Horse Racing News

One week after Hardest Core won the Arlington Million, another son of Hard Spun locked up a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf -- Big John B, who turned Saturday's Grade 2, $201,250 Del Mar Handicap into a rout.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens had the best horse in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes -- but it wasn't the one everyone was betting on.

Artemis Agrotera polished off pacesetter La Verdad mid-stretch and sprinted clear to an overpowering victory in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's The Big Beast jumped up from allowance company to Grade 1 competition and did not disappoint his connections Aug. 23, running down pacesetter Fast Anna with powerful strides to ace the $500,000 King's Bishop Stakes.

Phipps Stable's homebred Abaco came all the way from last to get up by a neck in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga.

Irish Surf, entered in both the Del Mar Handicap and $1 million TVG Pacific Classic this weekend at Del Mar, will opt for the Aug. 24 Classic, trainer Dan Hendricks reported.

Close Hatches took command on the opening turn and never looked back in the $500,0000 Personal Ensign Stakes, romping by five lengths over a muddy track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 22 for her third Grade 1 triumph in a row.

Shared Belief has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the TVG Pacific Classic as the undefeated 3-year-old seeks to prevent older horse Game On Dude from a repeat victory in the $1 million race Aug. 24 at Del Mar.

A quartet of Grade 1 winners will square off in Saturday's 145th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Wildcat Red will show his versatility by cutting back to seven furlongs for the Grade 1, $500,000 King's Bishop on the Travers Day undercard at Saratoga.