SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK
SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2005
by Dick Powell
Earlier this year it looked like ASHADO (Saint Ballado) was never going to
regain her brilliant form from last year when she won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
(G1) and was voted champion thee-year-old filly. She was fifth in her first
start of the year, the Apple Blossom H. (G1), then went down to defeat as the
3-10 favorite in the Pimlico Distaff (G3). She was not working well and it would
be interesting to know if her owners ever considered retiring her to try to get
her in foal.
Ashado began to show positive signs in the Odgen Phipps (G1), which she won
by three lengths in decent time last out on June 18. She has trained well since
then and went postward on her favorite track as the 115-100 favorite in Sunday’s
Go For Wand H. (G1).
Up against her today was arch-rival Society Selection (Coronado’s Quest) who
won the Test S. (G1) here last year going seven furlongs and then came back to
upset Ashado in the 1 1/4 mile Alabama S. (G1). Both of those races were
contested on very wet tracks and it didn’t look like Society Selection would get
her track today.
However, just before the 8TH race was run, about 35 minutes before the Go For
Wand’s post time, a huge shower hit the area. Darkness engulfed the track but
the storm never really hit, and Saratoga suffered only some rain and the added
bonus of being able to read the NYRA toteboards.
Right from the start, Andujar (Quiet American) went to the front for Corey
Nakatani. Not only was trainer Doug O’Neill removing blinkers but she ran in
front bandages for the first time. She led through a first half in :47.04 with
John Velazquez stalking aboard Ashado in second place. If Ashado was her old
self this race would be over soon and it was before the top of the stretch as
the champion effortlessly moved to engage Andujar and went right by her.
Through the lane, Ashado kept pouring it on and the final margin was 9 1/2
lengths over 22-1 longshot Bending Strings (American Chance). She covered the 1
1/8 miles in 1:50.30 and looked like her old self. Her win capped off a
tremendous opening weekend for Todd Pletcher who swept the graded stakes here
with two wins Saturday and the Go For Wand Sunday. Commenting on his weekend,
Pletcher said, “It is unbelievable, unreal. I get chills just thinking about it.
It’s surreal.”
Up next for Ashado should be the 1 1/4 mile Personal Ensign (G1) on August
26. Her win gives Pletcher 10 wins in the first five days of racing and John
Velazquez 12. All 10 of Pletcher’s winners were ridden by Velazquez and the duo is
on their way to new records here.
STOLEN IDENTITY (Silic) won the opener Sunday and becomes the first horse to
race back, and win, here at the meet. On Opening Day Wednesday, he beat $20K
claimers for Juan Rodriguez, who goes back to being his boss’ top assistant when
Richard Dutrow returns from his 60-day suspension Monday. Sunday, Stolen
Identity moved up in
class, beat $30K claimers and was claimed out of the race by Gary Contessa.
Edgar Prado swept the early double when CLASSIC EXPRESSION (Western
Expression) took a big liking to the turf and went gate to wire in her turf
debut. The story here is that owner Carl Lizza’s Flying Zee Stable is quietly
having another strong meet. Phil Serpe trained this one and in the 10TH race,
Flying Zee’s SQUARE DANCING (Western Expression) won for Carlos Martin. It was
the third win of the meet for Lizza, who races an assortment of New York-bred
homebreds and purchases.
The 5TH race, a maiden special weight sprint for juvenile fillies, was
dominated by first time starter HALO HUMOR (Distorted Humor), who won by 7 1/4
lengths. She stalked a fast pace set by Chief Strategist (Chief Seattle) and
took over at the top of the lane. It was the second juvenile win of the meet for
Steve Asmussen and Jerry Bailey.
Better Now (Thunder Gulch) rallied from far back to get second after a poor
start and should be able to stretch out with a stout pedigree. Ex Caelis (Fusaichi
Pegasus) acted up behind the gate and despite running greenly for most of the
race finished third.
MAYO POST (Dixieland Band) lost his first nine starts but started off this
year with a huge maiden win in blazing-fast time down at Belmont on July 2 on a
very fast track. She looked completely washed out in the paddock Sunday for race
seven but the public ignored it and made her the 4-5 favorite. She broke on top
and went on to an easy five-length win in 1:11.59. Looks can be deceiving.
I think Ramon Dominguez is an emerging superstar rider and he showed why in
race eight. He put SECRET FOREST (Forestry) on the lead and crawled through a
first half in 49.78. With the slow pace, she was under pressure every step of
the way but Dominguez was cool as could be and rationed out her speed. Asti
(Sadler’s Wells), the 9-10 favorite, loomed boldly and looked like she was going
to go by but Dominguez maintained the advantage right to the wire and held on by
a head at 20-1 odds. Through the last furlong he never hit her with the whip and
hand rode her to the wire.
Secret Forest’s win made us look good for extolling George Weaver’s prowess
as a turf trainer the other day. He and Dominguez should make a tough team on
turf races up here.
Horses to Watch
5TH – EMMA GO BROUGH (Wild Rush) rallied for fourth in her career debut.
She’s a full sister to Wimbledon, who took a long time to get her act together.
5TH – Ex Caelis rallied for third from post 12 despite acting up behind the
starting gate and running greenly.
10TH – PREDATORY LENDER (Skip Away) pressed the pace wide, dropped back and
then came on again with a wide rally through the lane to get third.
Monday’s Best Plays
We’ll go to race four, a maiden special weight for New York breds going 5 1/2
furlongs. WHAT’S YOUR EDGE (Stormy Atlantic) is a firster from my main man Rick
Violette that is training well and was an expensive two-year-old purchase this
year. Key him over Couth (Polish Numbers) and Imperial Zip (City Zip).
Race 5 is a turf maiden event going 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon Turf Course. I
like deep closers in this spot and ISABEL AWAY (Skip Away) should fit the bill
with an inside/outside trip (save ground first turn and rally wide the second
turn.)
Carryover Watch
Even with Ashado winning the feature today, nobody picked six and there is a
healthy $77,188 carryover into Monday’s card. As I write this it is thundering
again outside so make a backup ticket in case we get showers.