Horse Racing turns to Saratoga and Del Mar

It's summer time and horse people and racing fans are flocking to New York and California for the 2016 race meets at Saratoga and Del Mar.

Yes, Saratoga, "The Spa," is open in New York, and Del Mar, where the "Turf meets the surf," is open in Southern California.

Here's a look at a few of the races.

Saratoga

On Saturday, July 25, 2015 – opening weekend at Saratoga, there were a few big stakes races that lived up to expectations

One of the most exciting was the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1), a turf-race for fillies and mares, 2-years-old and up.

In the race, Hard Not to Like, with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez riding, rallied furiously down the stretch late trying to catch race leader Kitten's Queen and Tepin.

Soon the three were battling side-by-side with a furlong to go to the finish line, and at the wire, Hard Not to Like got her nose out front to get the win by a nose over Tepin, who outstretched Kitten's Queen for second-place by a neck.

In the process of getting the win, Hard Not to Like set a new course record of 1:45.22 on a turf-course rated firm in the seven-horse field.

Hard Not to Like, No. 4, rallied down the stretch to win the $500,000 Diana Stakes in an exciting three-horse finish. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

"I'm delighted she was ridden by Johnny Velazquez," said winning trainer Christophe Clement. "He's a top jockey, and there's a reason why. He makes a difference. She got a superb ride and she's also a very good filly. (At the eighth pole, I thought) to get a place, pretty good; to win, slim. The last 50 yards suddenly I got a bit excited because I thought, 'She's going to get there!' Remarkable ride from Johnny Velazquez. Life is goo. He knew there was going to be a decent amount of pace. The ground is firm, and they never came back. They went fast all the way to the end."

Added Velazquez, "This horse is much better now and is only improving. As the distance of the race got longer, the better the horse became. The horse is a little small and doesn't have the speed to stay with the other horses in the first part of the race. The longer the race went on, the longer the horse's strides became."

Owned by Speedway Stable, Hard Not to Like, a 6-year-old by Hard Spun-Like a Gem, by Tactical Cat now has eight wins, three seconds, two thirds and $1,261,671 in earnings in 20 career starts.

In a controversial finish, Magna Light, ridden by Jose Ortiz, scored a 3/4-length win over Uncle Vinny, in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3). Finishing third I the 10-horse field was Percolator.

Ultimately, Uncle Vinny, who was ridden by Velazquez, got the win after Magna Light was disqualified and placed third because of interference in the stretch. Percolator got second.

The objection came because when the field began to catch up to race leader Magna Light in the stretch, Ortiz hit his horse with a left-handed whip, which caused the horse to come out four to five paths left. Then, trying to correct, Ortiz hit Magna Light with the whip, this time with his right hand, which caused the horse to shy right and into the path of Percolator, who was ridden by Kendrick Carmouhe, who made the objection.

"He was running down the lane," said Velazquez of Uncle Vinny. "We were getting to the point where he was rolling from the eighth pole to the wire, and he inherited the win. Nothing I can say. He definitely was coming running. (Magna Light) ran a great race, too."

Owned by Starlight Racing, Uncle Vinny ran the six-furlong race for 2-year-olds in 1:10.92. He now has two wins in three starts and $141,500 in earnings.

In an amazing finish to the $200,000 Lake George Stakes (G2), Mrs McDougal, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, rallied down the stretch and scored a 1/2-length victory over Feathered, who had led the entire race.

Finishing third in the nine-horse field of 3-year-old fillies by just a nose was Cara Marie, while behind her Partisan Politics was fourth by a neck, All in Fun was fifth by a head, an Jellicle Ball (Ire) was sixth by a head.

Rounding out the nine-horse field of 3-year-old fillies was Mississippi Delta seventh, followed by Robillard and Sivoliere (Ire).

Mrs McDougal, who is by Medaglia d'Oro-Distorted Passion, by Distorted Humor, ran the 1-1/16th-mile race in 1:41.52.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, and trained by Chad Brown, Mrs McDougal now has three wins and $212,880 in five career starts.

In the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3), the featured stakes race on opening day at Saratoga, Friday, July 24, 2015, Off the Tracks, ridden by Luis Saez, took first place by 3-1/4-lengths over Benree.

Decked Out finished third in the eight-horse race for 2-year-old fillies.

Owned by J. Stables, and trained by Roderick Rodriguez, Decked Out, who is by Curlin-Harve de Grace, by Boston Harbor, ran the six-furlong dirt race on a track rate fast, in 1:11.27.

Decked Out, who is now undefeated in two career starts, has $111,600 in earnings.

Del Mar

The race meet at Del Mar started last week, but on this Saturday, there were a couple stakes races with some exiting finishes.

In the $200,500 San Diego Handicap (G2), Catch a Flight (Arg), who was piloted by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, stalked the race leaders, Appealing Tale and Bayern in third place along the outside, then rallied down the stretch to get the win by a head over Appealing Tale.

Catch a Flight, left, was the big winner at Del Mar on Saturday, as he scored a win by a head in the $200,500 San Diego Handicap (G2). (Photo by BenoitPhoto.com)

Finishing third in the seven-horse field of 3-year-olds and up was race-favorite Bayern, while second-betting favorite Hopportunity was fourth by a nose.

"He (Catch a Flight) won a lot of races in Brazil, not against the highest competition, but it gave him a good bit of experience," said winning trainer Richard Mandella. "He came here and he just keeps getting better and better. He was meant to sit back, but it looked like they were kin of getting away from him at the last turn and I was a little worried. But, I guess they used themselves enough that he caught them. The Pacific Classic is next."

Owned by Haras Santa Maria de Araras, Catch a Flight, who is by Giant's Causeway-Callaia (Arg), by Lode,  ran the 1-1/16th-mile race in 1:43.08. He now has three wins, three thirds and $401,760 in earnings in six career starts.

Also on Saturday at Del Mar, Big Book with jockey Rafael Bejarano riding, won the $200,000 Fleet Treat Stakes by 2-1/4 lengths over Kiss At Midnight.

Finishing third in the six-horse field of 3-year-old California-breds, or California-bred fillies was Sheer Pleasure.

Owned by George Krikorian and trained by Tim Yakteen, Big Book ran the seven-furlong dirt race on a track rated fast in 1:24.77.

With the win, Big Book remains undefeated with two wins and $68,400 in two career starts.

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, NYRA.com, DMTC.com BloodHorse.com, and Brisnet.com)