Horse Racing News

Phipps Stable's homebred Abaco came all the way from last to get up by a neck in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga.

Irish Surf, entered in both the Del Mar Handicap and $1 million TVG Pacific Classic this weekend at Del Mar, will opt for the Aug. 24 Classic, trainer Dan Hendricks reported.

Close Hatches took command on the opening turn and never looked back in the $500,0000 Personal Ensign Stakes, romping by five lengths over a muddy track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 22 for her third Grade 1 triumph in a row.

Shared Belief has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the TVG Pacific Classic as the undefeated 3-year-old seeks to prevent older horse Game On Dude from a repeat victory in the $1 million race Aug. 24 at Del Mar.

A quartet of Grade 1 winners will square off in Saturday's 145th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Wildcat Red will show his versatility by cutting back to seven furlongs for the Grade 1, $500,000 King's Bishop on the Travers Day undercard at Saratoga.

Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar H. serves as a tantalizing appetizer with a contentious field of 13 entered for the 1 3/8-mile affair on turf.

Ballerina Stakes and Ballston Spa enhance a terrific undercard on Travers day.

If all goes well, two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan will begin his road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships in the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 30.

Upset-minded Balance of Power wore down Pants On Fire and won the $148,500 Philip H. Iselin Stakes with a smart last-to-first rally Aug. 17 at Monmouth Park.