National Turf Writers Association

Retired Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, the late track announcer Luke Kruytbosch, and multiple Media Eclipse Award-winning Turf writer Maryjean Wall will be honored later this year with awards presented by the National Turf Writers Association.

Bob Hill
Staff writer

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — There was no rain this past week at Saratoga.  The dry weather provided a stark contrast to the early days of the meet when it was so wet that all but a few turf races disappeared. One Friday card literally was washed off when the main track gave way to the deluge of rain. 

Gene Williams
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” as the saying goes.

It may be a bit extreme to think that trainer Ron Ellis is facing desperate times, but he is facing a time calling for some measures he didn’t think he’d need to call on quite so soon.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Intangaroo let Sugar Swirl and Mistical Plan knock heads early and then came on off the turn to run away with the Grade 1 Ballerina on Sunday at the fabled race course in upstate New York.

The 4-year-old daughter of Orientate was sent off as the third favorite in the seven-furlong test run over a fast track, but she and jockey Alonzo Quinonez were not about to get involved in an…

(Edited Del Mar report)

Peter Vegso’s favored Go Between, runner-up in both the Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup this year, gave jockey Garrett Gomez his second million-dollar victory in two days East to West, capturing the Grade I $1 million Pacific Classic, signature event of the summer racing season at Del Mar.

(Edited Del Mar report)

R.D. Hubbard’s Spring House, the 3-5 favorite under jockey Corey Nakatani, punched his ticket for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on October 25 with a hard-earned triumph Saturday in the 69th running of the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at the marathon distance of a mile and three-eighths over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Kat Kubik
and Bob Hill
Staff writers

Handicappers Kat and Bob offer their picks on Sunday’s Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races. They are listed in the order in which they will be contested. As always, your comments are welcome.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — It took a photo, but Colonel John won the 139th running of the Travers Stakes by a nose over Mambo in Seattle on Saturday at the storied upstate race track. Colonel John’s trainer, Eoin Harty, said in a post-race interview that he thought he had lost the race and was surprised to the see the Colonel’s number flash on the board after a few minutes.

Tracksideview.com staff report

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Visionaire went from last in a 10- horse field at the half-mile to run down all the speed in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop to win the seven-furlong race on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course .

J Be K, Gentleman James and Golden Spikes were blistering the track with fractions of :22.39, and :44.73 seconds for a half-mile. Alan Garcia, who won five races on the card Saturday, was sitting patiently on Visionaire…

Tracksideview.com handicappers Kat Kubik and Bob Hill are joined by senior columnist Ron Correll, who was lured by the attractive Travers Day card, and offer their picks on the four graded races.