Horse Racing: I. Ortiz/B. Cox/Godolphin/Into Mischief top 2023; J. Rodriguez/B. Russell win Laurel titles on final day; L. Rice sets NYRA record for wins in a year

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert won the Saratoga opener with a rare but pricey ($475,000) New York bred, a race limited to New Yorkers. Tall Paul debuted to a 3rd at Del Mar. This was Baffert's first starter at the meet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Extremely close finish in Laurel's third with three across the wire. So much so that there sets of eyes called different horses.

 

[GKJ]

Maryland is considering altering the Triple Crown schedule and landscape of the event. Unhappy with how many Kentucky Derby horses bolt, Maryland is looking into racing the Preakness four weeks after the Derby. Obviously, New York is unhappy. Makes me wonder if NY eventually is faced with a decision, could we see a Triple Crown on 4thh of July Weekend? Let the games begin.

Randy Moss will ascend into another plane of existence. I would just question if 4th of July weekends would be good for TV. Obviously, understandable why Maryland would do this, they can’t even be confident that they get the Derby winner now that the Triple Crown pressure has been off.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Longest shot on the board wins the Secretariat at 22-1. And a Virginia-beed no less. Dare I paraphrase John Dooley and say "Virginia is about to erupt."

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Randy Moss will ascend into another plane of existence. I would just question if 4th of July weekends would be good for TV. Obviously, understandable why Maryland would do this, they can’t even be confident that they get the Derby winner now that the Triple Crown pressure has been off.

If NYRA is pressed for a re-scheduled Triple Crown to be held in July 2024, that would solidify a Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in all likelihood through a revamped Spa meet.

Separately, I asked about the renaming of a stakes for Maple Leaf Mel but the timing is inopportune right now because of other issues and pressing matters at Saratoga. I will re-inquire another time.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, August 12, 2023

• Mark Casse sent out 22 horses at four tracks. He had a rare winless day at his home park of Woodbine but did secure three straight wins in Virginia where he attended racing today.

Saratoga (New York):

• Handle: Neared $30 million.
• Luis Saez rode three winners.
• Mark Casse is 2-for-30 at the meet. His son Norm is 4-for-8.
• Race 1: Tall Paul (Joel Rosario/Bob Baffert), bought for $475,000 which is high for a New York-bred, won in his home state in a race limited to in-state horses. Tall Paul debuted to a 3rd place spot at Del Mar. Time will tell if Baffert has another star in his barn but open company rather than limited to New Yorkers will determine a path. Following the race, Baffert indicated the horse will stay in New York and be under the direction of Tonya Terranova (wife to John) who assists Baffert there.

​

• Race 8: Rhyme Schemes (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Norm Casse) won the $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special. Quite the meet for the young trainer.

​

• Race 9: Casa Creed (Luis Saez/Bill Mott) won the $500,000 Grade I Fourstardave in the exact same time as he did in 2022 -- 1:34.20. It is the fourth straight year the seven-year-old raced in this graded stakes. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

​

Colonial (Virginia):

• Handle: $9.9 million on the track's signature card..
• Mark Casse won three times, all in succession.
• Javier Castellano, who won two graded stakes, and Antonio Gallardo (riders) and Shug McGaughey (trainer) all celebrated two winners.
• Race 8: Gigante (Javier Castellano/Steve Asmussen) was sent off the longest price on the board at 22-to-1 yet won the $500,000 Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes. Gigante was bred in Virginia, home state of Secretariat and in an event held in Virginia for the first time.

​

• Race 9: Fev Rover (Javier Castellano/Mark Casse) was sent off the favorite and won the $500,000 Grade I Beverly D. Stakes in a good battle to the finish. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

​

• Race 10: Set Piece (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) flew like the wind to win the $1,000,000 Grade I Arlington Million.

​

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Emisael Jaramillo is 5-3-1 on his past 10 mounts after a 3-win day.

Thistledown (Ohio):

• Best of Ohio: Five races held $100,000 purses in a Best of Ohio card.
• Race 6: Practicallyelusive (Chelsey Keiser/David Wolochuk) won the $100,000 Miss Ohio Stakes. The jockey is from Ohio.
• Race 7: Diamond Dust (Willie Martinez/Scooter Davis) won the $100,000 Honey Jay Stakes but the biggest story was the bridgejumpers -- check out the show prices:

Del Mar (California):

• Race 6: Dreamfyre (Hector Berrios/O.J. Jauregui), coming out of a maiden race win against the boys at Pleasanton (CA), scored a gate-to-wire victory in the $200,000 Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes.

