Proud Nicholas tops a field of eight 3-year-olds Saturday in the feature race at Emerald Downs. The card begins at 2 p.m., and the one-mile feature, a second-level allowance with a $32,000 optional claiming price, is the eighth race on the nine-race program.
Proud Nicholas has one win in five starts at the meeting; he ran six furlongs in 1:08.20 to win an allowance race by seven lengths in late May. Subsequently fifth in the one-mile Tacoma Handicap after pressing the pace, he finished a close fifth behind standout sprinter Siberian Cocktail in his most recent outing, a six-furlong $40,000 optional claimer July 11.

Trained by Doris Harwood for owner Frank Gaunt, Proud Nicholas will make his third start around two turns Saturday, and with no other front-runners in the race, jockey Saul Arias figures to put him on the lead from the outset.

Roys Tops and Skyattic ran past Proud Nicholas in the final yards three weeks ago. Roys Tops got up to be second after a wide trip, and Skyattic finished in a dead heat for third. Neither horse has attempted a route, though both are bred to appreciate the extra distance. Roys Tops, who is trained by Vann Belvoir for Keith Swagertys Swag Stables, will be ridden by Gallyn Mitchell. Skyattic is trained by Jim Penney for Gaylin and Richard Landeis. Troy Stillwell has the riding assignment.

Ricky Frazier, who rode Skyattic in each of his past four starts, will ride Whitney Bridge in Saturdays race. Trained by Larry Ross for Riverbend Stable, Whitney Bridge posted a half-length victory in a $15,000 claimer in his first route attempt three weeks ago, and then worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 last Friday, the fastest of 11 works at the distance. Whitney Bridge should be a pace factor under Frazier, who had 102 wins through the first 55 racing dates.

Late-runners Quinalt and Red Dancer could be prominent in the final furlong. Quinalt, who is trained by Carlos Moreno and will be ridden by Jose Contreras, finished second in the nine-furlong Oregon Derby at Portland Meadows in March, and most recently was second in a one-mile $32,000 optional claimer, with Red Dancer a length back in third. Red Dancer, who is trained by Penney, was making his first start against winners. Juan Gutierrez has the call Saturday.

Tossm Again and Bornn Blue Genes complete the field.

Ogden Mills Phipps, a former chairman of the New York Racing Association and the head of the powerful Phipps family racing stable, is recovering in New York Presbyterian Hospital after undergoing surgery for a blood clot in his leg, his daughter said Thursday.
He had a blood clot in his leg, he was operated on, hes rehabbing now, Daisy Phipps said. Hes doing good.

Daisy Phipps said she is hopeful that her father will be able to come up to Saratoga later in the meet.

Ogden Mills Phipps, 68, is the son of the late Ogden Phipps. He currently is member of NYRAs board of trustees.

The Phipps family has campaigned several champions. Those belonging to Ogden Mills Phipps include Inside Information, Rhythm, Smuggler, Storm Flag Flying and Successor.

Horse racing fans eager to see filly Rachel Alexandra run in the Breeders Cup will have to wait until next year.

Owner Jess Jackson said during a conference call Tuesday hes firm in his decision to keep the Preakness winner from this falls Breeders Cup at Santa Anita.

Jackson cited concerns about the synthetic surface at Santa Anita as the main reason for skipping the event, but remains hopeful Rachel Alexandra will be able to run in the 2010 Breeders Cup on the dirt at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra has won seven straight races heading into the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational at New Jerseys Monmouth Park. Jackson said his filly is in top shape and ready to race Sunday against a field that will include Belmont winner Summer Bird.

Horses who have been administered pure oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber will not be allowed to start in races in New York for one week afterward, New York regulatory officials said Tuesday.
Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, said that the board decided to issue the directive to protect the public against possible use of pure oxygen as a performance-enhancing agent. He said the directive was issued under an existing regulation that states that no other drugs or medications . . . may be administered within one week of a race.

