Saratoga Derby and Oaks, Whitney Stakes top weekend horse racing agenda

Rich purses drew some top foreign talent for the Saratoga Derby and Oaks on Saturday and Sunday. The Grade I Whitney on the upstate New York dirt attracted five talented protagonists. Seven are in for a competitive renewal of the $500,000 West Virginia Derby. In France, Mother Earth eked out a narrow win in Tuesday's Group 1 Prix Rothschild. Sunday's schedule includes the Grosser Preis von Berlin and the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland.

Saratoga Derby and Oaks, Whitney Stakes top weekend horse racing agenda. Five of the 11 entries for Saturday's $1 million Grade I Saratoga derby Invitational are from Ireland. The locals include Cellist, Du Jour and Palazzi, who were third, fourth and sixth in the Belmont Derby. Sunday's Grade III La Jolla Stake for 3-year-olds at Del Mar has a promising field of six.

Santa Barbara won the Belmont Oaks last month. She won't be running in Sunday's $700,000 Grade III Saratoga Oaks Invitational. The Irish hope is Messidor, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien. Maxim Rate is the 7-2 favorite on the morning line. War Like Goddess is a solid morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade II Glens Falls at Sar atoga. My Sister Nat is 4-for-5 for trainer Bill Mott. Viadera and Regal Glory are among seven in the $120,00 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes at the Saratsoga on Sunday.

Friday's $200,000 Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes for 3-year-olds at Saratoga has a field of eight. Public Sector, a Kingman colt trained by Chad Brown, gets in with a 4-pound weight break from his rival Easy Time. Wolfie's Dynaghost is 2-for-3 with fifth in the Grade III Peter Pan at Woodbine. Saturday's Fasig-Tipton Lure Stake at the Sar atoga is 11 furlongs on the grass plus one for "main track only." Chad brown entered three, Delaware and the morning-line favorites Value Proposition and Flavius.

Knicks Go won the Grade III Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows. Mr. Wireless, Warrant and Bourbonic are the favorites in the $500,000 Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. Tacitus is a Main Track Only entry for the Lure Stakes at Spa.  

Search Results is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Longines Test Stakes at Saratoga. Bob Baffert returns to New York for the first time since a court ordered NYRA to suspend his suspension. Illumination travels from Del Mar for this race. Bayerness caught Aunt Kat in the closing yards of Wednesday's Shine Again Stake.

Just Might won the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on Monday. Friday's Grade III Troy Stake at Saratoga has a dozen entries. Imprimis, Bound for Nowhere and Casa Creed are the favorites.

Seven horses are in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Best Pal at Del Mar. The favorite is Pappacap, a Gun Runner colt who won at first asking for trainer Mark Casse May 14 at Gulfstream Park. There are also Bet on Mookie, Finneus, Aquitania Arrival, Olympic Legend and Our Empire. Chi Town Lady is the favorite on the morning line in the Tyro Stakes on Monmouth Park on Saturday. Sunday's Graduation Stake at the DelMar draws a field of six.

At the Spa won the CTBA Stakes for California-bred fillies at Del Mar. Cavalier Cupid won Monday's $100,000 Keswick Stake on the Colonial Downs turf. Mainstay and Saucy Lady T came back from second- and third-place finishes in the Grade III Schuylerville on July 15 and Debutante St. at Churchill Downs.

Saratoga Derby and Oaks, Whitney Stakes top weekend horse racing agenda at Ellis Park. Saturday's and Sunday's cards feature seven races, each worth $100,000 or more.

Saratoga Derby and Oaks, Whitney Stakes top weekend horse racing agenda.

Mother Earth won the Prix Rothschild by a head over Sagamiyra. Coolmore will seek other year-end goals for its traveling crew. Mother Earth is likely to return to the United States and the Breeders' Cup.  

Brando, Kinross and Lope Y Fernandez are among those still eligible for Sunday's Group 1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Go Bears Go is a narrow favorite with some bookmakers for Sunday's Keeneland Phoenix at the Curragh.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin's Walton Street are going to race in the Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday. Sir Mark Prescott is fielding Alpinista.

Saratoga Derby and Oaks, Whitney Stakes are on the agenda for this weekend's horse racing.

Sport Model won the Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Stakes for state-bred 3-year-old fillies. Sport Model covered 1 mile on the firm inner turf course in 1:37.91 with Irad Ortiz Jr. up.

Hard Luck Justice won Wednesday's $150,000 Governor's Stakes for state-bred 3-year-olds. Nobody Listens was second and A Few Too Many was third. Pearl Tiara won the $ 150,00 Indiana First Lady for 3 year old fillies.

Uncharacteristic won the $100,000 Manitoba Derby. Myopic came in second. Warrior's Hero came third.

Arzak won the Tom Ridge Stakes for 3-year-olds at Presque Isle Downs. Smokin' Jay finished second. Nicky Two Shoes finished third.