Jockey Javier Castellano continues his solid season as he leaves Saratoga to win a pair of $500,000 races at Colonial Downs.

Report from Japan

Racing in the Empire State has seen an uptick in purse structure for New York-bred runners, offering incentives for breeders to hit the track with their homebreds or sell in-state, while giving buyers a chance to purchase prospects for the program.

A second-generation homebred for California owner/breeder John Harris, Closing Remarks scored in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar, defeating Eastern invader Spirit And Glory.

After trouncing males in her stakes-winning debut last time out, Dreamfyre went one better in an emphatic gate-to-wire score in the $201,000 Sorrento Stakes (G3) Aug. 12 at Del Mar.

Saratoga Notebook

In his last two starts, 2-year-old Rhyme Schemes has won a maiden by 9 1/2 lengths and the Saratoga Special (G2) by the same margin. Trainer Norm Casse hopes to bring the son of Ghostzapper back in the Hopeful Stakes (G2) on Sept. 4.

In an eye-catching last-to-first move under Florent Geroux, Set Piece rallied strongly past 10 other rivals to win the Arlington Million Stakes (G1T) Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs.

Gigante represented Virginia well Aug. 12, pulling off a massive 47-1 upset in the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G2T) at Colonial Downs.

Trainer Mark Hennig knows how hard it is to win races at Saratoga. He is more than happy that he has visited the winner’s circle seven times so far. He got his 1,500th career victory Aug. 12.