LET'S GO TO THE RACES - August 18-19

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 

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www.cleanhorseracing.com

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HIGHLIGHTS:

SIX GRADE 1 RACES IN THE U.S. Three at Arlington Park, two at Saratoga and one at Del Mar.

THE ALABAMA:  
Since the powers of summertime racing decided to hold their marquee events for 3-year-old fillies on the same warm August afternoon, why not compare and contrast.

The Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is a mile and one-quarter test on the main track for a purse of $600,000, with $360,000 to the winner.

The Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar is a mile and one-eighth on the grass course for a purse of $300,000, with $180,000 going to the winner.

The Alabama was first run in 1872, at a time during which the real state of Alabama was in the throes of the turbulent Reconstruction Era following the failed rebellion by the South.

The Del Mar Oaks was not unveiled until 1957, better known as the dawn of the Space Age, when the U.S.S.R. launched its first unmanned Sputnik satellite.

The Alabama is named in honor of William Cottrell, a captain in the Confederacy and horse breeder from Mobile who stood the stallion Daniel Boone, a full brother to Kentucky, winner of the first Travers Stakes in 1864. When asked if the top filly race of the meet could carry his name, Capt. Cottrell supposedly demured in favor of his home state. William Travers, who was born in Maryland and owned Kentucky (the horse), was not quite so shy.

The Del Mar Oaks is named for a tree.  Read more at source...

AMERICAN ST. LEGER - NEW STAKES UNVEILED AT ARLINGTON PARK

With the dearth of true marathon distance events in North American racing, Arlington Park enhanced its International Festival of Racing program in 2012 by inaugurating the $400,000 American St. Leger at 1 11/16 miles on the turf Aug. 18.

Judging by the response at the entry box for Saturday’s event with 12 runners, the new race looks to be a hit.  Read more at source...

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Just want a simple list of the races, time ordered?  Click here
How about a Time Ordered list with the Entries?    Click here 

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - August 3-5

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 

www.FollowHorseRacing.com
www.helloracefans.com/
www.cleanhorseracing.com
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FLASH!   DRF LIVE STREAMING Saturday's card at Mountaineer - Click here

Also, check your local listings for FOX SPORTS, which will cover the West Virginia Derby between 5-6 pm EDT.

NYRA Mid-week report - Andy Serling, Richard Migliore recap last weekend's racing action.  Click here

HIGHLIGHTS:

FOUR GRADE 1 races highlight this weekend's racing activity:

SATURDAY: First, at Saratoga, the Grade 1 PRIORESS will feature most of the players from the Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont last month, including the surprise 39-1 winner, EMMA’S ENCORE. Along with this filly will be TU ENDIE WEI, who was third in their last meeting, and AGAVE KISS, who will be trying to overcome her shocking 5^th place finish in the Victory Ride, suffering her only loss in a 7-race career.

Next, also at Saratoga, the Grade 1 WHITNEY INVITATIONAL HANDICAP, featuring many recognizable names, including RON THE GREEK, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster is the morning line favorite; CAIXA ELETRONICA, who won the Charles Town Classic and the True North; FLAT OUT, HYMN BOOK, RULE, ENDORSEMENT, FORT LARNED, TRICKMEISTER, all are capable of turning in a winning effort.

The Grade 1 CLEMENT L. HIRSCH Stakes at Del Mar will see SWITCH (Quiet American) return to two-turns in the 1 1/16 mi Grade 1 race, after her impressive win in the A Gleam last month. STAR BILLING, the Dynaformer filly trained by John Shirreffs, is co-highweight with AMANI, the Chilean sensation, who won 10 of 11 starts in Chile, and will be making her U.S. debut in the Hirsch. Now trained by Neil Drysdale, Amani won stakes at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 3/8 miles. INCLUDE ME OUT, who won the Santa Margarita Invitational S., the La Canada S., and the Marjorie L Everett H., with a second in the Vanity, all this year.

SUNDAY: The Grade 1 ALFRED G. VANDERBILT will see SHACKLEFORD try 6 furlongs for the first time, in a prep for the Forego Stakes. While Shackleford is clearly the horse to beat, others who could challenge himinclude JUSTIN PHILLIP (half-brother to Algorithms), and JERSEY TOWN.

Also on Saturday, MOUNTAINEER has an all-stakes card, including the Grade 2, WEST VIRGINIA DERBY, featuring the Juvenile Champion HANSEN, who will be ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith. Complete with his blue-tipped tail, Hansen will face some competition in HERO OF ORDER, LE BERNARDIN, MORGAN’S GUERILLA, Z CAMELOT, MACHO MACHO, BOURBAN COURAGE, and three others in what promises to be an exciting race. As the only Grade 1 winner in the race, Hansen is eligible for a $150,000 bonus with a win.

