Horse Racing News

Four months ago, owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher were probably fairly confident they'd have the the favorite for the Travers. They just never would have believed it might be Stay Thirsty.

Zagora earned her first United States win in five starts when she charged home on the outside to tally convincingly by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes on the Saratoga turf July 30.

Bourbon Bay, the king of the 2010 distance turf series at Santa Anita, stormed down the Del Mar Polytrack, returning to his winning ways in the July 29 $125,000 Cougar II Handicap (Grade 3) in the seaside oval's Friday night feature.

Payton d'Oro, looking for her first win since returning from nearly a year's layoff in March, leads a closely-matched field for the Grade 1, $250,000 Ruffian Invitational at Saratoga July 31.

Locally-based Get Serious has been off form this season but will try to get back to his winning ways when he goes for his third straight victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Oceanport Stakes July 31 at Monmouth Park. A field of 11 was drawn.

On July 31 at Monmouth Park, the son of Forestry will try to stamp himself as the division leader when he leads a field of eight in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational.

A starting berth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is on the line for eight older horses in Del Mar's San Diego Handicap (Grade 2) July 30.

Shackleford arrived at Monmouth Park at about 7:30 a.m. Eastern Wednesday following an overnight van ride from Kentucky in his quest to add the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational to what trainer Dale Romans hopes will be a champion's resume.

The time was slow, the track was dark, and Amazombie was well under the radar in an early-morning workout Wednesday at Del Mar. He may be under-noticed again Sunday as third horse in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby.

Breeders' Cup will conduct the post-position draw for its 15 races on the Monday prior to the two-day event this year, one day earlier than in previous years, the organization announced on Wednesday.