It was ladies’ day at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 4) as the best resident fillies and mares lined up to compete, and the top two classes both produced sub-1:50 miles and career performances for their respective winners.
Banana Beach best in Kentucky Championship opening round
Banana Beach rebounded from a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final at Oak Grove with a narrow win in the back-half sprint of the opening preliminary of the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 4) at the Red Mile.
Ken Warkentin’s Final Road to the 2026 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian
Hambletonian elimination winners Apex and Big Ranger 1-2 in Ken Warkentin’s final Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian.
Big Ranger made favorite for Hambletonian
Big Ranger, who won one of last week’s two eliminations for the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, drew post 4 for Saturday’s $1 million Grade 1 final and was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 101st edition of the sport’s premier race for 3-year-old trotters.
Mohawk Saturday entry box remains open
Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Race Office would like to inform trainers that the entry box for this Saturday’s card (Aug. 8) will remain open until Wednesday morning (Aug. 5) at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday first post at Bedford (PA) changed to 1 p.m.
Horsemen and fans should note that the first post time for the 3-year-old Fair Sire Stakes at the Bedford (PA) Fairgrounds on Wednesday (Aug. 5), originally 3 p.m., has been reset for 1 p.m.
ATTENTION: All Meadowlands Horsemen racing Friday (Aug. 7)
Management at The Meadowlands would like all horsemen racing on the Friday (Aug. 7) program to please take note that the original race order has been changed.
Bailey J leads the field in NYSS action at Batavia Wednesday
A single field of eight 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings will go postward for a purse of $110,200 when the New York Sire Stakes reconvenes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 5.) The race will feature a recent track record holder who will be on hand to try and set another in a field that will offer a lot of competition.
$3,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool at Batavia Downs Wednesday
After no one hit the Pick-5 wager at Batavia Downs on Sunday (Aug. 2), there is a $985 carryover pool for that wager in the first race on Wednesday (Aug. 5) and the management of Batavia Downs has announced that pool will be guaranteed at $3,000 through the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program.
Freshman colts in Maryland Standardbred Fund action at Ocean Downs
The Maryland Standardbred Fund was in action Monday night (Aug. 3) at Ocean Downs as freshman pacing and trotting colts and geldings competed. Three lucrative divisions worth more than $109,000 in purses produced a pair of exciting pacing upsets and a dominant performance from an impressive young trotter.