Horse Racing

Carlos Morales of Agentes 305, whose horse racing videos have garnered more than six million views over three social media platforms, was named the recipient of the 2024 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of last year's TVG.com Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park said in a Wednesday release. Morales, who started Agentes 305 in 2019 to highlight horse racing through video interviews with owners, trainers, jockeys and backstretch workers, produces videos in both Spanish and English on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. "I started this with the idea of highlighting...

Trainer Joe Taylor, a longtime fixture at Parx and the leading trainer there in 2019, has received an eight-year suspension handed down by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), after he had two horses test positive for banned substances. The story was first reported by Matt Hegarty of the Daily Racing Form. Taylor received a pair of four-year suspensions, one for each horse. According to postings on the HIWU website, the Taylor-trained Classy American (Uncle Lino) tested positive for Methylphenidate and Clenbuterol following a June 20 race at Parx....

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the horses entered for Thursday at Saratoga: Thursday, July 18, 2024 Saratoga 6, $100k, 2yo, f, 5...

Rider Emily Ellingwood straightened Night Beacon (Spun to Run) for her stretch run, then banked the young filly for the gallop out. All the while she allowed her mount--who moved like a western pleasure horse--to feel the ground beneath her during what was becoming a regular workout late in 2023. But it wasn't a nicely-groomed all-weather surface the pair were traveling over. No, the terrain was undulating and severe. Among the flora was fauna which included snakes and coyotes. There's no renovation break amid the rock and earth here. True,...

Making his first start since gallant third behind Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 30, Pandagate (Arrogate) saved his best for last and outfought slightly favored Doc Sullivan (Solomini) to take Monday's New York Derby at Finger Lakes. The strapping gray colt, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Feb. 25 Gander Stakes that earned him a ticket to Dubai, the $130,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred yearling was void of early speed and sat fifth of the six runners behind a moderate pace for the...

With temperatures expected in the high '90s, Parx has canceled its racing card for Tuesday. The Pennsylvania track held live racing Monday and racing is expected to resume again Wednesday with a first post time of 12:40 p.m.

3rd-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 7-15, 2yo, 5f, :59.70, ft, 4 lengths. MAYBE EYE'LL CALL (c, 2, Improbable--You Caught My Eye, by Can the Man) became the first winner for his sadly departed stallion (by City Zip) with an easy second-out success. Facing considerably easier competition after finishing 10th in his June 20 unveiling at Churchill Downs, the 7-10 chalk was able to avoid  a messy start caused by the veering-in Govenor Hank (Govenor Charlie), was nursed along on the front end and proved four lengths best on the wire. You...

5th-Ellis, $70,760, Msw, 7-15, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:00.80, fm, nose. ELLEN JAY (f, 3, Constitution--Covfefe {Ch. Female Sprinter, Ch. 3yo Filly, MGISW, $1,110,025}, by Into Mischief) became the first winner for her two-time Eclipse Award-winning dam while trying the turf for the first time in her career. The beaten favorite when fourth on Churchill debut May 11 and when a distant third in Louisville June 8, the homebred was the 5-4 chalk and was off a touch slowly, but recovered to be a forward factor while deep on the...

Having resisted the urge to take up an assignment at Royal Ascot after making a successful racecourse debut in the May 11 Royal Palm Juvenile Turf, D J Stable's Bullet  (War Front) switched to a synthetic surface for Saturday's My Dear S. and posted an equally eyecatching success. Drawn gate seven, the $425,000 Keeneland September yearling raced in a share of fourth and four off the inside into the turn. Forced to concede ground as Carlisle Bay began to get away at the five-sixteenths, Bullet easily gathered that one up...

After four straight appearances against open turf sprinters, Godolphin's Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) returns to her own age group as the likely odds-on favorite for Sunday's GIII Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga. A two-time winner and Group 2 placed at two in England, the homebred filly wintered in Dubai, defeating a very good horse in the form of Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the G2 Blue Point Sprint Jan. 26 before finishing second in the G3 Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday and third to California...

Oaklawn Park President Louis Cella will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 Global Symposium on Racing at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort this December. Under Cella's leadership, Oaklawn has consistently expanded its racing footprint by lengthening the racing schedule, building a $100-million casino/hotel and by introducing fan-friendly entertainment options, leading to increased attendance and handle. "Under Mr. Cella's leadership, Oaklawn expanded their racing season into December while keeping both their on-track and simulcasting business strong," said Robert Hartman, Race Track Industry Program Chair. "Their racing product continues to strengthen as...

Twirling Queen (Twirling Candy) made it four wins from as many starts as a 3-year-old and remained perfect in two appearances on the grass, posting a comfortable victory in Friday's Coronation Cup Stakes at Saratoga. With 9-5 morning-line favorite Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) scratching in favor of Sunday's GIII Quick Call Stakes, the Coronation Cup shaped a more open affair, and Twirling Queen put herself right into the mix early just off the pace disputed by Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), the 9-4 choice, and Toupie (Uncle...