An interesting observation with Lawyer Ron’s equipment: draw reins
Steeplechase Times/Saratoga Special 7-29-07 “Lawyer Ron sets track mark in Whitney”
excerpt
“We went to the draw reins, basically, from Day One. That was the first step, getting his gallops in control. With the draw reins, he’s almost kind to gallop,” Pletcher said. “It’s been a work in progress, it’s been a combination of things but most importantly it’s time and maturation of the horse. Repetition, doing things over and over.”
Saratoga is suffering from a labor shortage largely tied to immigration and delays with processing visas …
Times Union 7-29-07 " Visa rules leave horses without helpers"
Excerpt
It also led to a decrease – for the first time in memory – in the number of horses stabled April through June at the Spa. The number dropped some 12 percent from 2006, the New York Racing Association said. The barns generally employ one worker for every two horses, but that ratio increased to one for every three or four horses this spring, according to trainers.
“I’ve never seen anything like this at the racetrack, in terms of lack of workers,” said Nick Caras, activities coordinator for backstretch recreation at the NYRA track. “I’ve seen workers without horses, but never horses without the worker.”
While he didn’t do very well in the Whitney, Magna Graduate is one handsome devil! Where’s the drooling smilie?
http://www.finalturngallery.com/g2/v/DeborahKralPhotography/saratoga/07_Magnagrauate00_dk.jpg.html
A record for Lawyer Ron and the Whitney … or not? The Daily Racing Form questions the timing
DRF 7-29-07 “A track-record Whitney – or was it?”
excerpt
“We’re going to take a look at it,” said NYRA chairman Steve Duncker. “We don’t want to establish a major track record like this by mistake.”
Lawyer Ron supposedly smashed the mark of 1:47 set by Tri Jet in the pre-100ths days of 1974 and equalled by Left Bank’s 1:47.04 in the 2002 Whitney. The clocking immediately seemed odd to those who had just watched Ginger Punch win the Grade 1 Go For Wand by 6 widening lengths in 1:49.19 (2.55 seconds slower) only 31 minutes earlier.
Yesterday no one was allowed within 10 feet of him, Carl’s instructions - my friend works for them and on Monday I will get my picture taken with him.
Look at this great picture:
http://www.finalturngallery.com/g2/v/apvalspictures/saratoga2007/lamenina.jpg.html
Calvin’s remarks to the TVG reporter: “Street Sense should win by daylight and with class today”.
He know enough not to make claims like that without backing them up so look for Street Sense to be damn hungry in today’s Jim Dandy.
God I wish I had TVG. I’ve been watching all the races on the NYRA site. So far I haven’t noticed anybody come from far back. But I sure hope SS can!
Those pictures are great. This one is funny too. http://www.finalturngallery.com/g2/v/apvalspictures/saratoga2007/nofunnybiz.jpg.html
Does anybody know why SS sometimes works with a noseband and sometimes without?
Jim Dandy:
Street Sense, although required a lot of whip, takes the win with Zito’s C.P. West holding tough and taking second behind by only about 1 1/2 lengths or less.
Good race!! Calvin was very touching.
Why is Kathy Lee Gifford and Frank Gifford giving out the Jim Dandy award?
Whew. I’m dizzy from starring so hard at that little screen! SS did apear to loof after he passed CP-but I think he did good compared to how the other races panned out.
He did enough - but it sure took a lot of work. The Travers should be interesting, especially is R2R is there.
[QUOTE=HungLikeAStallion;2592068]
The Travers should be interesting, especially is R2R is there.[/QUOTE]
Nope.
She is doing the Alabama instead there at Spa. The Travers has been off the table for a few weeks per Pletcher, especially so when she missed Coaching Club of America race at Belmont.
it should be interesting for Street Sense depending how the Haskell Invitational goes for Curlin and the rest of the field that looks rather like the Preakness field.
If Curlin looks like a monster out of that race then Street Sense will be in big trouble. He didn’t look as “wow” as I expected him in the Jim Dandy however much of that was due to Calvin not getting the space on the rail as he wanted.
Link to the race replay of the Jim Dandy (Grade 2) found in this article.
Just watched the replay of the Jim Dandy: did not look easy for SS…but a win is a win.
Maybe Calvin was just holding him back?
Times Union 7-30-07 “Street Sense showered with love”
“The time off did him great,” Borel said. “He finished great and I still had some horse. Horses like him come once in a lifetime. He was just awesome today.”
A crowd announced at 46,876 on a baseball cap giveaway day was just as thrilled to see Street Sense, who became the first Kentucky Derby winner to run at Saratoga in the same year he won the Derby since Thunder Gulch won the 1995 Travers.
Before the race, fans stood three and four deep behind the fence and applauded Street Sense when he was led into the paddock.
Wearing the yellow-and-blue silks of owner James Tafel, Borel got an equally enthusiastic reception when he mounted the dark bay colt. Borel is riding full-time at Saratoga for the first time to be closer to Street Sense, who is stabled here.
“I thought that was great,” Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger said of the crowd reaction. “What was even greater was the way (Street Sense) responded to it. As soon as he heard the fans, he got happier. He knew he wasn’t going back to the barn for schooling again.”
Nice to see sports fans giving a warm welcome and turning out in drove just as they did an hour away to the west in the Village of Cooperstown where 1,800 residents swelled to 75,000 on Sunday although I digress …
Nick Zito was clearly happy as he had underdogs who took 2nd place finishes in both the Whitney [Wanderin Boy, send off at 29-1] and Jim Dandy [CP West]
While clearly Tiz Wonderful still isn’t ready for this level of action, he finished last, and will not/should not be pointed the Travers afterall.
Comments from Carl suggest that Street Sense was just getting back into the groove and the Travers will be another showcase for him, per the Daily Racing Form:
Nafzger said he expects to see Street Sense improve off his performance in the Jim Dandy.
“We should see a better horse in the Travers,” said Nafzger. “He’ll have more fitness and a run over the track which is a big advantage. We had all the horse we needed for today and I’m glad this race was a mile and one-eighth. I thought C P West ran a hell of a race. He wouldn’t let us go by without a fight and I’m sure we’ll see him again in the Travers.”
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2592328]
She is doing the Alabama instead there at Spa. The Travers has been off the table for a few weeks per Pletcher, especially so when she missed Coaching Club of America race at Belmont.[/QUOTE]
Actually she unlikely to come here at all - her next stop will be in KY with the boys. 
[QUOTE=HungLikeAStallion;2593258]
Actually she unlikely to come here at all - her next stop will be in KY with the boys. ;)[/QUOTE]
That would be truly big news regarding Rags to Riches.
The NYRA folks would be hating life if she doesn’t run at Spa.
Per “her” last blog entry from Aug 27th
"The results of the exam will be reviewed by Dr. Paul Thorpe, the attending veterinarian for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, said Pletcher. “Dr. Thorpe will be flying in from Ireland, tomorrow to go over the results with us. If everything checks out well she could still make the Alabama.”
Missing two big races and then taking on the boys in Kentucky seems questionable.
Very impressed with the stakes wins at Saratoga this weekend… I don’t think Street Sense was struggling. I think Calvin pushed him just enough to win that race. I think from the interviews I heard on TVG that they are planning on a BIG run in the Travers. Maybe their justing saving him up for the REALLY big day! LOL Also Lawyer Ron–wow was I impressed. I’ve never been big on him, but it looks like Todd Pletcher has him running much better than what I saw in his last races!! Congrats to all~~~
~Darci~
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2593292]
Missing two big races and then taking on the boys in Kentucky seems questionable.[/QUOTE]
You misunderstood -
You think they are going to retire her!!??
:mad:
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