Tag: Saratoga

Maracuja (left) outkicked previous unbeaten Malathaat to win last Saturday's CCA Oaks. The two are on a path to tangle again in the Aug. 21 Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. (Image: Elsa Lorieul/NYRA)

After CCA Oaks Upset, We’re Ready for Maracuja vs. Malathaat 3.0

Maracuja and Malathaat put on such a show in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, that you can’t wait to see the rematch between the two 3-year-old fillies. And, it’s looking like we will at the Aug. 21 Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. Trainers for […]

Crystal Ball saw her way to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown. She goes for her fourth win of 2021 in the Grade 3 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga Sunday. (Image: JJ Zamaiko Photography)

Does Crystal Ball’s Future Include an Elusive Graded-Stakes Spa Victory?

Crystal Ball sees her way into Sunday’s Grade 3 Shuvee Stakes a pristine 3-for-3 in 2021. She’s taken those three races on three different tracks in three different states with three different jockeys. Now, the trek toughens. The competition stiffens. And the stakes literally heighten. Named after the Hall of […]

Jolie Olimpica's last victory came 14 months ago in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita. She is one of the favorites in the opening leg of Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5: the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Cross Country Pick 5 Features Familiar Names, International Flavor

Familiar names such as Jolie Olimpica, Split Then Double and Merveilleux, along with promising newcomers like Chileno, Watasha and Volcanic play their parts in Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 wager. This week’s New York Racing Association’s Cross Country Pick 5 comes with international flavor. The wager encompasses races from Saratoga, […]

Malathaat's unbeaten record and versatile running style makes her an odds-on favorite to win the Grade 1 CCA Oaks at Saratoga. (Image: Jamie Newell/TwinSpires.com)

Where Did Everyone Go? Malathaat Scares Off Would-Be CCA Oaks Rivals

If you remember back in May, the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks is the race that Todd Pletcher put on Malathaat’s calendar. This was the race Pletcher and owner of the undefeated 3-year-old circled – as they were crossing off any Belmont Stakes plans. Now, because of Malathaat’s considerable […]

One of the most forthright trainers in the game, Kenny McPeek never blinks from a challenge. This is one reason why he's sending start filly Swiss Skydiver into the Grade 1 Whitney Aug. 7 at Saratoga. (Image: Kenny McPeek)

McPeek Sending Swiss Skydiver Against Colts Again in the Whitney

One of the ways Kenny McPeek made his bones as a trainer was to never doubt himself or his charges. This explains one reason why he plans on running star filly Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. “Someone brought up the word ‘can’t’ to me the […]

Horses under quarantine after a case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 can train on Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track after the rest of the barns get their works in. (Image: Francesca Le Donne)

Saratoga EHV-1 Quarantine Set to End Aug. 1 — If No Further Cases

Horses quarantined as a result of an Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) case in Saratoga’s Barn 86 will be allowed to race Aug. 1, provided there are no further positive cases. The New York Racing Association made the announcement on Tuesday, citing the end of a 21-day quarantine in that barn. This […]

Wit breezed to an eight-length victory in Saturday's Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. He vaulted to the front of 2022 Kentucky Derby prospects, winning his two races by a combined 14 lengths. (Image: Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)

Wit Shows He’s No Joke as a Promising 2022 Kentucky Derby Prospect

It’s never too early to put promising 2-year-olds on your Kentucky Derby radar screen, which is why it’s time to say hello to one of the most promising juveniles of 2021 – Wit. The Todd Pletcher charge graduated to graded stakes champion on Saturday, capturing the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes […]

Harvey's Lil Goil (right) held off Lemista to win the Grade 3 Beaugay in May. The two tangle again in Saturday's Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga. (Image: Coolmore Farm)

Can Brown Hunt Down His Sixth Consecutive Diana Stakes Title?

The main storyline coming to you from this year’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga is what Chad Brown can do for an encore – times five. Yes, Brown owns the last five Diana titles and six overall. You expect Saratoga’s premier turf trainer to win Saratoga’s premier filly and […]

Saratoga plays integral roles in two Saturday exotic wagers: the Cross Country All Stakes Pick 6 and the Cross-breed Pick 5. (Image: NYRA)

Cross Country Wagering Goes Truly Exotic: Meet the Cross-Breed Pick 5

The New York Racing Association’s Cross Country Pick 6, you’re probably familiar with. But for this Saturday’s busy day, how about a Cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5? NYRA and Monmouth Park joined forces for Saturday’s All-Stakes Cross Country Pick 6. That weekly slate isn’t surprising given it’s Haskell Day at […]

Golden Pal makes his 3-year-old debut on Saratoga's opening day Thursday. The standout sprinter is the 1/2 morning-line favorite in the Grade 3 Quick Call. (Image: Coolmore)

