her second consecutive stakes triumph when she takes on eight rivals in the Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Aug. 28 on the Travers undercard.
Informed Decision Likely Choice in Ballerina
Informed Decision, the reigning champion female sprinter, will look for her third straight win in the Ballerina Handicap (gr. I), a race that also has grade I winner Jessica Is Back in its field.
Discreetly Mine, D' Funnybone Meet Again
D' Funnybone handily defeated Discreetly Mine in the Woody Stephens (gr. II), but the tables could be turned when the two meet again in the $250,000 NetJets King's Bishop (gr. I) Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Travers or King's Bishop For Trappe Shot?
The connections of Trappe Shot remain undecided on whether they will enter their colt in the $1 million Travers (gr. I) or $250,000 King's Bishop (gr. I), both on Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Dreams Really Do Come True - By Randy Romero
When I sat down at the beginning of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony last Friday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., a thousand thoughts went racing through my mind. Read Blog
Get Stormy Tries to Pick Up Another Spa Win
Get Stormy will shoot for his fourth victory at Saratoga and his second graded stakes victory of the 2010 Spa meeting when he tackles the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 27.
Saratoga Diary: Scratchfest
- By Vic Zast
Front-runners and MTOs make the most of NYRA's decision to switch races from turf to dirt. Read Blog
Rider Injured in Saratoga Training Accident
Ben Garner, an amateur steeplechase jockey who also exercised horses in the mornings, was airlifted to Albany Medical Center after sustaining serious injuries in a training accident at Saratoga Aug. 24.
Total Saratoga Handle Close to 2009 Figure
Total wagering remained close to last year's comparable figure while attendance and ontrack handle inched upward despite two rainy days through the fourth full week of racing at Saratoga.
Rachel Alexandra Works on Training Track
In her final workout in preparation for the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, Rachel Alexandra breezed four furlongs Aug. 23 on the Oklahoma Training Track in :48.89.
Travers-Personal Ensign Double Offered
A double wager linking the Aug. 28 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with the following day's Personal Ensign (gr. I) will be offered at Saratoga Race Course.
Spa Training Award to Bear Jerkens' Name
The New York Racing Association announced Aug. 23 that the training title at Saratoga Race Course will be named in honor of Hall of Famer H. Allen Jerkens.
Saratoga Diary: Striking the Right Note
- By Vic Zast
Some three-year-old fillies rekindle the concept of competition. Read Blog
Blind Luck Aces Alabama
Blind Luck cemented her status as the top 3-year-old filly in the nation, as she passed odds-on choice Devil May Care at the eighth-pole and wore down Havre de Grace in the late stages to win the Alabama Stakes (gr. I).
Seven Travers Contenders Make Final Moves
Seven contenders for what appears will be a big field for the $1 million Travers (gr. I) had their final works Aug. 21 at both Saratoga and Churchill Downs.
Saratoga Diary: In The Pink
- By Vic Zast
Banter from a gentleman from Down Under begins a busy day of ladies' activities. Read Blog
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