(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – In one of the most exciting races of the summer season, R.D. Hubbard’s Spring House successfully defended his title in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap with a nose victory over longshot Sir Dave Sunday.

Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A little more than two months ago, in her first race on dirt, Andrew Rosen’s Icon Project ran off to a 13¼ length victory on the off-the-turf Grade 3 New York Stakes at BelmontPark. Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, Icon Project became a Grade 1 winner on dirt as she drew away to an equally impressive 13½-length victory in the 62nd running of the $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes.

(Edited Monmouth Park report)

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Millennium Farms Luna Vega swung widest for the drive before gaining command in midstretch and drawing off to a length and a half score in the $300,000 Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip, Californian victor Informed and Eddie Read winner Global Hunter wrapped up their serious work for next Sunday’s Grade 1, $1-million Pacific Classic this morning as they charged through workouts.

 Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Edmund Gann’s 6-year-old It’s a Bird breezed a half-mile in 49 2/5 Sunday morning at Calder Race Course in preparation for a trip to Saratoga to start in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (Grade 1) next Saturday where he and several other older horses will challenge superstar 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra.

(Edited NYRA/Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Summer Bird was every bit his usual self Sunday morning after a decisive 3½-length win in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Napping in his stall just after 8 a.m. following a walk around the shedrow, Dr. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman’s colt woke before 9 a.m. to receive peppermints and observe the humans gathered outside his stall.  

(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Irish-bred Ferneley, benefiting from a beautifully-timed ride by Joel Rosario, Del Mar’s top jockey this summer, swept to the lead in the upper stretch and ran on strongly to win Saturday’s featured $238,000 Del Mar Mile for older horses over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Summer Bird was sent off as the second favorite in the 140^th running of the Grade 1 Shadwell Travers and he didn’t disappoint as he took over at the mile mark in the mile-and-a-quarter race and then went on to win by three-and-a-half lengths in a time of 2:02.85 over a sloppy main track.

Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Jacks or Better Farm’s star 2-year-old homebred colt Jackson Bend continues to impress his connections and fans alike as he marched to an impressive 1½ lengths victory in the $150,000 Affirmed Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder’s Juvenile Showcase on Saturday.

Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Virginia and James Gamble’s Florida homebred 2-year-old filly Gator Brew won a tight photo finish and survived a jockey’s claim of foul to win the $85,000 Lindsay Frolic Stakes at Calder’s Juvenile Showcase on Saturday.  The race marked jockey Paco Lopez’s third win of the afternoon and second victory of the day for trainer Bill White.