Saratoga’s 2021 Season Opens with Fans, Golden Pal’s Return

The long-anticipated 2021 Saratoga Meet opens Thursday, headlined by a familiar name — Golden Pal — making his seasonal debut. The standout sophomore sprinter anchors a deep field of 3-year-olds in the Grade 3 Quick Call. That 5 ½-furlong sprint on the Mellon Turf Course is one of two stakes […]

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert (left), shown here leaving federal court during a Monday hearing, had his indefinite suspension by the New York Racing Association ruled unconstitutional. A Brooklyn judge said the suspension violated the trainer's due process rights. (Image: AP File Photo/John Minchillo)

Judge Rules Bob Baffert’s NYRA Suspension Unconstitutional

On the eve of Saratoga Race Course’s 2021 opening day, a New York federal judge ruled the New York Racing Association’s suspension of Bob Baffert was unconstitutional. That Wednesday ruling by Judge Carol Bagley Amon opens the gate for the Hall of Fame trainer to run his charges at Saratoga’s […]

Authentic (right) held off NY Traffic to win the 2020 Haskell Stakes. That helped the eventual Horse of the Year claim a $1 million bonus for winning three prestigious races.(Image: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

This $1 Million Bonanza is Easy: Just Win Haskell, Travers and BC Classic

Monmouth Park and BetMakers Technology Group announced a $1 million bounty – the BetMakers Bonanza — to any 3-year-old who wins the Haskell Stakes, the Travers Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Just win three of the most prestigious events in American racing. Simple, right? Actually, one horse collected the […]

The pinnacle to date of Simply Ravishing's career came when she and Luis Saez captured the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Churchill Downs last October. The 3-year-old filly came out of a three-month retirement after not going into-foal. (Image: Coady Photography)

Simply Ravishing Back in Training After Failed Breeding Attempt

Standout filly Simply Ravishing returned to training late last month, ending her quick retirement after she failed to get into foal to Into Mischief this spring. Trainer Kenny McPeek announced via Twitter that the Grade 1-winning filly will return to racing in the Aug. 4 Statue of Liberty Division at […]

Just like the last time Del Mar played host to the Breeders' Cup in 2017, the seaside track will open to 100% of capacity. (Image: Sean M. Haffey/Getty)

Saratoga, Breeders’ Cup Opening Gates to 100% of Capacity

Officials from both Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar announced Wednesday that their facilities will open to 100% capacity this year. The NYRA also announced the full reopening of Belmont Park, beginning June 24. The NYRA’s announcements came on the heels of New York Gov. Andrew […]

Fans will be welcomed back to historic Saratoga Race Course this summer. All they have to do is show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access most of the storied track. (Image: NYRA Photo)

NYRA Giving Vaccinated Fans a Shot to See Racing at Saratoga

The New York Racing Association and the State of New York want to give racing fans seeking a seat at storied Saratoga this summer a literal shot in the arm. All eager fans have to do for a shot at visiting the famed track is to get a COVID-19 shot. […]

Malathaat, seen here gaining on her Kentucky Oaks rivals, won't do the same against the boys in the Belmont Stakes. She needs to eat extra oat buckets to gain weight for the summer campaigns. (Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

Undefeated Malathaat Won’t Tease the Boys in the Belmont Stakes

Without a Triple Crown storyline, race fans were salivating at the prospect of filly Malathaat jumping into the Belmont Stakes pool and tangling with the boys in the final jewel of the Triple Crown. But connections for the undefeated filly said Tuesday she will pass up the Belmont. Instead, the […]

Tiz the Law's 2020 Belmont Stakes victory came in front of empty stands at Belmont Park. NYRA has the go-ahead to sell tickets at 20% capacity to the Belmont Stakes and the rest of its Spring Meet. (Image: AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Cuomo Green-Lights Fans at NYRA Racetracks Starting April 23

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo caught the New York Racing Association by surprise on Wednesday when he announced fans could return to the state’s racetracks as early as April 23. That’s one day after Belmont Park’s Spring Meet opens. According to Cuomo’s edict, attendance at the three NYRA tracks, Belmont […]

Saratoga's 40-day 2021 meet features 76 stakes races. The upstate New York track runs Wednesday-Sunday most weeks during the summer. (Image: NYRA)

Saratoga Adds Two Grade 1s to Stakes-Loaded 2021 Meet

The tradition-rich Saratoga Race Course meet just picked up two more tradition-rich races for its 40-day summer meet, which the New York Racing Association announced Friday. The $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup and the $600,000 Flower Bowl move from Belmont Park to the Spa, where they will anchor Saratoga’s […]

Domestic Spending beat Gufo, Decorated Invader and Get Smokin in August's Saratoga Derby. He comes west and faces all three foes again in Saturday's Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. (Image: Coglianese Photos/NYRA)

Del Mar’s Hollywood Derby Provides a Good, Old-Fashioned Turf War

The first thing savvy racing fans notice about Saturday’s Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar is the clash between East and West horses, trainers and jockeys. If there was ever a turf war over where North America’s best turf runners reside, well, the Hollywood Derby should provide the answer. […]