Latest news with #BelmontStakesRacingFestival
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
George Weaver Eyes Woody Stephens For Promising Lafayette Winner Colloquial
Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing's promising stakes winner Colloquial worked five furlongs in 1:03.25 on Thursday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1) on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Trained by George Weaver, the son of his dual Grade 1 winner Vekoma was last seen winning the seven-furlong Lafayette (L) on April 7 at Keeneland. There, he showed a new dimension when setting the pace after two solid efforts from off-the-pace, including an eye-catching local seven-length graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at second asking that garnered a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Advertisement The 2 1/4-length Lafayette saw him earn an 88 Beyer, the same number he earned on debut last June when a nose second to subsequent graded stakes winner Mentee in a track record-setting performance. 'We've been happy with him,' Weaver said. 'We've been waiting for this race for a long time, and now we're getting close.' Weaver said the chestnut's versatility is the mark of a top-level horse. 'Good horses are [versatile], and they can adjust to situations,' Weaver said. 'He's talented, so luckily he's good enough to have that versatility. I don't think he's tied to any one way of running. I'm sure this will be a competitive race, but I wouldn't trade places with anybody.' Advertisement Colloquial is one of several candidates for Weaver at this year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The veteran conditioner also has Dorth Vader, Sacred Wish, and Soontobeking nominated to races during the five-day Festival. John Ropes' Grade 2 winner Dorth Vader was a troubled fourth last out in the La Troienne (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs, enduring a bumpy trip into the first turn while running in third position under John Velazquez. She went on to finish just 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Raging Sea with just a head and three-quarter-lengths separating the minor awards between Taxed, Randomized and Dorth Vader. Weaver said Dorth Vader is likely being pointed to the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 6, which offers a 'Win and You're In' berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in November at Del Mar. 'She had horse and was running the whole way, and it was pretty tight in the first turn,' Weaver said. 'She was on the rail and [Randomized] stopped her progress. We're just hoping for a good, clean trip [in the Phipps].' Advertisement Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola's Grade 1 winner Sacred Wish was a last-out seventh – defeated just 2 1/2-lengths – in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old Not This Time mare has been a model of consistency, currently holding a 14-for-20 in-the-money record that includes a Grade 1 triumph in last year's Matriarch at Del Mar, and over $1.1 million in earnings. Weaver said the dark bay, who worked a half-mile in 51.25 seconds yesterday over the Oklahoma dirt, has been nominated to the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game on June 5 at the Festival, but he is unsure if that will be her next start. 'We'll see how her next work goes,' Weaver said. 'We're kind of up in the air about her next start.' Advertisement Our Blue Streaks Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds' consistent New York homebred Soontobeking is targeting the $200,000 Mike Lee for state-bred sophomores on the June 4 Opening Day of the Festival. Co-owned by Weaver, the son of King for a Day has put together a respectable 12-3-3-4 record with $363,428 in earnings, led by a stakes triumph in the state-bred Gander on March 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 'We're looking forward to seeing him again,' Weaver said of the colt whose last effort was a runner-up finish in the NYSSS Times Square on April 13 at Aqueduct. 'You appreciate the horses that always show up, and he does. He just overcomes with try.' Beyond the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, Weaver is eyeing a return next month to Royal Ascot, where he won the Group 2 Queen Mary in 2023 with Crimson Advocate. This year, Weaver is hopeful he'll be represented by two juveniles for owner Dew Sweepers in stakes winner Sandal's Song and maiden-winning New York-bred Tough Critic. Advertisement 'It's a hard thing to get done,' Weaver said of winning at the prestigious meeting. 'It's hard to win over there, even when you have the right horse – they run big fields, and you have to ship a long ways. It makes it exciting to do it, and hopefully everything goes smoothly and they run their race.' Sandal's Song looks to follow the path of Crimson Advocate after a stylish debut graduation in the five-furlong Royal Palm Juvenile by 1 1/2 lengths with a stalk-and-pounce trip engineered by Luca Panici. The Mendelssohn chestnut, who was a $75,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, overcame a hop at the start to sit off the pace down the backstretch and responded kindly into the lane to draw off to the victory in a final time of 56.30 seconds. Weaver said Sandal's Song is likely pointing towards the Norfolk (G2) for juveniles sprinting five furlongs on June 19. 'They've only had that race [the Royal Palm Juvenile] for the last couple of years, and we've been fortunate enough to get horses that have a chance to compete in it,' Weaver said of the race that awarded Sandal's Song a $25,000 equine travel stipend for Royal Ascot. Advertisement The New York-bred Tough Critic was also impressive in his debut, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden on April 24 at Keeneland by 1 1/4 lengths with a deep-closing trip under Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat. The $350,000 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale purchase is by Caravaggio and is out of is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Thatchit, a half-sister to 2009 Norfolk winner Radiohead. Weaver said Tough Critic is being considered for the six-furlong Coventry (G2) on June 17 or the five-furlong Windsor Castle (L) on June 18.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scottish Lassie, Shred the Gnar Work Toward Acorn
