Del Mar started last week, and East Coast racing fans get their summer groove on with the opening of Saratoga on July 29th.
The competitive 10-race opening day card is highlighted by the Grade 3 Schuylerville for two-year-old fillies.
Thirteen fillies are entered for the graded juvenile sprint contest, and early-pressing types dominated at this six furlong distance last year.

Hot Dixie Chick is the inside speed and could easily run the other early runners into the ground. She earned triple digit pace and speed ratings in June maiden tally in Kentucky.
Cowgirl Mally looked good in her Churchill bow, and …read more

A matchup between Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and undefeated champion mare Zenyatta is becoming increasingly unlikely by the minute.
According to recent reports, Zenyatta’s owner Jerry Moss does not want to ship to face Rachel because the Breeders’ Cup will be held in his backyard. You can blame BC officials since they opted to hold the Cup at Santa Anita for two straight years.

Mr. Moss did leave the door open a crack regarding a meeting after the Cup. “We may run against the boys at some point, and we’re open to meeting Rachel Alexandra perhaps after the Breeders’ …read more

Saratoga rewind (July 26th)
It was a great day of racing on Saturday. Johnny V pulled off the hat trick, and Edgar Prado booted home a pair of upset winners on the 11-race card…
Race 2: $1.7 million Pletcher firster Munnings bested green Zito FTS Just A Coincidence in this juvenile MSW event. 6f in 1:09.84.
Race 3: Shug blueblood Baronial (Kingmambo-Personal Ensign) finally graduated on the weeds. He is slowly improving and beat a decent field, including promising Mott firster Intercoastal.
Race 7: Forever Together came from last to upset the Diana (G1) for Jonathan Sheppard. Mott’s Dynaforce ended up a clear …read more

July 25th Saratoga recap
The track was fast and the stakes feature was contested on the turf at Saratoga on Friday. Early/pressing types (2 wire jobs) had a good day on the main, and stalker My Princess Jess nabbed the grass feature. Hat trick for Eibar Coa.
Race 6: A real slugfest between Real Estate, Aquino, and Visible Truth. They were 1-2-3 all the way around and hooked up in an exciting stretch duel, with Rel Estate a head better than Aquino, with Visible Truth another nose back in 3rd. It was Bruce Levine over Kiaran McLaughlin over Steve Asmussen. Kudos …read more

Saratoga Day 2 recap (July 24th)
Another off track at the Spa on Friday. Main track played fair with a trio of wire jobs in sprints. Elvis Trujillo/Wesley Ward teamed up for a pair of winners, and they just missed the hat trick by a 1/2 length when Easy Ashley got run down late in the 6th. Johnny V booted home a pair, and Steve Asmussen added another win to go with his three on opening day.
Race 7: Graded 3yo winner Visionaire took advantage of a rapid pace to down older 6.5f sprinters. Knights Cross did all of the dirty …read more

Showers and storms lead to a sloppy, sealed main track and no turf on opening day at the Spa. Early/pressing types off the rail fared well, with a trio of wire jobs on the day. Alan Garcia and Cornelio Velasquez both booted home a pair, and kudos to Steve Asmussen saddling a trio of winners. Two wins for Richard Dutrow on the card…
Race 9: Overbet fav (Asmussen) Ocean Colors (Winning Colors) flashed speed on the slower inside but spit the bit (last). She had a muscle spasm as a legit excuse for her poor performance. My top choice Collegiate made …read more

A trio of wire jobs in 4 sprints, and a pair of off the pace winners at a flat mile made up the Polytrack winners on Monday at Del Mar. The turf route was was by an off the pace type, and the 5f turf sprint was nabbed by an early/pressing runner.
Bejarano and Rosario both booted home a pair, and keep an eye on NoCal trainer Bill Morey. He saddled a winner in Sunday’s finale, and he struck again in Monday’s 3rd. Garrett Gomez got back on the beam with 5th race winner Lady Schnapps.
Wednesday’s racingonthenet free pick …read more