Blood-Horse

Jack Christopher returned to the work tab Aug. 6 at Saratoga Race Course, his first move since a third in the July 23 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

There was unexpected drama in the 19th running of the Troy Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga. None of the crowd of 26,834 that remained at the Spa thought that Golden Pal was going to have a tussle in the 5 1/2-furlong race, his specialty distance.

Tony Lacy would have returned home in any event for ceremonial and networking duties before the Aug. 6 Phoenix Stakes (G1), but has even greater impetus as one of the six declared runners, Persian Force, was bred by his family.

Although Brad Cox was the one wearing the baseball cap, Donegal Racing CEO Jerry Crawford offered a verbal tip of the hat to the trainer as he stood in the winner's circle after the $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T).

A severe lightning and thunderstorm passing through the Mid-Atlantic region forced the Maryland Jockey Club to cancel Laurel Park's live Friday program following the seventh race.

Just a quick glance at her résumé is proof enough that Beholder belongs in the Hall of Fame. And a brief chat with her Hall of Fame trainer, Richard Mandella, will convince any second-guessers.

Goffs and the Dubai Racing Club will again conduct the Dubai Breeze-Up Sale in 2023, following the success of the inaugural sale this March.

Trainer Mike Maker's quest for his 3,000th winner may have hit a bump in the road at Saratoga Race Course but it was smooth sailing at Ellis Park.

The 2022 class of inductees into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame included only two contemporary honorees, both of them equine. But those honorees were champions Beholder and Tepin, ensuring the ceremony was a crowd-pleaser.    

The New York Racing Association announced Aug. 5 that veteran jockey Julien Leparoux is the winner of the 2022 Mike Venezia Memorial Award.

Junior Alvarado has tasted Whitney (G1) victory before. The 36-year-old jockey won the Whitney Stakes in 2014 with Moreno. He'll try for another trip to the winner's circle when he rides Olympiad in the $1 million race on Aug. 6.

Five is a little less than a third of 16 and it's those two numbers that tell the story of Olympiad, the most intriguing horse in the Aug. 6 $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1).

Bradsell puts his unbeaten record on the line against a host of Europe's top juveniles in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1).

Leading jockey Christophe Lemaire supports the concept of disqualification for breaching riding crop rules and has rejected suggestions riders will find it difficult to adapt to the impending changes in Britain.

Fans of the psychedelic rock of the late Janis Joplin won't have to look far to find their favorite in the Aug. 7 $200,000 Adirondack (G3) at Saratoga Race Course. The 2-year-old filly starting from post 5 is named Janis Joplin.

Multiple grade 3 winner Scalding recently suffered a leg injury while pointing toward a start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and has been retired from racing, according to Robert Clay of Grandview Equine.

Ladywearsthering, who sparkled in her debut, steps into the stakes ranks in the CA$150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) Aug. 6 at Woodbine.

Juveniles sired by Florida stallions take the spotlight Aug. 6 at Gulfstream Park when the track hosts two divisions of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes; one race for fillies and another for colts and geldings, both at six furlongs on the main track.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the Adirondack Stakes (G3) at Saratoga a record six times. He is hoping for number seven when he saddles Naughty Gal in the race for 2-year-old fillies on Aug. 7.

Grade 1 wins tend to build a powerful bond between horses and their trainers. Yet for trainer Chad Brown, that weak spot in his heart runs deeper than usual with his top-level  3-year-old turf filly McKulick.