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable and trainer Jorge Abreu's Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie worked Sunday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma training track in preparation for the $500,000 DK Horse Acorn (G1) for 3-year-old fillies on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The daughter of McKinzie breezed a solo five furlongs in 1:04 flat shortly after the conclusion of the 8:15 renovation break, her first work since her seasonal bow when third in a May 1 optional claimer at Belmont at the Big A. Advertisement 'It was good, and more than enough,' Abreu said. 'She came out of her race with good attitude and is doing everything good, like her old self.' Scottish Lassie graduated in style last year with a nine-length trouncing of the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont at the Big A, which awarded her a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies where she finished an even fourth. In her return last out, she broke awkwardly and had trouble finding her footing before being rushed up into contention to duel head-to-head for the lead. She weakened in the lane and finished three lengths behind the victorious Cassiar. Abreu added Scottish Lassie will have two more works in preparation for the nine-furlong Acorn. Bred in Kentucky by Winchester Farm, Scottish Lassie was an $85,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She is out of the winning Bodemeister mare Bodebabe, a half-sister to stakes-winner Windmill and stakes-placed Ignitis. Advertisement Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing's Shred the Gnar was back on the work tab with her sights set on the Acorn . Trained by Brian Lynch, the Into Mischief bay is pointed to the 1 1/8-mile test following two dominant pacesetting scores, including by seven lengths last out in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. She breezed a half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Saturday at the Louisville track as she readies for a step up in class. 'She is pointing to the Acorn,' said Lynch. 'I just got a maintenance half-mile into her as she is pointed towards the Acorn. She worked by herself. Her last effort was pretty self-explanatory. Everything seems to be going great with her.' Shred the Gnar previously graduated second-out by 6 1/2 lengths going one-mile in March at Gulfstream Park. That performance earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure, which she improved to a career-best 94 in her last race. On debut, she was a neck second sprinting six furlongs in February at Gulfstream. Advertisement Also on the tab Saturday at Churchill Downs for Lynch was Grade 1-placed Highway Robber, a 5-year-old Hard Spun gelding who earned a career-best 100 Beyer for a one-length third to Spirit of St Louis in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Highway Robber, owned by Susan and Jim Hill, breezed a half-mile in 50.80 with an eye towards the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 7 Belmont Stakes Day at the Spa. 'He's tentatively schedule to go into the Manhattan,' said Lynch. 'He's an honest horse. It was just a maintenance work, first work back since his last race, letting him stretch his legs.' Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing's Owen Almighty finished a highly respectable fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, but Lynch said the Speightstown bay will likely pass on Belmont Stakes Racing Festival engagements. 'He's not slated to do anything up there,' said Lynch, adding that the colt is doing well. 'We are just giving him a little more time. No plans for him at the moment, just going to let him do his thing.'
Miami Herald
23-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
NYRA Names Emerald Ecovations Its Preferred Sustainable Products Partner
HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2025 / The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced a multi-year agreement to position Emerald Ecovations as the preferred sustainable products partner of NYRA. "NYRA is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and maintaining its positive impact on our surrounding communities," said Kevin Quinn, NYRA's Vice President of Sales and Hospitality. "We are pleased to partner with Emerald Ecovations to work together on implementing staple products across our tracks that will assist with waste reduction." Emerald Ecovations, the leader in sustainable food service, facility, and packaging supplies, will provide a variety of sustainable food service products for use across Saratoga Race Course, including cups, bowls, containers, napkins, tissues, utensils and product dispensers. "We're excited to join NYRA on their mission to deliver sustainable products that enhance the guest experience and resonate with their stakeholders," said Ralph Bianculli, President/CEO of Emerald Ecovations."We are committed to working with sport and entertainment venues nationwide by supplying our Made in the USA sustainable disposables, measuring their environmental impact, and helping them communicate it to the local community." Designed and made in the United States, Emerald Ecovations offers a line of 350+ Tree-Free and Plastic-Free products to combat deforestation and plastic pollution, offering companies a sustainable solution to the growing demand for environmentally responsible products in disposable food packaging and everyday facilities products. Emerald Ecovations will also be branded on refuse containers across the backyard and grandstand areas at Saratoga Race Course and displayed throughout the property beginning in June during the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival slated for June 4th-8th. Over the coming months, Emerald Ecovations will be prominent during the July 4th Racing Festival set for July 3-6 at the Spa, and with an educational onsite activation during the traditional 40-day Saratoga summer meet which spans from July 10th through September 1st. For more information on Saratoga Race Course, please visit About the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) NYRA is a not-for-profit corporation franchised by New York State to conduct thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State's horse racing economy, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual statewide economic impact. NYRA is the parent company of NYRA Bets, LLC, the national advanced deposit wagering platform launched in 2016 and currently available to customers in 36 states. NYRA Bets provides bettors the opportunity to wager on tracks worldwide from anywhere at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download on iOS and Android at Contact Information Alex Viola Director of Marketing and Communicationsmarketing@ Pat McKenna Vice President of Communicationspmckenna@ SOURCE: Emerald Ecovations press release
