Horse Racing News

If Bob Baffert had an extra week to prepare The Factor, he probably would have shipped him to Saratoga for a showdown with Uncle Mo in the Foxwoods King's Bishop.

Without Shoemaker Mile winner Courageous Cat to contend with, the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap Aug. 27 became a much more competitive, though still compact, affair.

As good as she's been during her current five-race winning streak, Romacaca will need to step it up a bit to keep her string alive in the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa Stakes on the Saratoga turf Aug. 27.

Already a dual grade I winner this year, Sassy Image can keep it going for brothers Jerry and Dale Romans in the Grade 1, $250,000 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 27.

Post positions were drawn for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Wednesday evening and a pair of leading contenders -- Grade 1 winners Twirling Candy and Game on Dude -- each received a less-than-favorable outside draw in the 11-horse field.

Get Stormy swept the two major turf stakes for males, the Grade 2 Fourstardave and Bernard Baruch handicaps, during the 2010 Saratoga meeting.

Saturday is Travers day at Saratoga, but even a race as prestigious as the Travers may have to share some of the spotlight on this particular Saturday with the Grade 1 King's Bishop.

The $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sunday will be a day out for the boys.

Whitney Handicap winner Tizway returned to the work tab Wednesday morning, breezing four furlongs in 49.69 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.

Jockey Tyler Baze has attended counseling for alcoholism and has signed an agreement for alcohol testing with the California Horse Racing Board in the aftermath of a failed Breathalyzer test at Del Mar last Friday, according to Del Mar stewards.