Mahoney said that an unnamed operator of a hyperbaric chamber had recently asked the New York Racing Association for permission to set up the chamber on the grounds of its Saratoga Racecourse, which was scheduled to open on Wednesday. NYRA denied the request, and the operator moved the chamber to an undisclosed location in Saratoga Springs, he said. As a result, the board issued the directive and said it would require logs of the horses who are administered oxygen in the chamber.

Though research does not fully validate the claims, some veterinarians contend that pure oxygen delivered in a hyperbaric chamber can enhance performance and aid in healing soft-tissue injuries and in fighting off infection.

Colonel John and Well Armed are the two best horses in trainer Eoin Hartys barn. Both have been off for several months, but both are now ready to run. Harty nominated both to the Grade 2, $250,000 San Diego Handicap this Sunday at Del Mar, but didnt want to run them against one another.
He found an option. After Colonel John worked satisfactorily on the turf on Sunday morning, Harty entered him in the $85,000 Wickerr Handicap, a restricted stakes race for older horses at one mile on turf that will be run on Friday. Although Colonel John has won such major races as the Santa Anita Derby and the Travers Stakes, he was eligible to the Wickerr because he had not won a stakes race since May 1.

In fact, he hasnt even raced since Dec. 26. Colonel John, 4, finished fourth in the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, then was rested for the Santa Anita Handicap in March. But the morning of that race, he was running a temperature and was scratched.

The groom was adamant something was wrong when I got there in the morning, Harty said. He normally has a temperature of 99 to 100. It was 101. I didnt think it was that bad, but wanted to monitor him. A little bit later, it was 103. He had pleural pneumonia. I had never had a problem with him his whole career until the morning of the Big Cap. These guys, they know their horses. When Wayne Lukas left this circuit, I got a few grooms who had been with him for 15 or 20 years.

Colonel John worked five furlongs on turf on Sunday morning in 1:02 under jockey Garrett Gomez, who will ride him in the Wickerr.

Hes going to be fine on it, Gomez told Harty right after the workout. He didnt really quicken, but he was comfortable on it, steady. And he covers so much ground.

Harty said he would have preferred to run him on the main track, but theres no reason, judging by the way he worked, that he wont handle the grass.

I didnt necessarily want to run the two of them against each other in the San Diego.

Well Armed assigned high weight

Well Armed was assigned top weight of 123 pounds for the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, which will be his first start since capturing the Dubai World Cup in March. On Monday morning, Well Armed had his final work for the San Diego when he effortlessly covered five furlongs in 1:00 with his regular jockey, Aaron Gryder.

Well Armed will spot at least five pounds to his rivals. Ball Four was assigned 118 pounds. The filly Life Is Sweet also got 118 pounds, but since she is a female, she gets a five-pound weight break, making her actual assignment 113 pounds. That is moot, though, since Gomez, her jockey, rides a bit over that weight.

Others expected for the San Diego include Informed, Mast Track, Song of Navarone, and Temple City, and possibly Allicansayiswow, Cigar Man, Kelly Leak, Magnum, Sangaree, and Spurrier.

Magnun worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Monday morning for trainer Darrell Vienna, who said Magnum was 50-50 to run in the San Diego.

Its a tough race, Vienna said.

Sangaree and Spurrier, both trained by Bob Baffert, each worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Monday morning. Asked if they would run on Sunday, Baffert said, I dont know yet.

Informed worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Doug ONeill on Monday.

Temple City worked five furlongs in 59 seconds on Sunday morning for trainer Carla Gaines, equaling the fastest time of 93 at the distance.

Thorn Song OK after bolting

Thorn Song, who bolted suddenly under jockey Mike Smith while on the lead going around the first turn of the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes on Saturday, was fine on Sunday morning, trainer Mike Mitchell said.

I opened up the blinkers on him, and I guess he saw too much, Mitchell said. Now I might add a shadow roll. He pulled up good. The race started perfectly. He had that easy lead I wanted. I was loving it.

Smith said Thorn Song gave him no warning. He was just cruising, Smith said. I cant believe I stayed on.

