Horse Racing News

Iotapa is the one to beat in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 2 following her devastating romp in the Vanity Handicap in June.

Trainer Charlie LoPresti said July 31 that two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan will not make his comeback in the Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, an event the 7-year-old gelding has won the past two years.

Will Take Charge and Palace Malice meet again Aug. 2 in the $1.5 million Whitney Handicap, squaring off at Saratoga Race Course as the top two choices in a field of nine drawn for the 1 1/8-mile test.

A strong field of 12 sprinting sophomore fillies has been entered in the Grade 1, $500,000 Test Saturday on the Whitney undercard, and any number in the seven-furlong affair could find themselves in the Saratoga winner's circle at the end.

Eight accomplished older sprinters will contest the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course. Saturday's six-furlong event drew an evenly-matched field headed by True North Stakes winner Palace.

Hambletonian trainer wouldn't mind ruining her father's day

Ron Sanchez will send former hype horse Social Inclusion --coming off a career-worst seventh in the July 27 William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes -- to trainer Chad Brown in hopes of hitting the restart button, the owner announced July 28 via Twitter.

Former maiden claimer Big Macher became a Grade 1-winning sprinter when he denied 3-5 favorite Goldencents by half a length in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar July 27.

Kaleem Shah's Bayern ran them off their feet July 27 in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational, taking eight other sophomores gate-to-wire at Monmouth Park. Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable, favored at 7-5, finished fifth.

Michael J. Bruder's Guys Reward mowed down gallant front runner Fredericksburg in Sunday's Grade 3, $170,000 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth, notching his fourth career stakes victory.