Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Saratogo Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – At the beginning of the year, when trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Edward P. Evans began mapping out Quality Road’s run to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, it included several key stops, including the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, the Grade 1 Met Mile, and the Grade 1 Whitney.

Everything was going according to plan until the final yards of the Whitney, when Quality Road was nabbed at the wire by Blame…

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

Trainer Will Phipps thought he had a good one in his barn with Fancy Point and she proved him right when the 2-year-old daughter of Point Given led from start to finish in the P.G. Johnson Stakes on the inner turf course Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.

“We’re very lucky people. We’re honored to have a horse for the Steinbrenners – this one is for the big guy.…

(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Under a perfect ride from jockey Patrick Valenzuela, longshot Hi Ho Yodeler darted between horses at the top of the stretch and went on to win the featured $100,000 Generous Portion for California-bred two-year-old fillies Wednesday.

Hi Ho Yodeler, a 15-1 outsider in a field of 13 fillies, broke alertly, was moved to the rail to track the leaders, was guided around a single rival,  Miles Rules, in the upper…

(Tracksideview and edited Saratoga Race Course report)

Kantharos, a two-time graded stakes winner, suffered a career-ending leg fracture Monday while galloping out following a routine workout at Saratoga Springs in upstate New York it was announced Tuesday.

The son of Lion Heart fractured sesamoids in his left foreleg. He worked five furlongs in 1:03.90 over the Oklahoma training track, but apparently took a bad step galloping out. He was X-rayed after he appear uncomfortable as he was led around the walking…

(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Champ Pegasus, the 3-2 favorite under leading rider Joel Rosario, rallied along the rail through the stretch with an impressive burst of speed to win the featured $200,000 Del Mar Handicap Sunday before 14,913 fans. 

Outrun in the early stages of the mile and three-eighths marathon over the infield grass course, Champ Pegasus saved ground on the final turn then made his move in the final eighth to win by…

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In what some viewed as poetic justice, Persistently upstaged both Rachel Alexandra and Life At Ten in the 63^rd running of the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Sunday at the Spa.

Persistently, who ran down Rachel Alexandra in the final sixteenth of a mile, was bred and owned by Phipps Stable, who also were the owners and breeders of the unbeaten Personal Ensign. Personal Ensign kept her record unblemished…

A BRILLIANT IDEA RALLIES LATE TO TAKE JUNIOR CHAMPION STAKES

John Heims
Monmouth Park

Oceanport, N.J. – In the final start of her career, J. Larry and Cindy Jones’ Just Jenda went out a winner and re-affirmed her love for Monmouth Park by capturing the 65th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes, while A Brilliant Idea stormed home to take the Junior Champion Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Ridden by Terry Thompson for trainer Cindy Jones,…

Jon Forbes
NYRA/Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Repole Stable maintained a 12-7 lead in the Saratoga owner standings going into the final eight days of racing, so it’s all too appropriate Uncle Mo is the name of the operation’s latest impressive 2-year-old winner.

Named after the shorthand term for “momentum,” the colt joins the New York Watch – which profiles up-and-comers that have recently cleared the maiden ranks at Aqueduct, BelmontPark, and Saratoga – following a…

FINISH COMES DOWN TO A PHOTO IN 141ST EDITION OF MIDSUMMER DERBY

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Travers is run at the classic distance of a mile-and-a-quarter and after that far it came down to a photo and nose victory for Afleet Express as he edged Fly Down in the 141^st renewal of the Grade 1 race Saturday at the Spa.

You could not separate the top two during the last eighth of…

MY IRISH GIRL A PERFECT 7-FOR-7 IN 2010 WITH MISS WOODFORD WIN

John Heims
Monmouth Park

Oceanport, N.J. – Julia C. Boutelle’s Teaks North upset his eight rivals in the $100,000 Restoration Stakes, winning by a length as My Irish Gal reported home a 2 ¾ length winner in the $100,000 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Trained by Justin Sallusto, Teaks North covered the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:46 2/5 and paid…