August 3-4

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - August 2-4

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

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St. Nicholas Abbey

GET WELL, NIC!!! 
St. Nicholas Abbey reported to be doing well after suffering a condylar fracture and colic surgery both of which could be life-threatening.  Coolmore TV - St Nicholas Abbey - The Road to Recovery
St. Nicholas Abbey reported to be making positive progress 

Three Grade 1 races in the U.S. this weekend:  The $750,000 Whitney at Saratoga for three year olds and up, and the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar for three year olds and up fillies and mares, both on Saturday; and the $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt for three and up Sprinters on Sunday.

FLASH!  DEL MAR LIVE STREAMED BY DRF SUNDAY:  Click here

Steve Klein picks Vanderbilt, Best Pal and Wonder Where on Sunday

PREVIEW OF WEEKEND HORSERACING
Results from Goodwood
A showdown between English 3-year-olds highlighted this week's racing and presaged a battle for dominance among their American peers.

The coming weekend sees defending Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Fort Larned, back in action in a star-packed renewal of the historic Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday, among other graded stakes.

But how about those sophomores? On Wednesday at "Glorious Goodwood" in England, Toronado finally turned the tables on his 3-year-old rival, Dawn Approach. A Kentucky-based colt won the second jewel of Canada's Triple Crown on Tuesday. And, at Saratoga, the upcoming "Midsummer Derby" looks like the race to decide an American 3-year-old championship -- or at least show the way to one.

On Saturday, Mountaineer Park hosts the Grade II West Virginia Derby and Canterbury Park in Minnesota has the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby.

And that's not all the action in a fun-filled weekend. Fillies and mares are on display in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar. Sprinters tackle 6 furlongs on the Saratoga main track in Sunday's Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and 2-year-olds get a reality check in the Grade II Best Pal on Sunday at Del Mar.

Saddle up and ride, starting with those exciting 3-year-olds.  Read more at source

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UPI Racing Roundup - Review of last weekend
NYRA - Saratoga

HRTV Past the Grandstand: Mike Smith discusses decision to stay with Royal Delta

Races listed below in time ordered format.  Come back here after the race is run to watch the replay at the same link.

UPDATE/SUNDAY: Friday and Saturday race video replays available at the Cards.  Scroll down to end of blog for results of the Maurice de Gheest at Deauville and video replay (Moonlight Cloud wins 3rd straight!)

FEATURED RACES

Stakes Index
Ann Maree's Time Ordered LIST and ENTRIES

FRIDAY

3:41 ET  Caress S, Sar, $100,000g, 3&up, f/m, 5.5f (turf) R6  CARD

10:00 ET  Real Good Deal S (R),Dlmr $200,000g, 3yo, Cal-bred, 7f  R7  CARD

INTERNATIONAL:  Goodwood cards for Friday
5 hour time difference between New York and Great Britain.  First race at 2:05 p.m. or 9:05 a.m. EDT

More info on today's races:
10:00 Tiz a Minister, Omega Star and Raised a Secret all running in the 8-horse field for the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar, a restricted race for 3 year old Cal-breds.

SATURDAY
4:19 ET  Seagram Cup S, WB, G3, $150,000g, 3&up, 8.5f. R8  CARD
5:12 ET  De La Rose S, Sar, $100,000g, 3&up, 8f (turf). R9  CARD
5:12 ET  WVa Governor's S, Mtnr,$200,000g, 3&up, 8.5f. R7  CARD
5:45 ET  WVa Derby G2, Mtnr, $750,000g, 3yo, 9f. R8  CARD
5:45 ET  Whitney Invitationa,l G1,Sar, $750,000g, 3&up, 9f BC. R10 CARD
8:40 ET  Clement L. Hirsch S, G1,Dlmr, $300,000g, 3&up, f/m, 1 1/16 mi R8 CARD

INTERNATIONAL:  Goodwood cards for Saturday - Times posted are Great Britain, 5 hours ahead of New York.

More info on today's races:
Whitney G1 - Saratoga
5:45  Fort Larned heads a list of eight for Saturday's $750,000, Grade I Whitney Invitational at Saratoga.  Field includes Ron the Greek, who finished third, and Successful Dan, who was fourth in Stephen Foster, behind Fort Larned. Mucho Macho Man was second to Fort Larned in the Breeders' Cup, slow to show his form this year. Cross Traffic, making just his fifth start for Todd Pletcher, has finished second in his last two starts.  Alpha makes his second start after returning from Dubai. Csaba has run well in top company. And Fast Falcon has been close in some big ones. Only Discovery, Kelso and Commentator have won the Whitney more than once in its 85 prior runnings

5:45  Departing and Overanalyze headline Saturday's $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. It's the first start since the Preakness for Departing, a War Front colt who won the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.

Clement Hirsch G1 - Del Mar
8:40  Sisterhood comes off a second-place finish in the Grade III Arlington Matron. She will face a lineup of locals that includes Byrama, Include Me Out, Lady of Fifty, Quiet Oasis, More Chocolate and Great Hot.

SUNDAY

4:23 ET  Wonder Where S (R), WB, $250,000g, 3yo, f, 10f (turf). R8
5:12 ET  Alfred G. Vanderbilt H G1, Sar, $400,000g, 3&up, 6f. R9 CARD
8:40 ET  Best Pal S G2, Dlmr, $150,000g, 2yo, 6.5f. R8  CARD

INTERNATIONAL:  Deauville cards for Sunday include Grade 1  Post time: 9:08 EDT
6 hour time difference between France and New York.  I believe the times posted in Racing Post are London time for France.  Check the times at your local service provider.

In the Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, LETHAL FORCE will be trying to string together a record 3 Group 1s, a feat not repeated since the great Dayjur 23 years ago.  MOONLIGHT CLOUD will try for a hat trick of his own in repeating for three wins in the Gheest.
Cox bullish as Force aims to join the greats 

UPDATE:  MOONLIGHT CLOUD WINS THE MAURICE DE GHEEST FOR THIRD STRAIGHT -  Race replay in French