Top Sprinter Benny The Bull Retired Due To Ankle Injury

Posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

SBG Global RacebookTop sprinter Benny the Bull has been retired from horse racing due to an ankle injury. Stud plans are pending.

The injury was discovered 2 days after working 6 furlongs in 1:14.29 on Monday at Aqueduct to prep for the Forego Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. Benny the Bull developed a filling in the right front ankle and x-rays revealed a chip. Surgery is required to remove it making Benny the Bull miss the remainder of the year, including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

The defection of Benny the Bull from Saratoga’s August 30 Forego Handicap could leave Lucky Island the favorite. The Forego Handicap field of horses are expected to be: Eternal Star, Ferocious Fires, First Defence, Premium Wine, Real Estate. Possible Forego Handicap horses: Bold Start, Forefathers, and Tasteyville.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Commentator Wins Whitney Handicap at Saratoga July 26

Posted on Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Commentator, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, lead all the way to win the 81st running of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (G1), the Opening Weekend feature at Saratoga Race Course, by 4 3/4-lengths.

The Whitney Handicap is part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” series which means its winner, Commentator, will automatically become one of the Breeders’s Cup horses allowed to race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita.

Racing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.23, Commentator paid $10.80, $6.20 and $4.30. Second place Student Council, under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, returned $7.60 and $4.70. Grasshopper with jockey Robby Albarado is back in third showing $4.80.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday, July 26

Posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Saturday afternoon, on a day when Saratoga Race Course will offer a record of more than $1.7 million in purses, Tracy Farmer’s Commentator enters the starting gate against 10 rivals for the 81st running of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 9 furlongs.

The Whitney Handicap is 1 of 4 graded stakes on Saturday’s card that is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. The Whitney Handicap winner will be one of the Breeders’ Cup horses for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.

Saratoga’s Whitney Handicap field of horses with jockeys and weight:

  1. Online Horse BettingCommentator under jockey John Velazquez carries 120 lbs.
  2. Solar Flare (ARG) under jockey Gabriel Saez, 115 lbs.
  3. Notional under jockey Edgar Prado, 116 lbs.
  4. Cowtown Cat under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 114 lbs.
  5. Merchant Marine under jockey Rajiv Maragh, 113 lbs.
  6. Tasteyville under jockey Michael Luzzi, 115 lbs.
  7. Rising Moon under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, 115 lbs.
  8. Grasshopper under jockey Robby Albarado, 116 lbs.
  9. A. P. Arrow under jockey Ramon Dominguez, 116 lbs.
  10. Student Council under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, 117 lbs.
  11. Timber Reserve under jockey Javier Castellano, 115 lbs.

The Whitney Handicap is the 10th of 11 horse races in Saratoga’s July 26 card. Whitney Handicap post time is 5:46 pm Eastern.

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