Horse Racing News on August 2, 2014

Trainer plays double duty in Hambletonian victory

Even-money choice Iotapa made it consecutive Grade 1 scores with her victory in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 2 at Del Mar, but was all out to get the job done with jockey Joe Talamo.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tapiture overcame a troubled trip and a lost shoe to gamely defeat a determined Candy Boy at the wire to take the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 2.

New York-bred Palace, formerly a $20,000 claimer, earned his first Grade 1 victory for owner Antonino Miuccio and trainer Linda Rice in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.

Favored Sweet Reason registered her third lifetime Grade 1 victory when she came from well off the pace to capture the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.

Eric Guillot attended the post-position draw for the $1,500,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap wearing a shirt that said "I Got Haters Everywhere," but those who bet Moreno loved the Cajun trainer after his speedster stole the show Aug. 2 at Saratoga.

Morton Fink's two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan worked five furlongs in 1:02.04 on the Saratoga Race Course main track Aug. 2, as trainer Charlie LoPresti continues to weigh his options for a comeback race.

Del Mar announced Aug. 1 that it will eliminate turf sprints and no longer conduct grass claiming races during the current meet as part of its response to a rash of injuries on the new course, which was installed this past winter.