SARATOGA NOTEBOOK
AUGUST 21, 2009
by Albie Johnson
The weather continued to cooperate with no races lost to rain again this past
week though the heat and humidity were the order of the day as week three came
to a close.
Linda Rice, who was very hot this past week, jumped to the top of the
trainer’s standings with a slim one race margin (10 to nine) over both Bill Mott
and Todd Pletcher at week’s end, though both of those powerhouse outfits had started
more than double the number of runners she had sent to the post.
Alan Garcia, the defending champ, held a 22 to 18 advantage over Ramon
Dominguez in the jockey’s race, with Kent
Desormeaux lurking just behind that pair with 16 wins.
To illustrate just how competitive this meet has become, in the first 18 days
of racing 72 different trainers have had winners, and that figure includes the
absence of one of the perennial leaders in New York (Bruce Levine), who at the
time of this writing was zero for the meet.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (8/12)
5TH — Making her debut, SPIRIT OF ROSE (City Zip) had a very poor trip.
Forced to “steady” soon after the start, she was well back heading
into the turn, launched a five wide rally and made up some ground late to finish
fifth.
Has every right to improve dramatically next out with a “clean” journey.
9TH — In this featured New York-bred stakes, a pair of runners exiting
their maiden wins, LIVIN LARGE (A. P Jet) and STORM HOPE (Judge T C), both ran big
without winning. The former (who won here earlier in the meet) had traffic
issues on both turns of this 1 1/16-mile turf contest before finishing second,
while the latter had to steady while awaiting room in early stretch before being
forced to rally while five wide, eventually winding up fourth. Both should find
the entry level allowance at the state-bred level more to their liking.
Thursday (8/13)
3RD — JUST BEN (Speightstown) was cutting-back in distance after tiring
badly in the Dwyer (G2) at Belmont on July 4. Sophomore runner was
working very fast for this and he broke running from his inside draw in the
seven-furlong contest and went wire to wire, stopping the clock in a swift 1:22 flat.
We’ll probably see this lightly raced bay colt again at this meet.
5TH — Nice training job by Wesley Ward to have COUNTERSPY (Hennessy) ready
to break his maiden in this spot fresh off almost an 11-month layoff. Gelding
had run well here last season and was prepared to win a sprint after most of his
previous good tries had come in two-turn contests. Runner-up in this spot, MASTER
(Mr. Greeley), also ran well as he was dropping into a claimer for the first
time and finished a rallying second.
Friday (8/14)
The annual inductions into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame took
place this day along with the Grade 2 stakes named in its honor.
Race was upgraded several year’s ago and featured a fine field of
three-year-olds vying for the lion’s share of the $160,000 purse in the 1 1/8-mile turf contest.
The crowd centered on Straight Story (Giant’s Causeway) as he was coming off
a pair of narrow losses at Colonial Downs in the Turf Cup (G2) and the Virginia
Derby (G2). The second choice in the wagering was COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm
Cat), who along with Al Khali (Medaglia d’Oro) represented a pair of uncoupled
runners from the barn of Mott, who has made winning this race almost an
annual event.
Pace was set by the public choice with Courageous Cat in close attendance and
they ran one-two until the top of the stretch where Straight Story suddenly gave way, leaving “Cat” with the lead, and under a “hard drive,” he proved best by 1 3/4
lengths over a closing Sal the Barber (Alphabet Soup), who edged Al Khali by a
neck for the place. The final time of 1:45.90 was less than a second off the
course record.
6TH — In this maiden contest for two-year-old males sprinting on the turf,
BRIDGETOWN (Speightstown) was very impressive in victory. After having finished
second in his debut at Churchill, chestnut colt broke running from his
outside post, put away a challenge midway through the turn and drew clear late
under intermittent urging to report home by 5 1/4 lengths.
Billions Boy (Johannesburg) recorded his second straight runner-up finish,
just beaten by a
better rival on this day. He shouldn’t be long in winning.
Saturday (8/15)
A fine crowd of 29,287 racing fans turned out on a hot and humid day and were
treated to a card of 11 races headed by the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational
(G1) for older runners at a distance of 1 1/2 miles on the main turf course.
A well-balanced and well-traveled group of 10 faced the starter with the
public choice being Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge), who was seeking his
third consecutive
victory in this event. Early pace was quick on a course that was playing very
fast with no rain having fallen in almost two weeks. The half time of :46.80
signaled “doom” for the front runners and gave those racing far back early
a decided advantage late. Eventual winner TELLING (A.P.Indy) had save ground
through out and earned first run on veteran Better Talk Now (Talkin Man) as he
angled off the inside to mount a rally approach the three-eighths pole, reached the
front just before midstretch and held off a furious late rally by Better Talk
Now to win by two lengths.
Winners had run well in many lesser events but had given no indication that
he could beat a quality field such as this. Nicely ridden by Javier Castellano,
five-year-old provided trainer Steve Hobby with his first ever Grade 1 winner.
Of those that finished “up the track,” Grand Coutourier has never liked “rock
hard” going, and the trio of German-bred runners, Lauro (Monsun),
Quijano(Acatenango), and Muskitier (Acetenango), may have had the severe heat and
humidity as a valid excuse.
8TH — The lightly raced SPARTAN KING (El Prado [Ire]) ran big in this spot.
After breaking from an outside post, he raced wide while midpack, launched a
strong rally around the turn, and finished fastest to wind up third in
a four-horse blanket photo. Runner has talent and ran well against the bias that
day.
Sunday (8/16)
Crowd of 52,435 was on hand on another “giveaway” Sunday with fair skies and
humid weather the order of the day.
2ND — Nice debut by TOUCHING BEAUTY (Tapit) as she stalked the early pace
while wide, rallied strongly turning for home and was up in the last sixteenth to
win by two lengths. Homebred had been working sharply for the past month and
was bet down late to slight favoritism. She looks like a stakes filly down the
road.
4TH — The fast and talented THUNDER’S DOVE (Thunderello) made her
seasonal debut a winning one as she stalked the early pace, eased up to
challenge on the turn and drew off after straightening away to win off by four
lengths in 1:09.26.
Mare was winning her fifth in a row dating back to last summer and had been
working fast for trainer Nick Zito, who had her very sharp off a 10 month
layoff.
10TH — In the West Point H., a state-bred turf contest for older males,
public choice BANROCK (Go For Gin) rallied late to get up in the last two
strides to best stubborn pacesetter Pennington (Western Expression) by a head.
Winner is a veteran stakes performer facing fellow New York brethren, who when
properly spotted can hold his own against “open” foes.
Gelding also has a fondness for the local infield going (5-3-2-0) during his
career.
Tom Bush conditions the winner and Kent Desormeaux contributed a well-timed
ride.
Monday (8/17)
3RD — Making his first start since racing in the Middle East earlier this year, GAYEGO (Gilded Time) was an impressive winner of this allowance-optional
claimer at a distance (six furlongs) that is clearly not his best. Brown colt
stalked while close up, bid on the outside turning for home and was up in the
last sixteenth to win “going away” by a length. There are many options open to this
versatile runner and the Woodward (G1) later in the meet may be in his future.
Upcoming stakes
Friday — Lake Placid (G2), three-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles
(turf)
Saturday — Alabama (G1), three-year-old fillies, 1 1/4 miles, main track
Have a nice week!