Sonoma County Fair racing
When: Thursday-Sunday, next Thursday-Aug. 13, Aug. 18-20 Where: Santa Rosa Post time: 1:15 p.m., except 2:15 p.m. Fridays Thoroughbred stakes: Luther Burbank Handicap, Saturday; Robert Dupret Derby, Sunday; Joseph T. Grace Handicap, Aug. 12; Wine Country Debutante and Jess Jackson Juvenile Stakes, Aug. 13. All $50,000-added plus up to $15,000 for California-breds. Update:from SouthernLady Valeur, California whose resulted previousin victoriestwo trips in the Golden Poppy and Miss America stakes at Golden Gate Fields, returns north for the Luther Burbank Handicap. The 11⁄16-mile grass race drew a full field of 10 fillies and mares plus two alsoeligibles in case of any scratches. Lady Valeur is winless in nine stakes appearances at Santa Anita and Del Mar and one at Belmont Park. Also entered Wednesday for the Luther Burbank Handicap were Elegant Bel, who won the race last year for her only stakes victory in 38 starts, and her Bill Delia-trained stablemate, Central Heat. The latter took the Luther Burbank Handicap in 2015 during a seven-race win streak. Central Heat has won 16 of 38 starts overall, including 11 of 24 on grass. Completing the field are Laseen, Miss Boom Boom, Brookys Star, Blushing Bug, Fervent Femme, Charming Starlet, Mon Petit and also-eligibles Hiking and Causeway Carolyn. … Entries will be taken Thursday for the Robert Dupret Derby, with Alcatraz Stakes winner Grecian Fire topping the nominations for the 11⁄ 16-mile grass race for 3-year-olds. … Nominations close Friday for the Joseph T. Grace Handicap and Saturday for the fair’s two stakes for 2-year-olds: the Wine Country Debutante for fillies and the Jess Jackson Juvenile (formerly named the Cavonnier Stakes). … Other stakes races are the $5,000 Wine Country Mule Sprint on Saturday, the $8,000 PCQHRA Handicap for quarter horses next Thursday and the $8,000 Santa Rosa Arabian Stakes on Aug. 13.
Elsewhere: Gun Runner, who has three dominant wins and a second in the Dubai World Cup in his past four starts, heads a field of seven in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga. Gun Runner has won eight of 15 career starts and has earned $4,638,500. His opponents include Keen Ice, upset winner of the Suburban Stakes on July 8 and the only horse to beat American Pharoah during his Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic season in 2015. … B Squared, who won the Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, runs in Saturday’s Grade 3, $750,000 West Virginia Derby. … Golden Gate Fields-based Mended stretched her winning streak to seven when she took an allowance/ optional claiming event July 27 at Del Mar. Mended’s win streak began after she was claimed for $12,500 by trainer John F. Martin for owners Troy and Maritza Onorato, and she has earned $100,200 during it.