maidens

SARATOGA SPRINGS--Travers Weekend has been good to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. And not just because he has won the GI Travers Stakes twice--with Flower Alley in 2005 and Stay Thirsty in 2011. The annual blockbuster weekend on the Saratoga Race Course schedule is also known for the 2-year-olds. And Pletcher has had some good ones that have debuted at Midsummer Derby time. On Saturday, it was Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) that emerged as a horse to watch in the future when he won the day's seventh race, a...

6th-SAR, $100k, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, post time: 4:03 p.m. ET Klaravich Stable paid $410,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale for COMPETITIVE MARKET, whose pedigree reads all dirt, being a daughter of Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Authentic out of Cajun Delta Dawn (Kantharos), who took two-thirds of the Florida Stallion Stakes in 2016 and was runner-up in that year's GIII Delta Downs Princess Stakes. The main-track form runs through the entire family, as Cajun Delta Dawn is a half-sister to SW Mom'z Laugh...

2nd-Saratoga, $105,945, Msw, 7-13, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.14, ft, 6 lengths. SUGAR HI (f, 2, Twirling Candy--Laughing Matters, by Medaglia d'Oro) tipped her hand for trainer Bill Mott early off a series of quick drills and was subsequently slammed down from her 8-1 morning line into the 2-1 favorite's role for the first 2-year-old maiden race of the 2023 Saratoga meet. Picked up for just $180,000 out of last year's Keeneland September Sale, the bay broke with intent from her outside draw and was up to press the pace...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a half-brother to a Group 1 winner. 12.35 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 2yo, f, 9fT Jeff Smith's hitherto unraced SPELLBINDER (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is a homebred half-sister to MGSW G1 Prix Ganay placegetter Norse King (Fr) (Norse Dancer {Ire}). In common with that sibling and several...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to dual group winner Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). 1.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 3yo, f, 7fT ENSHRINE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-sister to Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), whose three runs for Cheveley Park Stud and William Haggas last term resulted...