Skratch Kat News Today

HOT SPRINGS -- The rapidly developing Comparative is now a graded stakes winner after holding off Ice Orchid by a half-length in the $250,000 Grade III Bayakoa Stakes for older fillies and mares Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.

Because of an equine overbite, Bayakoa often charged to the wire with her tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth.

Xigera pounced to the lead at the top of the lane and drew away off in stretch to win Thursday’s $400,000 Falls City (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Nest will look to keep her perfect Saratoga Race Course record intact in Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign.

Reigning champion 3-year-old filly Nest came back from a nearly nine-month layoff with aplomb to score in Sunday's $200,000 Shuvee (G2) for trainer Todd Pletcher, turning back the challenge of multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere to capture the 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga.

Clairiere enters from Grade 1 wins traveling 1 1/16-miles in the Apple Blossom Handicap and the Ogden Phipps in June at Belmont Park.

My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm’s Sixtythreecaliber fended off a strong late rally from favorite Kathleen O. to score the first graded win of her career in Friday’s $175,000 Comely (G3) for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Winngate Stables’ dual graded stakes winner and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks alumna Kathleen O. resumes serious business against a field of seven other sophomore fillies in Friday’s 73rd running of the Grade 3, $175,000 Comely going nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

​2022 Alabama Stakes Betting Odds and Contenders Preview:The three-year-old filly division has been spectacular this year, and divisional leaders Nest and Secret Oath will clash once again in the 2022 Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 20 at Saratoga.? Read it now on numberFire!

J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga.