One final installment – at least until the fall – of The Saturday Special before our team rolls out the first edition of The Saratoga Special next week with the opening of Saratoga Race Course.
The team is ready to roll, thanks in part to already producing four editions during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The sign is up, office set and stories to be written. The first edition of The Special rolls off the press in time for Opening Day Thursday.
Before all of that we wrap the Churchill meet, look ahead to Stars and Stripes Day at Belmont at the Big A and give an update on a few other doings in the racing world. Here we go, The Saturday Special for July 6. Enjoy and good luck.
See you next week.
By the Numbers
5: Wins by jockey Flavien Prat Thursday at Aqueduct.
2.4 million: Dollars in non-stakes purses on offer at the upcoming Colonial Downs meeting
46: Virginia-restricted races in the first condition book for the Colonial meeting.
703.3 million: Total wagering during the 2024 spring-summer meeting at Churchill Downs, a record that topped the 2022 mark of $614.8 million.
368.8 million: Total wagering for the 2014 Churchill spring-summer meet.
1,030,704,162: Wagering in dollars on U.S. races in June, up 10.3 percent from June 2023 according to statistics from Equibase Co.
5,950,403,261: Wagering in dollars on U.S. races through the first six months of 2024, down 2.1 percent from last year.
Names of the Day
Is It Five. Laurel Park. Race 3. Owner/breeder Richard Blue nailed this one. The Maryland-bred is by Hangover Kid.
Gypsy Style. Monmouth Park. Race 4. The New Jersey-bred is by Hoppertunity out of Hitchin.
Save The Trees. Prairie Meadows. Race 6. The 3-year-old is by Preservationist out of Canopy Lane.
More Than A Flash. Century Mile. Race 9. The Alberto-bred 3-year-old is by Big Lightning.
Handicapper’s Corner
One final quiz this week before the exams begin next week with the start of the Saratoga Race Course meeting. The Saratoga Special handicappers, ready for the 40-day stand upstate, take on the Stars and Stripes card from Belmont at the Big A this week, in search of more winners and some “shipping money” as they used to say.
Last week’s winners included Mugen, the $15.38 winner of the fourth race and tabbed on top by Charles Bedard.
Here are the picks for Saturday at Belmont at the Big A. Good luck.
John Shapazian (44/199):
1-Tiz Freedom, Showcase, Protected.
2-Save The Trees, Billal, Domestic Product.
3-Run Curtis Run, Senbei, Script.
4-Play Good Pay Good, You’re Forever, Grammy Girl.
5-Kneedeepinsnow, Gentleman Joe, Digital.
6-Legend Of Time, White Palimino, Royal Majesty.
7-Safalow’s Mission, Andy Cant, Refuah.
8-Mullikin, Everso Mischievous, Prevalence.
9-Cinderella’s Dream, Segesta, Secret Satire.
10-Torigo, Alexis Zorba, Dissolved.
11-Klaravich entry, Livehappy, Cuando.
Tom Law (49/199):
1-Showcase, Tiz Freedom, Jerry’s Out.
2-Domestic Product, Billal, Hades.
3-Run Curtis Run, Senbei, Script.
4-Low Society, Five To Two, Play Good Pay Good.
5-Gentleman Joe, Kneedeepinsnow, Amundson.
6-Legend Of Time, Trikari, Endlessly.
7-Vespucci, Andy Cant, Sefalow’s Mission.
8-Everso Mischievous, Mullikin, Prevalence.
9-She Feels Pretty, Cinderella’s Dream, Segesta.
10-Alexis Zorba, Capture The Flag, Torigo.
11-Klaravich entry, Side Eye, Cuando.
Charles Bedard (46/199):
1-Showcase, Protected, Tiz Freedom.
2-Domestic Product, Billal, Save The Trees.
3-Looks Boldly, Cees Get Degrees, Script.
4-Low Society, Play Good Pay Good, Five To Two.
5-Amundson, Gentleman Joe, Kneedeepinsnow.
