Horse Racing News

Free Fighter won the Stars and Stripes in 2009, but his second victory in the race, a two-length score over Winchester on Saturday at Arlington Park, came under much different circumstances.

When Overdriven rolled to a 3 1/2-length debut victory at Belmont Park on July 1, it evoked memories of Uncle Mo in part because he hails from the same connections. But trainer Todd Pletcher isn't ready to put Overdriven in that category just yet.

The quirky habits that make It's Tricky a well-named filly were on display Saturday morning when, according to her connections, she ran around her stall for 40 minutes before her handlers could get her corralled.

There is but one star in the Stars and Stripes Stakes on Saturday at Arlington, and Winchester will be bet accordingly.

At last year's Saratoga meet, trainer Todd Pletcher won 18 races for 2-year-olds, including two of the three graded stakes run for juvenile fillies.

Grade 1 races have not been kind to Caracoratado this year.

Perhaps the best illustration of how competitive Saturday's CCA Oaks came up is this: linemaker Eric Donovan made Joyful Victory, the 2-1 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks, the 6-1 longest shot in the five-horse field.

Beads of sweat replaced pellets of rain on people's foreheads, and bottled water may have been more advisable than a can of beer as the refreshment of choice to beat the heat, but in the end opening day of Saratoga's 143rd season was pretty cool.

Police say Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has been arrested for investigation of DUI.

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela first came to Del Mar as a fresh-faced, 16-year-old apprentice, and though both he and Del Mar have matured in the three decades since, both retained their youthful enthusiasm on opening day on Wednesday.