Horse Racing News in Photos; Weekend Winners

Horse Racing News in Photos; Weekend Winners: The first weekend in August proved to be an exciting one in the world of horse racing. All eyes were on the 87th running of the Whitney at Saratoga and the Clement L. Hircsh at Del Mar. Both races awarded Iotapa and Moreno a guaranteed spot in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup starting gate at Santa Anita Park. We also watched Tapiture and a determined Rosie Napravnik take the West Virginia Derby on Saturday. Our favorite photo from the weekend features a very dirty, yet cute, Sweet Reason just after winning the Longines Test Stakes at Saratoga!

Hronis Racing’s Iotapa and jockey Joe Talamo win the G1 $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, in Del Mar, California for trainer John Sadler. The four-year-old filly earned an automatic entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff set to take place at Santa Anita Park on Friday, October 31, 2014. (Photos © BENOIT PHOTO)

Moreno and jockey Junior Alvarado win the Whitney at Saratoga on Saturday, August 2, 2014 earning an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup World Championship later this year at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, November 1, 2014. (Photos Coglianese/NYRA Chelsea Durand, Susie Raisher)

Tapiture and jockey Rosie Napravnik won the 2014 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort for trainer Steve Asmussen on Saturday, August 2, 2014. (Photos moreatmountaineer.com)

Sweet Reason and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. win the G1 $500,000 Longines Test Stakes at Saratoga for trainer Leah Gyarmati on Saturday, August 2, 2014. (Photos Coglianese/NYRA Susie Raisher, Adam Mooshian)