6-Trikari, Endlessly, White Palomino.
7-Andy Cant, Camm’ Duke, Bobby The Tank.
8-Coastal Mission, Mullikin, Everso Mischievous.
9-Dynamic Pricing, Cinderella’s Dream, Segesta.
10-Torigo, Victors Valiant, Paddington.
11-Light The Way, Tap To Mischief, Brown entry.
Rob Whitlock (33/187):
1-Showcase, Tiz Freedom, Cyclone State.
2-Domestic Product, Billal, Save The Trees.
3-Run Curtis Run, Script, Senbei.
4-Play Good Pay Good, Low Society, Five To Two.
5-Gentleman Joe, Kneedeepinsnow, Munson.
6-Endlessly, Legend Of Time, White Palomino.
7-Vespucci, Camm’Duke, Andy Cant.
8-Everso Mischievous, Ninetypercentmaddie, Millikan.
9-Fun With Flags, Cinderella’s Dream, She Feels Pretty.
10-Capture The Flag, Victors Valient, Alexis Zorba.
11-Brown entry, Prospero, Side Eye.
Bets of the Day
Haydock. Race 2. 9:05 a.m. My Noble Lord (14-1) can make it three in a row on the step up in grade. We’ll box exactas and trifectas with the favorite and Tryfan (14-1).
Sandown. Race 3. 9:25. We’ll try again with Metal Merchant (6-1). The son of Make Believe had us believing at Royal Ascot before fading late. This should suit him better.
Sandown. Race 6. 11:12. Midnight Rumble (8-1) can make it two in a row.
Worth Repeating
“We’ve always thought a lot of her and Stonestreet always allows you to do the right thing by the horse. Patience paid off today and we’re very proud of what she’s accomplished. We’re looking forward to hopefully being on to bigger and better things.”
Trainer Brad Cox on Thursday’s Victory Ride Stakes winner Emery
“He’s awesome. He is a beautiful individual. He just has so much class. He’s still a stud so he is a big, burly colt. I sent the owners a video yesterday, we had him out in the round pen rolling on the shank. He’s just such a kind horse to be around.”
Trainer Lacey Gaudet on Storm The Court
“We’ll digest this and take her up to Saratoga next week and let her enjoy being up there for a little bit. The De La Rose is probably the logical move.”
Trainer Jonathan Thomas on Thursday’s Perfect Sting winner Mouffy
NYRA rolls out plans for winter racing at Belmont Park
The New York Racing Association announced plans for the future utilization of the all-weather Tapeta track at the new Belmont Park. Currently under construction and expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025, the one-mile oval will become the exclusive winter racing surface on the NYRA circuit when the Belmont facility re-opens in 2026.
Although race dates for 2026-27 are still to be determined, NYRA anticipates this change will amount to approximately three months of racing exclusively on an all-weather surface. This reflects NYRA’s commitment to improving all aspects of winter racing at the new Belmont Park. Shifting from dirt to the all-weather in the winter months will enhance equine safety and provide additional opportunities for NYRA’s year-round horse population for the benefit of the state’s thoroughbred racing ecosystem.
“At its core, our vision for the new Belmont Park is centered around modernizing racing and training facilities in ways that will ensure the sport’s continued success and future growth,” said Dave O’Rourke, NYRA President and CEO. “NYRA has closely tracked the evolution and application of synthetic surfaces, and the relevant data unequivocally supports a shift to the all-weather surface during the winter months.
“Together with the renovated main track and two new turf courses, Belmont Park will provide a multitude of quality options for both training and racing throughout the year. We will continue to work closely with New York’s horsemen and breeders to ensure a smooth transition as the new facility takes shape.”
For additional information on the ongoing transformation of Belmont Park, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/about/facility-details.
Prat earns Jockey of the Week honors
For top jockey Flavien Prat, a trip to Churchill Downs for their closing weekend from his New York base proved productive and profitable. With mounts in five of the weekend’s 11 stakes races, Prat won a total of three leading the panel of racing experts to vote Prat Jockey of the Week for June 24-30.