​

• Race 8: Pastor T (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert) gave the trainer another debut winner. Baffert is a staggering 15 7-2-2 (47%/73%) with 2-year-olds in 2023.
• Race 9: Closing Remarks (Umberto Rispoli/Carla Gaines) won the Grade 2 $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes.

​

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Sahin Civaci, from Turkey via western Canada, rode three winners.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Imagine nailing this? Officially 111-to-1, totes don't exceed 99.

 

[GKJ]

If NYRA is pressed for a re-scheduled Triple Crown to be held in July 2024, that would solidify a Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in all likelihood through a revamped Spa meet.

Separately, I asked about the renaming of a stakes for Maple Leaf Mel but the timing is inopportune right now because of other issues and pressing matters at Saratoga. I will re-inquire another time.

I think they would probably rename another race after her, actually.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert has a $2 million colt and a $950,000 colt squaring off in the Best Pal, race 4 at Del Mar.

Muth vs. Prince of Monaco.

Second time out for both.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Deauville (France):

• Race 5: Inspiral (Frankie Dettori/John & Thady Gosden) earned an automatic starting position into the Breeders' Cup Mile through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. The race was shown in the US on FOX Sports.

​

Saratoga (New York):

• Adam Rice sent out two horses and each returned victorious including a 19-to-1 in the finale. He is a nephew to Linda Rice, part of the big racing clan. He plies his craft at Presque Isle (PA) but has an exceptional lifetime record at Saratoga winning six times with nine starters. Rice is a dazzling 39% in 2023.
• David Jacobsen trained and owned two sizeable winners today at 9-to-1 and 11-to-1.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Race 10: The $.20 Pick 6, known as the Jersey Shore 6, paid over $46,000.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 1: An awesome opener, victory by a nose.

​

• Race 5: Sports Editor (Jevian Toledo/Ned Allard) wired the field in a 1.5 miles race, tough to do considering the distance. Allard, who is 2-for-3 at this meet, has been training since the 1950s including now-defunct places such as Lincoln Downs (RI) and Rockingham Park (NH).

​

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Saffie Joseph sent out three horses and each returned a winner.
• Race 9: Dead-heat for victory including Lord Eddard Starke (Edgar Perez/Joe Orseno) in which the trainer secured his 2,000th lifetime win in a most bizarre finish. Not only was it a dead-heat but due to the delay involving the photo finish, the rider had returned to the dressing room and the horse was unsaddled leading to a winner's circle picture that, according to the trainer, was a first for him (no saddle or jockey) and... no trainer since he was in Kentucky watching his daughter ride ponies.

​

Ellis (Kentucky):

• Card: Good card, large purses and deep fields. And upsets as favorites dropped the last eight races of 10. Maybe that is why the finale took such a long time to price.
• Race 6: Baytown Chatterbox (Tyler Heard/Paul McEntee) rallied at 60-to-1 to win the $150,000 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes. The winner paid $123. The $.50 tri paid over $3600. Heard came to the U.S. earlier this year from the U.K. It is unofficially the first stakes win for McEntee.
• Race 8: Tumbarumba (Rafael Bejarano/Brian Lynch) won the $250,000 Ellis Park Derby. T he $.50 Pick 3 paid over $5,000 and comprised all stakes.
• Race 9: Stage Raider (Brian Hernandez, Jr./Cherie DeVaux) won the Cowboy Jones Stakes at 19-to-1, the longest shot.
• Race 10: Falconet (Gerardo Corrales/Todd Pletcher) won the $150,000 Groupie Doll Stakes at 7-to-1.

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Larry Rivelli sent out three horses and each returned a winner. He is the leading money earner at the track by a large margin and also winning at 31%.
• Race 6: The rare sight of seeing the two longest shots finish 1-2 at 41-to-1 and 34-to-1 was the highlight on the card. The $1 exacta paid $787.20.

Ruidoso (New Mexico):

• Trials: The past three days had cards of 16 races of QH trials in which the locals had an 11:00 am start time. A small track but there seems to be a higher than usual number of prices.

Emerald Downs (Washington):

• Race 6: Jamies Inheritance (Jose Zunino/Charles Essex) won the $50,000 Washington Oaks but also topped a $.50 trifecta that returned a stunning $6,310.70. The tri was comprised at 23-to-1, 39-to-1 and 47-to-1.
• Race 9: Five Star General (Joe Bravo/Grant Forster) won the $150,000 Longacres Mile Stakes. Jersey Joe is one of those jockeys that seemingly is at a different track every weekend. And so it goes...

