Busy Saturday. My cheat sheet runs to two columns, starting at Compiegne at 7:23, breezing through Royal Ascot, some stakes at Laurel, solid races at Churchill Downs, the Ohio Derby at Thistledown, the Canterbury Derby up north and finishing at Churchill Downs at 11:10.
Good thing Miles is in Italy, no driving practice, no ball toss in the backyard. And it looks like a break on the cocktail party circuit. Just racing today.
Mortal Sin lines up in the third at Laurel Park. First start for Riverdee. We gave him a long winter break, one point-to-point run and aimed at a spring turf campaign. With the rain and the lack of races (well, lack of filled races), we wound up with a summer campaign. How it goes, most of the time.
Race of the Day: Rebel’s Romance did it again, winning the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes for Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The globe-trotting gelding improved his career record to 18 wins, including seven at the Grade/Group 1 level, across six countries.
Quote of the Day: “When it was spoken about that this fella was on the radar, I texted Oisin (Murphy), ‘what’s Humidity like?’ and he just texted me the rocket emoji back, so I was a bit excited when he said that.” – Jockey James Doyle after winning the Chesham Stakes on Humidity
Concert Tour: The Heavy Heavy at the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY Aug. 1. Just 85 miles from Saratoga.
Rebel’s Romance in full flight. Photo credit: Megan Coggin.
