Dollars and Sense with Frank Angst

Three days after Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage finished a surprising and disappointing last in a field of seven in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, the 3-year-old’s connections remain puzzled.

A likeness to wide-margin Phoenix Stakes (G1) winner Bucanero Fuerte helped a well-related son of Wootton Bassett fetch £200,000 on Day 1 of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in Doncaster Aug. 29.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority announced Aug. 29 the implementation of two additional safety precautions that will be in place for the remainder of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. 

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale Aug. 27 concluded Aug. 27 with a $49,000 colt by Maximus Mischief leading the way, selling to John Mentz. Richard Bremer and Cheryl Sprick bred and consigned the colt as Hip 31.

The daughter of Army Mule comes into the Music City with a 4-2-1 mark in seven starts, including 2-for-2 as a 3-year-old after Gulfstream Park’s Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) and Churchill Downs’ Mamzelle.

Following his victory in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Blue Rose Farm’s Arcangelo has soared into second place in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll.

An overflow field that includes last year’s stakes-winners Kitodan and Play Action Pass was entered the $500,000 FanDuel Tapit Stakes Aug. 31, the opening-day feature of the seven-day meet at Kentucky Downs.

The hammer fell after a final bid of $110,000 on a Texas-bred Practical Joke colt to lead the way at the 2023 Texas Summer Yearling Sale. Cataloged as Hip 122, the colt out of the stakes-winning Jan’s Perfect Star was purchased by Al Pike as agent.

Jonathan Sheppard, an acclaimed Racing Hall of Fame trainer whose accomplishments extended from steeplechase race meets to the highest levels of Thoroughbred racing, died Aug. 27, at his home in Hollywood, Fla. He was 82.