Del Mar (California):

• Handle: $20 million.
• Juan Hernandez rode three winners. The past two days, he is a remarkable 15 7-2-3.
• Race 2: Three-across the wire in a thriller.
• Race 3: Laurent (Juan Hernandez/Peter Eurton) won in one of the most entertaining finishes of the day rallying from...a different area code or so it seemed.

​

• Race 4: Prince of Monaco (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert), a $950,000 Speightstown colt, defeated stablemate Muth (Juan Hernandez/Bob Baffert), a $2,000,000 purchase, in the $200,000 Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes. Baffert won this race for the 10th time, more than any other trainer. The winner romped by more than four lengths and presumably wants to run longer.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Perry Ouzts, at the age of 69, has a chance to become the fifth winningest rider in history tomorrow with three mounts at Cincinnati's Belterra Park. Ouzts and Saskatchewan's David Gall, who passed away in 2021, have 7,396 wins apiece.

Ouzts had his first mount 50 years ago and got his first win at Beulah Park in Columbus, OH. Awesome that a photo exists. Somewhere the Beulah Twins are ecstatic.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I think they would probably rename another race after her, actually.

That is the universal thought of a few insiders and wily vets I asked.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Belterra (Ohio):

• Lanalikeschoochoos (Perry Ouzts/Larry Smith) gave the rider his 7,397th win which put him in fifth place past David Gall in North America annals.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Saratoga (New York):

• Handle: $11 million.
• Repeat Winners: Junior Alvarado and Joel Rosario riding and Rudy Rodriguez (training).
• Favorites Erased: Only one of nine races was won by the favorite.
• Race 9: The $1 Pick 6 paid an enormous $611,000+ when two 17-to-1 shots were among the winners and each favorite failed. The $.50 Pick 5 returned more than $44,000.

​

​

Belterra (Ohio):

• Perry Ouzts added three wins to his 50+-year career of riding. He finished 4 3-1-0 after winning with his first three mounts. It is virtually impossible for his to climb the leader board anymore since he is 1,500 (approximately) behind fourth place. But nonetheless here is hoping he is riding into his 70s. Ouzts turned 69 last month.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TV and other viewing options for Thursday through Sunday:

Date	Program	Time	Network/Social Media
Aug. 17	"Saratoga Live"	1 p.m.-6:30 p.m.	FS2
Aug. 17	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Aug. 17	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Aug. 18	"Saratoga Live"	1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. on FS2, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on FS1, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on FS2	FS2 and FS1
Aug. 18	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Aug. 18	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Aug. 19	"Saratoga Live" and "FOX Saratoga Saturday"	1 p.m.-3 p.m. on FS2, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. on FOX, 6 p.m.-7 p.m. on FS2	FOX and FS2
Aug. 19	“King’s Plate Preview Livestream”	4 p.m.	Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Aug. 19	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Aug. 19	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Aug. 20	"Saratoga Live"	1 p.m.-6:30 p.m.	FS2
Aug. 20	“King’s Plate Pre-Game Live Show”	3:30 p.m.	Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Aug. 20	Live coverage of horse racing including the King's Plate	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Aug. 20	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saratoga on Saturday (The Alabama is the highlight of the track's weekend):

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$136,500	Maiden Special Weight	6 F	Dirt	8	1:10 PM ET
2	$136,500	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 M	Turf	15	1:42 PM ET
3	$149,500	Allowance	5 1/2 F	Turf	12	2:16 PM ET
4	$42,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	11	2:46 PM ET
5	$149,500	Allowance	6 F	Dirt	9	3:18 PM ET
6	$50,000	Maiden Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	16	3:52 PM ET
7	$200,000	Lake Placid S.	1 1/16 M	Turf	10	4:26 PM ET
8	$162,500	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Dirt	8	5:02 PM ET
9	$600,000	Alabama S. Presented by Keeneland Sales	1 1/4 M	Dirt	10	5:45 PM ET
10	$156,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Turf	14	6:19 PM ET
11	$50,000	Maiden Claiming	5 1/2 F	Turf	16	6:52 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

MSN

For a race about to add the 164th winner to its honor roll, there’s a lot about Sunday’s King’s Plate that feels like a fresh start.​

​

First off, the name. Since its inaugural running in 1860 when Queen Victoria made her first donation of 50 guineas to the race, the Plate has corresponded with the head of the British monarchy.​

​

It operated as the King’s Plate through four monarchs from 1902 to 1951 and, that final year, Major Factor defeated 20 rivals at the track that was last known as Greenwood Racetrack until its closing in 1993. The name returns this year with the ascendency of Charles III to the throne.​

​

There also appears to be a new buzz to the race. After years of decline followed by pandemic restrictions that forced the race under closed doors in 2020 and reduced attendance a year later, Woodbine announced earlier this week that tickets have been sold out. And this comes without a booster event such as the concerts that were on offer a few years ago.​

• LEG ONE: The 164th edition of King's Plate is North America's oldest continually run race.
• LEG TWO: The $400,000 Prince of Wales is at Fort Erie on September 12,
• LEG THREE: The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine on October 1.

