Horse Racing News on July 19, 2013

History was made on day one of Saratoga's sesquicentennial, with the juvenile fillies Bahnah and Brazen Persuasion serving up the first dead-heat victory in 95 runnings of the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville on Friday.

Rebounding from the worst loss of his career in last month's True North Handicap, Michael Dubb and Gary Aisquith's Sage Valley rallied from off the pace to take Friday's Grade 3, $100,000 James Marvin on the opening day program at Saratoga.

Longines Kentucky Oaks victress Princess of Sylmar and Unlimited Budget, who recently ran sixth in the June 8 Belmont Stakes, top a quality field of five sophomore fillies for the $300,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks July 20 at Saratoga Race Course.

Eblouissante, half sister of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, will return to the races July 20 when she aims for her first career stakes win in the $200,000 84 Lumber Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

Lucayan, Barocci, and Jeranimo vainly chased California's top turf miler, Obviously, earlier this summer at Hollywood Park, but theoretically stand a better chance at success in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Eddie Read at Del Mar in that star's absence.

Defending champion Royal Delta tops a field of six entered in Saturday's $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park for trainer Bill Mott. The 1 ¼-mile contest will carry Grade 1 status for the first time since 1989.

Tim O'Donohue's Bashford Manor winner Debt Ceiling, undefeated in three starts for Maryland-based trainer John Robb, looms large over six others in the 99th running of the $200,000 Sanford Stakes July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.

Consistent filly Unusual Way, a stakes winner in her only try on turf, is part of a well-matched field of 3-year-old fillies set to battle July 21 in the $150,000 San Clemente Stakes on the Del Mar lawn.