In the sixth race at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 8, 2-year-old first-time starter Aye Eye bumped the gate at the break, broke slowly, lagged 19 1/2 lengths behind, and ran one of the most impressive races of the summer meeting. The connections of Aye Eye were more like “ai yi yi” when the gates opened and their…
Before the start of Fasig-Tipton’s New York Bred Yearling Sale Aug. 10, consignors and breeders were optimistic that momentum from the record-setting Select Sale last week would carry over to this two-day sale. It didn’t take long for that optimism to be borne out. The 26th horse to go through the ring during the first…
Jockey Juan Hernandez capped a tremendous day of racing at Del Mar Aug. 9 by guiding Heredia to victory in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T), his sixth win on the card. The stakes also gave trainer Graham Motion a New York-California double as Heredia followed Laurelin , the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) winner. The Yellow…
Following a record-setting The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s select yearling sale, more than 270 New York-bred yearlings are cataloged to go through the ring Aug. 10-11 for the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale, and buyers, consignors, and executives are hoping that the momentum from earlier this week will be sustained. While no one expects the same kind…
Desert Gate gave trainer Bob Baffert a record 12th win in the Best Pal Stakes (G3) with an easy, 8 3/4-length victory Aug. 9 at Del Mar. The 2-year-old colt by leading third-crop sire Omaha Beach shadowed pacesetting Punto Forty early and took over through a half-mile in :45.31. Winning rider Juan Hernandez took a look…
Ozara has a long way to go to match Fourstardave or even Casa Creed as a Saratoga Race Course legend, but she is certainly moving in the right direction. Cheyenne Stables’ 4-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega improved to a perfect 3-for-3 at the Spa Aug. 8 as she thundered down the stretch to take…
The relentless cascade of seven-figure prices emanating from a sale like the Fasig-Tipton orgy of yearlings earlier this week can be daunting to us mere mortals. On the plus side, gas prices in California are holding steady. Project what you will from an auction during which 25 Thoroughbreds less than a year from being weaned…
It’s a typically small field for the Phoenix Stakes (G1) Aug. 9 at Curragh— just two renewals since 2017 have had eight or more runners—but the race rarely lacks intrigue, and this year is no different. Royal Ascot winners and Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates Gstaad and True Love could go head-to-head, but another type of intrigue emerged on…
A jockey’s desire to ride is very strong. That’s why you see them return from serious injuries without any hesitation. The time spent away from riding is grueling for them. The rehab is hard enough, but not being able to get up on a horse and do what they love to do can be torture….
Effective this weekend, 1/ST RACING will discontinue selling the simulcast signal from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park to Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico to address increasing concerns regarding horse welfare and safety at that racetrack. This announcement comes in agreement with the horsemen’s groups in Florida and California after other measures in recent years…