The first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown is Sunday at Woodbine.

PP	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Stanley House (ON)	3/C	J Castellano	126	M P De Paulo	4/1
2	Elysian Field (ON)	3/F	S Civaci	121	M E Casse	8/1
3	Philip My Dear (ON)	3/C	D Fukumoto	126	K Attard	30/1
4	Twin City (ON)	3/G	G Boulanger	126	S C Simon	30/1
5	Morstachy's (ON)	3/G	L Salles	126	R E Lafond	50/1
6	Kalik (ON)	3/C	K Kimura	126	C C Brown	3/1
7	Velocitor (ON)	3/G	J Stein	126	K Attard	30/1
8	Wickenheiser (ON)	3/F	R M Hernandez	121	K Attard	12/1
9	Silent Miracle (ON)	3/G	R Munger	126	J Mattine	30/1
10	Midnight in Malibu (ON)	3/C	A Beschizza	126	S C Attard	30/1
11	Touch'n Ride (ON)	3/G	J L Campos	126	L S Giliforte	12/1
12	Cool Kiss (ON)	3/G	E Wilson	126	M P De Paulo	30/1
13	Paramount Prince (ON)	3/G	P Husbands	126	M E Casse	10/1
14	Twowaycrossing (ON)	3/G	A A Gallardo	126	R L Attfield	30/1
15	Kaukokaipuu (ON)	3/C	R W Walcott	126	T Holder	6/1
16	El Cohete (ON)	3/G	E Flores	126	M P De Paulo	50/1
17	Moon Landing (ON)	3/C	L Contreras	126	K Attard	20/1
18	Enjoythesilent (ON) (AE)	3/G	L Contreras	126	K Attard	30/1
19	Runaway Charlie (ON) (AE)	3/C	K Nicholls	126	M J Doyle	50/1

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$111,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 M	All Weather	6	12:25 PM ET
2	$111,600	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	10	12:55 PM ET
3	$65,900	Maiden Optional Claiming	5 1/2 F	All Weather	11	1:25 PM ET
4	$65,900	Maiden Optional Claiming	1 1/16 M	All Weather	9	1:55 PM ET
5	$114,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/8 M	All Weather	8	2:32 PM ET
6	$125,000	Catch A Glimpse S.	6 1/2 F	Turf	11	3:03 PM ET
7	$150,000	Bold Venture S.	6 1/2 F	All Weather	10	3:43 PM ET
8	$125,000	Soaring Free S.	6 1/2 F	Turf	11	4:23 PM ET
9	$200,000	Dance Smartly S.	1 1/16 M	Turf	9	4:58 PM ET
10	$1,000,000	King's Plate S.	1 1/4 M	All Weather	19	5:39 PM ET
11	$111,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	7 1/2 F	Turf	13	6:25 PM ET
12	$111,600	Maiden Special Weight	7 F	Turf	13	6:55 PM ET
13	$55,000	Starter Optional Claiming	1 3/8 M	Turf	13	7:25 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Norm Casse is now 5-for-9 at Saratoga after winning race 2. Winner at 8-to-1.

 

[GKJ]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

^ Laminitis is a horrible ailment.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Saratoga (New York):

• Race 9: Let's Go Big Blue (Jose Lezcano/George Weaver), owned by Bill Parcells, was DQ'd from winning the $125,000 Rick Violette Stakes in favor of Ramblin' Wreck (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Danny Gargan). Violette, a popular trainer, passed away due to cancer five years ago.

​

​

​

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. had a magnificent day at the Spa, winning with his last four mounts and finishing in the money with all eight rides. He ended the day 8 4-2-2. Ortiz is running away from the competition with an 11-win lead among all riders this meet.
• Norm Casse won with his lone starter. The young trainer and son to dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse has a 9 5-0-1 mark this meet.
• Mark Casse and Shug McGaughey, two members of the Hall of Fame, are a combined 56 3-5-4.
• Tyler Gaffalione has 24 wins and his 21% is the best at the meet (tied with Irad Ortiz, Jr.) but he has only seven second-place finishes. A big different not usually seen among a meet's leader.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• McLane Hendricks and David Jacobson are both a perfect 3 3-0-0 at the meet. Both sent out horses today and won. Hendricks just turned 30 and has been riding steeplechase though not in his third year of training. By comparison, Jacobson has been training since the 1970s but was suspended for 25 years by NY Gaming Commission due to improprieties.