The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
As for the races …
Sandown. Race 2. 8:50 a.m. The Group 3 Coral Charge kicks off the stakes on a stellar day at Sandown. Good luck Ryan and Ilana!!!
Sandown. Race 3. 9:25. Come on Metal Merchant. One time in the Coral Challenge, a 1-mile handicap with a 24-pound spread from Cicero’s Gift to Magic Memories.
Haydock. Race 3. 9:40. Another strong Saturday production from Haydock. Tiffany for Sir Mark Prescott seeks her seventh win in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks.
Sandown. Race 4. 10:00. Three-year-old fillies clash in the listed Coral Distaff. Juddmonte goes double handed with Clove Hitch and Indelible.
Sandown. Race 5. 10:25. The race of the day. The Horse of the Year. The Derby Winner City Of Troy returns for the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse.
Belmont at the Big A. Race 1. 12:35 p.m. Stars and Stripes card kicks off with 2-year-old maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs. Rev up, we’ll see a lot of these starting in a week.
Belmont. Race 2. 1:04. Hades and Domestic Product, 1-2 in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, meet again in the Grade 3 Dwyer. The latter also outfinished that foe last time out when second in the Pegasus at Monmouth. Short field for opening stakes also features Billal.
Horseshoe Indianapolis. Race 4. 1:52. Hidden Connection exits graded company for $100,000 Mari Hulman George Memorial Handicap.
Belmont. Race 6. 3:08. Godolphin unleashes Legend Of Time against the Amerman Racing duo of Trikari and Endlessly in Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational.
Delaware Park. Race 6. 3:10. Style Points ships from New York and Whiskey Decision makes the short journey from Fair Hill for the $150,000 Christiana for 3-year-old fillies on the grass.
Delaware. Race 7. 3:42. Super Chow, winner of the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint, takes on eight others in the $125,000 Alapocas Run.
Belmont. Race 8. 4:11. Not many blemishes on Everso Mischievous’ record and he looks tough from the rail in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud. Named for one of the absolute legends of the game, 7-furlong stakes also features Prevalence, Mullikin and Coastal Mission.
Delaware. Race 8. 4:15. Field of 12 3-year-olds for the $150,000 Kent Stakes on the grass.
Belmont. Race 9. 4:42. Europeans Cinderella’s Dream, Secret Satire and Fun With Flags take on strong U.S. contingent of She Feels Pretty, Dynamic Pricing and Segesta in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational.
Delaware. Race 9. 4:46. Power Squeeze, third in the Grade 1 Acorn last time out behind Thorpedo Anna, looks tough in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. Don’t count out Juddmonte’s Sidamara for trainer Bill Mott.
Horseshoe Indianapolis. Race 11. 6:04. Juddmonte’s Impel, third in the Grade 1 Ashland and second in the Grade 2 Eight Belles, stands out in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks in her return to two turns. Band Of Gold, Neon Icon and Chatalas could give her a run.
Horseshoe Indianapolis. Race 12. 6:41. Stronghold returns to the Midwest. Winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and seventh after looming large in midrace in the Kentucky Derby, son of Ghostzapper looks to get back to winning ways in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby.
Los Alamitos Race Course. Race 9. 8:08. Sweet Azteca won the Grade 1 Beholder Mile in her most recent start and looks to add another prize in Southern California in the Grade 2, $200,000 Great Lady M.
Prairie Meadows Race Track. Race 7. 9:39. Impel, cross-entered at Horseshoe Indianapolis, would loom large in the $225,000 Iowa Oaks. If she doesn’t run, Deviletta and In Just My Heels might duke it out.
Prairie Meadows. Race 8. 10:08. Just A Touch, last of 20 in the Kentucky Derby and finishing second in the Grade 3 Gotham and Grade 1 Blue Grass, returns for Brad Cox in the $250,000 Iowa Derby.
