Barn Notes

By Dna Smith —- BALTAS HOPEFUL OF BACK-TO-BACK LA JOLLA SCORES Trainer Richard Baltas will be aiming to annex the Grade III $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for the second year in a row when he sends out Pioneer Lad in the 77th running of the event on Sunday. The 2016 La Jolla...

NYRA RELEASE —- • War Story adjusting to Saratoga ahead of G1 Whitney • Neolithic looking to prep for G1 Woodward, Rally Cry favored in Alydar • G2 Lake Placid-bound Proctor’s Ledge fires bullet in return to work tab • G2 winner Tequilita cuts back for comeback in...

By John Heims —- MIZZ MAYHEM MAKES TURF DEBUT IN COLLEEN Mizz Mayhem will try the grass for the first time when she joins eight other two-year-old fillies in the gate for Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes going five and a half furlongs at Monmouth Park. The daughter of...

By Dan Smith —- LOBO TAKES A DOUBLE SHOT AT A FIRST DEL MAR STAKES VICTORY Trainer Paulo Lobo will be represented by a quarter of the field when he saddles two South American imports in Saturday’s Grade II $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16...

By Bailey Gallison —- • Oscar Performance Tuning Up for Secretariat • Botti Prepares Fanciful Angel for Million Bid • Permian Probable For Secretariat Bid OSCAR PERFORMANCE TUNING UP FOR SECRETARIAT Amerman Racing LLC’s homebred Oscar Performance worked Monday at Belmont...

NYRA RELEASE —- Javier Castellano; NYRA Photo • Javier Castellano joins the immortals in Friday’s Hall of Fame induction • Breaking Lucky settled in at Saratoga ahead of G1 Whitney • Classic Empire might breeze this weekend • Mohaymen returns to dirt, cross-entered in...