Colonial Downs (Virginia):

• Race 3: Cap Classique (Jevian Toledo/Brittany Russell), a filly to Breeders' Cup Classic champ Vino Rosso, had a sweet debut. If Russell has one weakness on her resume, it is debuting on turf but not here. An exceptional outcome, good fight. She should be proud...again. It is just the third win (unofficially) for the young sire who could prove to be a budding star.

​

Hawthorne (Illinois):

• Julio Felix rode four winners including the feature. He had just five rides.
• Race 5: Notary (Julio Felix/Armando Hernandez) won the Outbound Ike Handicap.

Del Mar (California):

• No Repeats: No trainer or jockey won more than once today among the eight races held.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A ton of emotion in California today with the uncertainties growing in northern California and the hopeful, if not expected, fortune in racing in southern Cal. The Stronach Group today stated that it would be willing to extend the life of Golden Gate Fields for six months pending certain conditions. Stronach's hope is that by shuttering the track, a much needed boost to Santa Anita would result. No guarantees with anything. The fair meets in northern Cal could pick up some of the dates once GGF is closed in 2024 but that collective group admittedly can't match what GGF offered.

As of today's latest meeting, southern Cal's 2024 racing dates could be:

• Santa Anita -- Dec. 26, 2023 - late June 2024.
• Los Alamitos through some point in July.
• Del Mar through mid-September
• Los Alamitos for the conclusion of September
• Santa Anita through late October.
• Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup into early December.
• Los Alamitos into late December (presumably until Santa Anita runs Dec, 26, 2024....)

Northern Cal is much more fractious. The battle included whether Cali officials consider northern Cal and southern Cal separate or singular entities. Basically, further discussion will be held as it now appears GGF could run into June 2024. But that is not cemented.

It seems the only thing certain with California these days is that Santa Anita and Del Mar will host consecutive Breeders' Cups.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday's highlight at Del Mar includes the debut of a Bolt d'Oro - Beholder baby named Tamara in Race 7. The dam won more than $6 million in 26 starts covering 18 wins.

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$30,000	Claiming	5 1/2 F	Dirt	8	2:00 PM PT
2	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/8 M	Turf	9	2:35 PM PT
3	$44,000	Claiming	6 1/2 F	Dirt	7	3:08 PM PT
4	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 M	Turf	14	3:45 PM PT
5	$30,000	Claiming	5 1/2 F	Dirt	8	4:15 PM PT
6	$84,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Turf	14	4:45 PM PT
7	$82,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 F	Dirt	10	5:15 PM PT
8	$300,000	Del Mar Oaks	1 1/8 M	Turf	10	5:45 PM PT
9	$32,000	Claiming	1 M	Dirt	9	6:15 PM PT
10	$83,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	11	6:45 PM PT

Beholder filly, Tamara, ready for debut

It has been quite a month for the broodmare, and former champion, Beholder.

www.drf.com

On Saturday, Tamara drew the rail and will be ridden by Mike Smith in a field of 10 in the day’s seventh race. The inside post did not impress trainer Richard Mandella.​

​

“She’s trains pretty good,” Mandella said. “You always hate the one hole with a first-time starter. I think she’ll do well.”​

​

Tamara has had a steady pattern of workouts in recent months, including five furlongs from the gate in 59.20 seconds Aug. 2.​

​

Tamara’s rivals include Hope Road, who closed well in her debut to finish a game second in a maiden race at five furlongs July 22; and the first-time starters Flynn’s Chance, trained by Mandella, and Timely Arrival, trained by Michael McCarthy.​

 

[GKJ]

Apparently he had it in all 4 feet, which I don’t know how common that is. Just never seen it made a point of, so I assume that’s rare much less sudden.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Rain today and rain showers tomorrow (Saturday) at Saratoga Springs. The annually highly anticipated meet has been challenging to say the least. Until the official word later today, I assume no turf racing today.

Erik Johnson (Buffalo Sabres) owns part of a $250,000 horse debuting in today's opener at Saratoga. Corey and Quinn will be ridden by Florent Geroux and trained by Brad Cox.

In the third race, a 3-year-old by superstar Songbird is out for the fourth time. Magical Song (Jose Ortiz/Todd Pletcher) is one of just two progeny that has raced for the young dam. Magical Song is 0-for-3 to date. Songbird won 13 of 15 starts and earned more than $4 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Officially off the turf at Saratoga today (Friday). Per David Greening of the DRF, that is 47 races moved from turf this meet.