Horse Racing News

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.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced it will be moving its turf races to the main track through the upcoming weekend after another breakdown on the newly installed course July 31.

A vintage year for California-based three-year-old colts could become even more memorable if Candy Boy makes a successful invasion of Mountaineer for the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby on Saturday.