Frankel Goes Coast to Coast

If you think trainer Bobby Frankel is hot at Del Mar, check out his numbers in New York. Entering the final six days of the Saratoga meet, Frankel had won with eight of 17 starters, good enough for a tie for fourth in the standings. Frankel, who kicked off Del Mar’s final seven days having won 14 of 43, will try to improve upon his record at Saratoga today when he sends out Velvet Morning in the eighth, an allowance race at nine furlongs on the turf for older fillies and mares. Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Velvet Morning hasn’t made the board in four starts in California this year, but has trained well since arriving in the East. Preparing for her first start since she finished last at Hollywood Park on June 27, she worked five furlongs on the turf in 59 flat, the best of eight drills at the distance last Friday. Edgar Prado, who rode Flute to her recent victory in the Alabama, has the mount on Velvet Morning, who will break from the rail.

Race of the day: The seventh, a $75,000 handicap for older fillies and mares on the grass, looks like a rerun of the Aug. 3 Honey Fox. Five of the seven entrants today ran in the Honey Fox, including the 2-3-4-5 finishers. Bucarest, who was beaten by a neck by favored Keemon nearly four weeks ago in her U.S. debut, is the 8-5 favorite. The gray mare will be opposed by Nepenthe, who was third in the Honey Fox; fourth-place finisher Eurolink Raindance; fifth-place finisher Satin Cat; and Nuit De Siam, who finished last on Aug. 3. The new faces are Mary Moscow and Letter Of Intent.

Who’s hot: Mike Machowsky. The trainer who once served as an assistant to Mandella began the final seven days of Del Mar with seven victories from only 22 starters. He also was fortunate when somebody reached in and claimed Miss Continental, a 2-year-old filly who clearly can’t run much, for $40,000 on Aug. 9.

Who’s not: The field in today’s first race at Saratoga. The 15 horses originally entered in the race for New York-bred maidens are a combined 0 for 112.

Exotically speaking: An early pick three singling My Name Is Sue in the first, using Awesome In Seattle and Kiznitti in the second and Mangusta, Warn Me Again, Coded Message, Clever Robertol, Doc N Jag, Large Deposit and Plum Good Day in the third.