Horse Racing News

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.

A field of 10 older fillies and mares was drawn Wednesday for Saturday's $500,000 Diana, at least one of whom will achieve a career milestone by posting her first Grade 1 win.

There will certainly be many richer and more important races decided over the final five weeks of the 2011 Saratoga session than Monday's $150,000 Lake George Stakes.

J C's Pride established a Saratoga track record for five furlongs on the main track in the third race July 27, lowering the previous mark by 0.17 seconds with a final time of 56.54 seconds.