Happily Unbridled

The Fasig-Tipton Texas yearling sale posted an 11.1% increase from a year ago in its median price Aug. 31 at Lone Star Park. But fewer horses were sold and the gross revenue plunged 43.9%. In addition, the average price declined 14.8%, and the buy-back rate rose.

Summer Bird secured his place atop the 3-year-old male division with his resounding victory in the slop in the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes.

Attendance and handle turned down fractionally for the first time during the 2009 Saratoga Race Course meet after two inches of rain Aug. 28 and 29 lowered attendance on Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Day and forced seven of the weekend’s 11 carded turf races off the turf. Attendance was down 1.6%, on-track handle down 1.6%, and all-sources handle down 2.8% from 2008 totals through week five.

The New York Racing Association will award 15 pari-mutuel wagering vouchers worth $1,000 each to fans on “Thousand Dollar Thursday”, Sept. 3.

Jockey Calvin Borel was back on board Mine That Bird on the morning of Aug. 31 as the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) worked a half mile in :51.16 over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

Two Notch Road, who broke his maiden in winning the Continental Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park in his turf debut, heads a full field of 2-year-olds entered in the Sept. 4, $100,000-added With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga.

The New York Racing Association is making special plans as “The Rachel Alexandra Show” comes to Saratoga Race Course for Saturday’s grade I, $750,000 Woodward Stakes.

The Aga Khan, one of Europe’s major owner/breeders, has signed up Christophe Lemaire as his new retained rider in France for 2010, replacing Christophe Soumillon.

Rachel Alexandra, whose eight-race win streak includes four grade I stakes, turned in her final preparation for the Sept. 5 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) when she breezed four furlongs at Saratoga on the morning of Aug. 31.

Jockey Alan Garcia has been suspended seven days for careless riding aboard Vineyard Haven in the King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga on Aug. 29.