SARATOGA NOTEBOOK
SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
by Albie Johnson
Exciting and historic meet came to an end with a memorable final week. In
what could only be described as unprecedented, RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro)
defeated colts in the Woodward S.(G1) and Linda Rice won the trainer’s title to
become the first woman to do so in the long history of the storied racetrack.
Events that unfolded as the 36-day session came to an end were all positive
ones for a sport in need of some good press and proved that given the right
runners and fine weather, the roar that was heard from the old wooden grandstand
many times during the meet doesn’t need to be only a once-a-year occurrence.
Wednesday (9/2)
A pair of ungraded sprint stakes for older fillies and mares, one each on turf
and dirt, highlighted the beginning of the final week here.
The Lena Spencer was run on the main turf course at a distance of 5 1/2 furlongs and resulted in an exciting three-horse photo finish that went to
CANADIAN BALLET (City Zip), who sprinted clear early and after opening a three-length
lead early in the stretch, desperately hung on to win by a neck over Sly
Storm (Storm Cat), with race favorite Smart and Fancy (Not for Love) another
nose back in the third spot.
Winner is trained by Rice and the filly was ridden by Alan Garcia, who
entered the final week within range of leading rider Ramon Dominguez as he
tried to defend the crown from 2008.
Earlier on the card, another photo was needed to separate three runners
who crossed the line as a team in the Loudonville S., a six-furlong sprint on the
dirt.
Favored SIMPLIFY (Pulpit) took advantage of her inside post to rate just off
the pace, swung out to go after J Z Warrior (Harlan’s Holiday) turning for home
and prevailed in the final stride to beat that rival by a “nose” with the fast
closing Newport Harbour (Full Mandate) another neck back in third.
Steve Asmussen, who would eventually wind up the leading money-winning trainer
at the meet, saddled the bay filly, who was given a strong ride by the barn’s
number one jockey, Shaun Bridgmohan.
Horses to Watch:
7TH — Both ORCHESTRATOR (Bernstein) and KAILA ANN’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy)
were sharp in defeat. The former was making her turf debut after a narrow loss
on Arlington’s Polytrack. She sprinted clear early in this two-turn contest and
only gave in up in the last 50 yards, losing by a neck.
The latter was making her career debut and chased Orchestrator until the far
turn where she bid, was repulsed and tired late to finish fourth. Both fillies
shouldn’t be long in winning.
Thursday (9/3)
Once again the day featured a pair of ungraded contests, both on the turf for
distaffers.
The Riskaverse for sophomore fillies was contested on the inner course at a
distance of 1 1/16 miles. On a speed-favoring strip, invader SILVER
REUNION (Harlan’s Holiday) was gunned to the front from an outside post by
leading rider Dominguez and never relinquished the lead, coasting home to a 3
1/4-length triumph over Miss Catalyst (Mr. Greeley), who chased the winning filly
from start-to-finish to easily hold down the place spot.
Winner is a home-bred from the Brereton Jones operation and is trained by
Graham Motion.
Of those finishing “up the track,” race favorite Bluegrass Princess (Dynaformer)
lost all chance when she “bobbled” at the start.
Two-year-old fillies took to the track much earlier on the card to contest
the P. G. Johnson S., a race honoring one of New York’s most respected trainers
who passed away earlier this decade.
Race was over early as recent maiden winner on the dirt, TAPITSFLY (Tapit), broke running from the two post, quickly sprinted clear and after putting away a
strong challenge by eventual runner-up Smart Seattle (Smart Strike), drew clear
late to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Versatile gray filly is a homebred from owner Frank Jones and is conditioned
by Dale Romans. The trainer’s long-time rider, Robby Albarado, was aloft.
Horses to Watch:
4TH — The very talented but fragile ETCHED (Forestry) ran his record to a
perfect four for four in this country with a just-off-the-pace win in this
allowance/optional claiming event. Prepared to win this 1 1/8 contest off a
long layoff by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, the Darley homebred’s only poor race
came when he shipped to the Middle East and finished fourth in the U.A.E. Guineas (UAE-G3).
Colt won the Nashua (G3) as a juvenile and impressed when doing it.
If he can stay sound, Etched would be a welcome addition to the handicap ranks.
Friday (9/4)
A field of nine juvenile males headed to the turf in the With Anticipation
S. (G3) on another beautiful late summer’s day, with the crowd settling on recent
maiden winner Jung Man Scott (Freud) as a slight favorite over the maiden Paddy
O’ Prado (El Prado [Ire]).
Pace was solid early and took its toll on the front-runners late with a colt
making his turf debut, INTERACTIF (Broken Vow), rallying from well back with a
sweeping move on the turn to prove victorious. Todd Pletcher-trained juvenile
had tired after contesting the pace in the Sanford (G2) earlier in the meet and
looked sharp here with rating tactics employed. Final margin was 4 1/2 lengths over
Jung Man Scott, who out-finished Paddy O’ Prado a nose for the place.
The co-feature on the second of two twilight cards was the ungraded Voodoo
Dancer S. for older females which was run on the inner turf course at 1 1/16
miles. Contest drew a field of well-matched runners that are a bit below those of
the graded variety.
Race produced a wire-to-wire winning performance by LEAMINGTON (Pleasant Tap), who had spent the early part of her career running in England. Much improved
since coming here to the barn of Graham Motion and adding Lasix, the filly reported home 1 1/4 lengths clear of Belle Allure
(Ire) (Numerous),who had a neck on Eissoai (Brz) (Roi Normand).
Nice ride by Jeremy Rose, who won several stakes at the meeting when teamed-up
with Motion.