Thorn Song was making his first start for Mitchell after being trained previously by Dale Romans.

Thorn Song has a reputation of being difficult in the mornings.

Hes a nightmare, Mitchell said.

Mitchell said Thorn Song would be pointed to the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 29. That is also the likely next spot for Global Hunter, who scored a 14-1 upset in the Eddie Read, giving trainer A.C. Avila his first win in a Grade 1 stakes race.

Race favorite Monterey Jazz, who inherited the lead when Thorn Song bolted, cooked himself by racing uncontrollably for a half-mile from the first quarter to the third quarter in 46.09 seconds under jockey Tyler Baze.

He just locked his jaw and Tyler couldnt do anything with him, trainer Craig Dollase said.

3-year-old breaks down on turf

Insider, a 3-year-old gelding racing in a starter allowance race on the turf for Mitchell, suffered a compound fracture in his left rear leg in the second race on Sunday and was euthanized.

Insider was making his fifth start, but his first on this circuit after racing in New York and Kentucky.

He became the third horse to be euthanized as a result of his injuries in a race during the first week of racing here, which encompassed five days. Two other horses suffered fatal injuries in main-track races.

A fourth horse was euthanized after being injured in a workout on the main track three days before the meet opened, bringing to four the number of horses who have been euthanized here this summer.

Sadler packing punch

Trainer John Sadler will have a formidable team of Evita Argentina and Million Dollar Run for the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for female sprinters on Sept. 4.

Sadler has won the Grade 3 Rancho Bernando Handicap four times, including last year with Dearest Trickski.

Million Dollar Run became a candidate for the Rancho Bernardo after a successful 2009 debut in an optional claimer over six furlongs on Saturday. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Million Dollar Run won by a half-length over Carmel Coffee, finishing in 1:10.43. Lethal Heat, the 4-5 favorite, could finish only fourth in her first start since January.

The optional claimer was Million Dollar Runs first start for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and Sadler. She was acquired last winter after a 3-year-old season highlighted by a win in the Grade 3 Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Shes pretty classy, Sadler said.

Evita Argentina won the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap over seven furlongs earlier this month at Hollywood Park.

Jockeys switch agents

Jockeys Michael Baze, David Flores and Alonso Quinonez have changed agents.

Baze has ended a month-long relationship with Jim Pegram and hired Ron Ebanks, who also represents Bazes cousin Tyler.

Flores has hired Ron Anderson, who also represents Garrett Gomez, the winner of the Eclipse Award as the nations outstanding jockey of 2007 and 2008. Flores had previously worked with Brad Pegram, who will continue to represent Mike Smith.

Quinonez has hired Nick Cosato, who worked for Michael Baze until earlier this summer.

It wont take long for trainer Steve Asmussen to know how good of a Saratoga meet he is going to have this year. And it will have nothing to do with Rachel Alexandra.
Asmussen sends out two major contenders in both the Schuylerville and Sanford, the first two graded stakes of the meet. On Wednesday, he also sends out first-time starters Magic Tiger and Macjoey in maiden races, and on Thursday, hell start the second-time starter Kinsey.

Well find out right away wont we? Asmussen said Wednesday morning. By Friday morning, well know exactly how the 2-year-old crop is.

Last year, Asmussens 2-year-old crop was extremely strong as he went 8 for 30 with juveniles at the meet. Overall, Asmussen won 10 races at the 2008 Saratoga meet, capped of course by Horse of the Year Curlins victory in the Woodward.

This year, the star of Asmussens barn is the 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, who may or may not run here. So, it may be up to the 2-year-olds to carry the load.

In Wednesdays Grade 3 Schuylerville, a race he won last year with Jardin, Asmussen sends out Hot Dixie Chick, who set a track record for five furlongs at Churchill Downs in her second start, and Kinsolving, who has lost two stakes after winning her debut at Keeneland.

Shes tremendously laid back, Asmussen said of Hot Dixie Chick. Off of her first race and how much she showed and as quiet as shed been to that point, you were extremely excited to run her back. Shes still coming. Shes fast but shes still got some coming to do.