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - JULY 25 - 29

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 

www.FollowHorseRacing.com
www.helloracefans.com/
www.cleanhorseracing.com
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FLASH!   DRF LIVE STREAMING Sunday's Saratoga Card - Click here

HIGHLIGHTS:

FRIDAY
COUGAR II:  RICHARD'S KID, the 7 year old who was considered one of the favorites in 2009 in the Breeders Cup Classic that Zenyatta won, yep he's still around and not doing too badly for himself. He has a bankroll of $1.9 Million, and he gets in the winner's circle or close to it quite often. Dynamic Host and Balladry have faced Richard's Kid before, most recently in the Prove It, where they came in second and third. They are part of a six-horse field in the Cougar II, but their trainers are not optimistic about their chances. Asked what it would take to beat Richard’s Kid, Eoin Harty, who trains Balladry, said, "An act of God." Maybe this is Richard's Kid's time to win this one. He will have to work for it though: he's giving up from 3 to 10 pounds to his rivals! The race goes off at 10:00 EDT/7:00 PDT at Del Mar.

Richard's Kid dominates rivals in Cougar II - REPLAY VIDEO

FLY LEXIS FLY (KY) is also entered in the COUGAR II! He will be making his eagerly anticipated U.S. debut for trainer Neil Drysdale. Fly Lexis Fly made a name for himself in Peru as a two year old when he won 2 legs of the Peruvian Triple Crown running against 3 yr olds.  The Cougar II is a 1 1/2 mile, Grade 3 event for 3 yr olds and up. Fly Lexis Fly has won at the 1 1/4 mi and 1 1/2 mile distances at two in Peru.

SATURDAY

The DIANA:  ZAGORA won the Diana Stakes (G1T) in 2011, but the 5-year-old mare faces a steep challenge this time around at Saratoga Race Course as TAPITSFLY, WINTER MEMORIES, HUNGRY ISLAND and two European invaders join the fray. Zagora in tough battle to defend Diana title   Ten Things to Know about the Diana Stakes

The JIM DANDY: Watch Claire Novak and Pete Denk handicap this great renewal. That Handicapping Show with Claire Novak and Pete Denk  Past Performances from Brisnet: Past Performances for Jim Dandy   ALPHA, LIAISON, MY ADONIS, TEETH OF THE DOG, PROSPECTIVE and NECK ‘N NECK. A deep, competitive field of eight will face off in the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G 2 II) July 28 at Saratoga Race Course to determine who continues to the $1 million Travers Stakes (G I) Aug. 25. Read more at BloodHorse

Maybe we need to call the SAN DIEGO HANDICAP the "come back is possible " or the "hard luck horses" stakes! A couple have been away for more than 2 years, and others just haven’t had much luck getting to the winner’s circle!

TAKE CONTROL, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar.  Then, there’s JOHN SCOTT, who has looked good in three starts this year, winning his past two and defeating Rail Trip by a half-length last time. The 5-year-old son of Bertrando had been away since finishing fourth in the 2009 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) as a 2-year-old.  Seven-year-old TRES BORRACHOS ended a 13-race losing streak when he made a late charge to win last year's San Diego by 1 1/4 lengths. But the Ecton Park gelding has lost eight in a row since!  Grade I winner RAIL TRIP was a strong second to San Diego foe John Scott in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Hollywood June 28. The 7-year-old Jump Start gelding hasn’t been to the winner’s circle in eight starts since June of 2010.  PRAYER FOR RELIEF, KETTLE KORN, and MOBILIZED round out the field of seven horses for the San Diego, the eighth race on the Saturday Del Mar program with an approximate 5:30 p.m. PDT post time.  Read more at BloodHorse

SUNDAY

The HASKELL   Paynter heads $1 Million Haskell     Ten Things to know about The Haskell   Bob Baffert has won the race a record five times with horses such as Point Given, Lookin At Lucky, and Coil. This time out, it’s PAYNTER, an unlucky second in the Belmont, who will be the favorite and will start from post 3.  Team I’ll Have Another will be sending out the longshot, HANDSOME MIKE: "I don't know if anyone could replace the excitement of I'll Have Another," said trainer Doug O'Neill, who joins familiar forces with owner Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez to send out maiden winner Handsome Mike for a longshot at the big-time. The son of Scat Daddy last raced fourth in the Vinery Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park March 24, but put in what O'Neill called "an unbelievable work" July 21 at Betfair Hollywood Park, going six furlongs handily in 1:11 3/5.

BING CROSBY

Sprint champion AMAZOMBIE and THE FACTOR will duke it out one more time in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I), the headline event at Del Mar July 29. Just five are entered in the six-furlong Polytrack race, which is the eighth on the Sunday program with a scheduled 5:30 p.m. PDT post. Another familiar face will be COMMA TO THE TOP who could keep The Factor company on the front end, will be gunning for his first stakes win since taking the CashCall Futurity (gr. ) in December 2010. Peter Miller has raced the Florida-bred 4-year-old Bwana Charlie gelding on turf in his last three races, including a third last time in the six-furlong Robert B. Kerlan Memorial Handicap July1 at Hollywood. Comma to the Top was scratched from an allowance race July 26 to run in the Crosby.  Read more at BloodHorse