Horses to Watch:
4TH — Impressive debut by LOVELY LIL (Tiznow) as the juvenile state-bred filly
contested a fast pace, ran her two front-end rivals into defeat, then drew off
under a hand ride to win by seven widening lengths. Trainer Mike Hushion had a
good meet and sent out several sharp two-year-olds, including this runner. She
may go right into a stakes.
Saturday (9/5)
A crowd of a little more than 31,000 was on had to witness history as RACHEL ALEXANDRA
held on stubbornly and tenaciously for a dramatic head victory over Macho Again (Macho Uno), becoming the first filly to win the
Woodward S. (G1) and, in all probability, locking up Horse of the Year honors in the
process.
She was up and on a fast pace throughout and after bidding to the front, she
dug down for something extra and raced into the record books that in my opinion
was one of the most exciting moments in the 40-plus years that I’ve witnessed
racing at the “Spa.”
Congratulations to owner Jess Jackson, trainer Asmussen and jockey
Calvin Borel for a memorable year from this champ, one that they’ll be
talking about as long as there’s Thoroughbred racing.
One race earlier on the card, a field of 12 sprinters and middle-distance
runners faced the starter in the Forego S. (G1) at seven furlongs.
Despite the large gathering, the race on paper came down to two horses, PYRO
(Pulpit) and Kodiak Kowboy (Posse), and that’s the way they came roaring down the
stretch with both runners closing from far back. Pyro out-finished his
rival by a half-length, with Ready’s Echo (More Than Ready) coming from last to
finish a close-up third.
The winner was purchased privately by the Godolphin operation earlier in his
career and capped a huge meeting for them and trainer Saeed bin Suroor as
they were (14-8-3-0) at the session, winning several important stakes, many of
them with runners returning from very lengthy layoffs.
Horses to Watch:
7TH — Sharp maiden win by GUNROCK (Forest Danger) as he stalked the pace
in the clear, rallied when asked and held sway by a length over a good field. Of
the also-rans, Alex Le Great (Afleet Alex), a $335,000 yearling purchase raced
close-up and greenly in his debut and should improve next time out for trainer
Steve Klesaris.
Sunday (9/6)
Pair of graded stakes, headed by the Spinaway (G1) for juvenile fillies, were the showcase events of the next-to-last day of the meet.
There wasn’t much drama involved as the 1-2 finishers in the Schuylerville
(G3) on opening day finished that way again, with HOT DIXIE CHICK (Dixie Union)
once again winning handily as Beautician (Dehere) chased all the way before
settling for second, 1 3/4 lengths behind the impressive winner.
“Dixie” is not only a stablemate of Rachel Alexandra, she’s stabled right next
to her, giving Asmussen a chance to gaze every morning on some very
valuable fillies.
A race earlier on the program, the still-developing AL KHALI (Medaglia d’Oro)
proved best with a strong stretch run to win the Saranac S. (G3) run at 1 1/16
miles on the main turf course. Ridgling started his career in Peru and is now in
the barn of Bill Mott. His connections had scratched him one day earlier out of
the Kent S. (G2) at Delaware Park to await this spot, and their judgment was
rewarded.. Mott’s main rider Kent Desormeaux was aboard.
5TH — In the Commentator S. honoring the New York-bred two-time
winner of the Whitney S. (G1), CANNONBALL (Catienus) made a successful return to
the states after being part of trainer Wesley Ward’s invasion of Royal Ascot in
June. Gelding just missed winning the prestigious Golden Jubilee
S. (ENG-G1) in his previous start, squaring off against some of the best
sprinters in Europe that afternoon.
It wasn’t an easy win as he had to run down both the stubborn pace-setting
filly Ahvee’s Destiny (Rizzi) and Silver Timber (Prime Timber), who had forged to
the front in late stretch. Final margin was a neck, with the filly another half-length back in third.
Monday (9/7)
A beautiful fall-like day signaled an end to the meet as closing day was upon
us far too quickly.
Traditional final feature, the Hopeful (G1), attracted a large field of 12 headed by the undefeated Backtalk (Smarty Jones), who had won the Sanford (G2)
here earlier in the meet after taking the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill in
the spring.
Competitive contest was dominated by runners who had all broken their maidens
at some time over the previous 35 days of racing here. Winning colt DUBLIN
(Afleet Alex) overcame a “stumbling” start and rallied while wide to win by two
lengths over Aspire (Tale of the Cat), with Aikenite (Yes It’s True) another 1
1/2 lengths back in third. Backtalk made a menacing move on the turn, but leveled off
by midstretch to finish fourth.
Dublin gave trainer Wayne Lukas his first Grade 1 winner since 2001, and Jamie
Theriot contributed a well-timed ride.
Co-feature on the card was the Glens Falls H. (G3) for older fillies and
mares run at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf. MUSHKA (Empire Maker) settled nicely behind a runaway leader, took over when
asked and under heavy late pressure maintained a safe margin to the wire,
reporting home by 1 1/4 lengths over Lemonette (Lemon Drop Kid), with longshot
Queen of Hearts (Thunder Gulch) a nose back in third.
Winning filly is in the Mott barn and was taking her first stakes since the
Demoiselle (G2) on the dirt back in November 2007.
Horses to Watch:
2ND — Good-looking maiden win by HATHEER (Storm Cat) as she raced under
pressure and accelerated nicely after being set down as she entered the stretch,
winning by 1 1/2 lengths under late pressure. Darley homebred is one that bares watching.
Congratulations again to the meet’s leading trainer and rider, Linda Rice and
Ramon Dominguez.
Upcoming Stakes at Belmont
(9-11) the Bowling Green(G2) 3 & up 1 3/8th’s
miles (turf)
(9-12) the Garden City (G1) 3yr.old fillies 1 1/8th miles (turf)
( 9-12) the Ruffian (G1) 1 1/16th miles 3 & up f & m’s
Have a nice week & we’ll see you at Belmont!