Down the Stretch for July 14, 2025

The sad news first - Horse of the Year, Patches O’Houlihan could not be saved. Saturday at Woodbine, a mind-boggling daily double produced by apprentice rider, Xarel Forde and a sweep of 2 Stakes races by veteran Rafael Hernandez. Jockey Flavien Prat did something no other rider has done in the 162-year history at Saratoga Trainer Randy Harris was back in the winners circle at Mohawk for the 1st time in 10 years. Garnet Barnsdale made a remarkable prediction last week about a 2-year-old pacer named Beau Jangles – and we ask Dr. Ian Moore is this horse as good as Barnsdale says he is? Then on Saturday, the Moore-trained Prince Hal Hanover came in 1st in the Meadowlands Pace, only to be disqualified and just how ironic was that? They ran the Gridiron Classic at Ajax Downs - it took less than 7 seconds, and 2 wins by Brian Bell meant free ice cream for the fans. And we give you 7 reasons to go to Mohawk this week to bet on horses in their race book.