Kinsolving finished third to Schuylerville hopeful Decelerator in the Grade 3 Debutante. Asmussen said Kinsolving was compromised in that race by stumbling at the start.

On Thursday, in the Grade 2 Sanford, Asmussen sends out Enumerate, a five-length debut winner, and Louisvilleluminary, a second-out winner. Louisvilleluminary is a half-brother to the Grade 1 winner Purge, who won the Jim Dandy here in 2004.

Speaking of the Jim Dandy, Asmussen will send out Dwyer winner Kensei in this years Jim Dandy, to be run Saturday. On Monday, Kensei looked awfully strong working four furlongs in 48.70 seconds, getting his last quarter in 23.90 over the training track.

I love how hes training, Asmussen said. Youd watch him work at Churchill and said if that son of a gun aint a runner who is?

Not all of Asmussens fortunes will be decided in the opening week. Later in the meet, he has the 2-year-old filly Dashing Debby to run in the Adirondack and the 2-year-old colt Thiskyhasnolimit for the Saratoga Special. He also will run the 3-year-old Heart Ashley in the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 8.

Pyro returns in James Marvin

One of Asmussens former charges, Pyro, returns to the races in the $80,000 James Marvin Stakes at seven furlongs. Though an overnight stakes, this race shapes up like a Grade 2 event.

Pyro, a three-time graded stakes winner, has not been out since finishing sixth of 12 in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. He was taken over by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoums Godolphin Stable – which had purchased an interest in him after his 2-year-old season – and following knee surgery last year he was put back into training. According to Rick Mettee, who oversees Godolphins New York string, the idea in bringing Pyro back is to make him a Grade 1 winner in either the Forego or Cigar Mile.

As far as this race goes, Mettee is hoping Pyro will run on and pass horses, but this race came up a pretty hot race.

Riley Tucker, second to Munnings in the Tom Fool, is the horse to beat. But the race also features stakes winners Honour Devil and Finallymadeit. Finallymadeit is now in the barn of Tim Ritvo, who said that this race could be used as a prep for the Whitney on Aug. 8 or the Forego Sept. 5.

Were using it as a prep instead of breezing him, said Ritvo.

Handicapping angle: Mott on his birthday

If you see Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott at the track on opening day, wish him a happy 56th birthday. Then go to the window and bet his horses.

Eight times since 1994, Mott has won a race here on his birthday, including 2006 and 2007. Last year, July 29 was a dark day.

On Wednesday, Mott has four horses entered on the card, though two need to draw in from the also-eligible list in order to run. Auteur, who is entered in the first, and Evolutionist, entered in the fourth, each need one scratch to get into the field. But both are live if they do get in.

Theyre both coming off very good races, theyre the right kind of horses to have, Mott said. Certainly, theyre horses in with a chance.

Mott also has a pair of 2-year-olds entered on the card. In the fifth, for New York-breds, Mott sends out Come From Behind, who finished fourth in his debut.

He ran well enough, Mott said. You got to believe hes got some kind of a chance.

In the seventh, Mott sends out the first-time starter Antenna, a half-brother to six winners. He is coupled with Double Partner, a colt trained by Todd Pletcher whose mother is a half-sister to Serenas Song.

Bridgmohan gets back on horses

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan on Monday morning got on horses for the first time since he was injured in a spill during training hours at Churchill Downs on July 7. Bridgmohan worked the 3-year-old Sunday Sunrise for trainer Steve Asmussen. Sunday Sunrise is being pointed to Saturdays West Virginia Derby where hell face Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.

Bridgmohan suffered a compressed vertebra and a concussion when he was thrown from a horse he was working for Asmussen that broke down at Churchill Downs on July 7.

Bridgmohan, 30, said everything seems fine and he could be riding as early as this weekend, which would be slightly ahead of schedule.

I thought Id come back in the middle of the meet, he said.

Bridgmohan won 41 races at the Churchill meet, good for fifth place in the standings. Last summer, he won 13 races at Saratoga.

