Kaleem Shah’s homebred American Gal landed the grade 1 victory she’s been chasing Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

Only twice in his career has California-based Mike Puype put one of his charges on his plane to the Spa and both times, they have returned with graded stakes success.

Top international sire Galileo reached a new milestone Aug. 5, when To Eternity won the British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes at Newmarket to bring the stallion’s black-type stakes winner tally to 250. 

Mike Smith, the Hall of Fame rider who has handled scores of top horses and won hundreds of major races over a 36-year career, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award.

Catherine Hutt enjoyed success on the racetrack at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 4 and hopes that luck continues with an Uncle Mo filly she entered in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.

Can the Man and Noble Mission each have one yearling cataloged. Cairo Prince, Fed Biz, Strong Mandate, and Verrazano all have two on offer, while Will Take Charge leads the way with 10. 

Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend’s biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week a loaded card at Saratoga Race Course, featuring two grade 1 races, highlights the schedule.

The three-tiered racing series for nominated progeny of stallions registered with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association will offer only six races for 2-year-olds this year.

The three-tiered racing series for nominated progeny of stallions registered with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association will offer only six races for 2-year-olds this year.

The powerful turn of foot that carried Bricks and Mortar to victory in his first three starts kept him unbeaten in his toughest challenge to date as he ran by favorite Yoshida (JPN) in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T).

Len Riggio and Craig Bandoroff are returning to familiar grounds Aug. 7-8, offering a half brother to classic winner Tapwrit, at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.

Pending lawsuit seeks to address breeders’ lost nomination fees.

American Cleopatra, the grade 1-placed full sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh, is in foal to Uncle Mo, but owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat is still undecided on whether her racing career is over.

There is terrific stakes action all over the map Aug. 5, which is Whitney Stakes (G1) Day at Saratoga Race Course and also West Virginia Derby (G3) Day at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort.

Pillars of the Turf—John Gaines, Ogden “Dinny” Phipps, and Col. Matt Winn—take their place in the Hall of Fame with fellow 2017 inductees Javier Castellano, Garrett Gomez, Victor Espinoza, and equine star Goldikova.

Effective Sept. 5 JACK Thistledown Racino will race on Tuesdays instead of Fridays.