Horse Racing News in Photos; Shared Belief, V.E. Day, & More

Horse Racing News in Photos; Shared Belief, V.E. Day, & More: The fourth week of August was by far the most exciting week in horse racing this month. We watched Close Hatches win the G1 Personal Ensign over champions such as Princess of Sylmar, Artemis Agrotera wowed the Saratoga crowd in the Ballerina Stakes winning by over six and a half lengths, The Big Beast won the Ketel One King’s Bishop, which was his first stakes debut, Abaco won the Ballston Spa at the Spa, V.E. Day paid his loyal fans generously after winning the Travers Stakes, Tom’s Tribute won the Del Mar Mile on Sunday just before Big John B took the Del Mar Handicap, fan-favorite Goldencents won the Pat O’Brian Stakes after rumors of retirement, and Shared Belief showed the veterans of the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes who is boss!

Shared Belief and jockey Mike Smith win the Grade I, $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic (watch replay) Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. The 3-year-old colt, while beating his elders, remains undefeated after his first six races. (Photos: Benoit)

W.C. Racing’s Goldencents and jockey Rafael Bejarano win the Grade II $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. (Photos: Benoit)

Michael House’s Big John B and jockey Mike Smith win the Grade II, $200,000 Del Mar Handicap, Saturday, August 23, 2014 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA.(Photos: Benoit)

Tom’s Tribute and jockey Mike Smith win the Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Mile, Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA. (Photos: Benoit)

Abaco earned her first victory of the year with a late flourish in the Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa for older fillies and mares to kick off the graded stakes action on Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 23, 2014. (Photos: Adam Mooshian, Chelsea Durand, Coglianese/NYRA)

On Saturday August 23, 2014, The Big Beast made his stakes debut a winning one, coming from just off the pace set by free-running Fast Anna to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One King’s Bishop for 3-year-old sprinters by a neck. (Photos: Kim Dutrow, Coglianese/NYRA)

V. E. Day capped an emotional weekend for trainer Jimmy Jerkens on Saturday, flying down the stretch to catch more heralded stablemate Wicked Strong and win the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes (watch replay) by a nose at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 23, 2014. (Photos: Coglianese/NYRA)

Ambitiously placed against older fillies and mares, 3-year-old Artemis Agrotera proved she ranks among the elite female sprinters in the country on Saturday, August 23, 2014 toying with a talented field and running away to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina by 6 ½ lengths at Saratoga Race Course. (Photos: Adam Mooshian, Lauren King, Mike Hushion, Coglianese/NYRA)

On Friday, August 22, 2014 at Saratoga Race Course, the Close Hatches went to the lead and never looked back, running away to a dominant five-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign (watch replay) for fillies and mares. (Photos: Chelsea Durand, Coglianese/NYRA)

Related Links:
August Week 3 Photos
August Week 2 Photos
August Week 1 Photos