Warriors Reward, the beaten favorite in the Dwyer, worked a solid five furlongs in 1:01.99 over Saratogas main track in preparation for Saturdays Jim Dandy. Warriors Reward got his last three furlongs in 36.19 seconds. Calvin Borel was aboard for the move.

Cowboy Cal worked four furlongs in 47.56 over the main track in preparation for Fridays Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap.

Suburban winner Dry Martini worked four furlongs in 48.20 on Monday over the main track as he prepares for the Grade 1 Whitney here on Aug. 8.

Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra went through a final workout at Saratoga Race Course before taking on the boys in Sundays Haskell Invitational at New Jerseys Monmouth Park.

Rachel Alexandra has won seven straight races, all with Calvin Borel aboard, including a 19-length victory in the Mother Goose at Belmont last month.

The 3-year-old filly breezed a half mile in 49.26 seconds, the sixth fastest of 23 workouts Monday. The filly owned by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick will be vanned to Monmouth Thursday or Friday.

She seems to be doing extremely well, trainer Steve Asmussen said. We want everything to go well, and we expect it to. We have a tall task for her this week. We want to show the respect that we think it deserves. Were excited about the opportunity.

The 1 1-8-mile Haskell will also feature Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, who had his final tuneup Sunday at Monmouth. The 3-year-old colt covered five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.80.

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness when she defeated Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. The only filly to win the Haskell is Serenas Song in 1995.

We want her to stay in a nice rhythm, Asmussen said. We want her on her feet. We want her to be responsive to (Borel) and in his hands so he can do what he thinks is appropriate with her come race time.

A field of seven is expected, with the draw Thursday. Others set for the Grade 1 race are Papa Clem, Munnings, Atomic Rain, Duke of Mischief and Bunker Hill.

Deweys Special beat Nitro Active by 1 3/4 lengths to win the California Dreamin Handicap at Del Mar on Sunday.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., Deweys Special sat second for most of the race and took the lead coming out of the final turn, covering 1 1-16 miles on turf in 1:40.85.

Deweys Special paid $8.60, $5.40 and $4.40. Nitro Active paid $12.20 and $8.20. The longest shot in the field Berts Law was a nose back in third and paid $13.80 to show.

The favorite, Bold Chieftain, was never a factor and finished sixth in the field of eight.

It was the fourth win in 10 starts for Deweys Special, a 4-year-old California-bred gelding trained by Ron Ellis. The colt earned $60,000 to push his lifetime earnings to $223,280.

Earlier Sunday, Meydan Princess and jockey David Flores won the $94,870 Osunitas Handicap for fillies and mares, scoring a 1-length victory over Restless Soul.

Phils Prospect overtook El Rocco in the stretch to win the $65,000 Tyro Stakes by a half-length at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Ridden by Tony Maragh and trained by Gary Capuano, the 2-year-old gelding covered the 5 1/2 furlongs over a muddy main track in 1:04 and returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.10. El Rocco paid $3.20 and $2.20, while Dahlgren Chapel was another 1 lengths back in third and returned $2.10.

I just sat in behind the early leader waiting for a hole to open up, Maragh said. My horse hesitated a little bit before I finally got him through the hole. Once we got through, he kicked into another gear.

Phils Prospect, who won his second straight race, has earned $67,500.

Ms Stilleto beat Lemon Punch by 2 lengths Sunday in the closing-day feature at Belmont Park.

Ramon Dominguez, the leading rider at the meet, was aboard for his third winner on the card. Trained by Dominick Schettino, Ms Stilleto ran the 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.04 on the firm turf in the allowance race for fillies and mares foaled in New York State. After starting her career with four straight loses, the 3-year-old has won two in a row.

Ms Stilleto paid $10.60, $4.80 and $3.60. Lemon Punch, the 6-5 favorite, returned $3.10 and $2.60. Defarge paid $2.90 to show.

The New York racing circuit shifts to Saratoga on Wednesday.