2011 Saratoga Meet

[Glimmerglass]

File under WTF

One of those “you just cannot believe it” stories. Cue the banjos

A Kentucky man fleeing from New York Racing Association security Thursday drove his car into Saratoga Lake and then stood on the vehicle as it sunk and shouted at land-bound police, authorities said.

“I can’t swim a lick,” Daniel Burgess, 49, shouted at police, according to witnesses. “I’m going down with the car.”

Saratoga County sheriff’s deputies used a boat to pull the man to safety. The vehicle eventually sank.

The incident began at Saratoga Race Course where Burgess and his wife are exercise riders, police said.

Burgess drove away from the track, crossed the Route 9P bridge and then pulled into the parking lot at the Saratoga Lake Boat Launch, according to police.

A witness, Corrie Mersereau, said Burgess drove his white Ford sedan around the parking lot before stopping at the water’s edge. He emptied his exercise equipment onto the shore than drove the vehicle into the water, said Mersereau, a lake steward.

Burgess was handcuffed and taken to the hospital.

Times Union 8-18-11 “Man drives car into lake, yells at cops” (with pictures)

[Glimmerglass]

Sad and biting commentary from the DRF’s Steve Crist blog of today (8-18-11) - although hard to say he doesn’t have a valid point:

Catching up on the early races on a 10-race card that began with two 2 3/8-mile steeplechases:

1st: The Invincible Jonathan Sheppard ran 1-2 with the uncoupled entry of Parker’s Project ($30.40) and 2-1 fave Port Morsbey, beaten 5 1/4 lengths while finishing 11 lengths clear of the others. it was 49 lengths from 1st to 6th, and only 4 of the 9 non-Sheppard trainees even completed the race. Baltic Shore fell, Brave Prospect lost his rider, and Jimtown, Dr. Wheat and Cuse all left the course. Steeplechasing at its best is entertaining and a great second career for flat runners, but a race like this paints an unappealing picture of it and makes it seem less than ready for prime-time exposure at Saratoga.

2nd: Sheppard again in the 2nd as Italian Wedding ($6.30) won the Mickey Walsh Novice Stakes, where the 4-2-1 finishers in the July 28 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes returned to run 1-2-3. Only 29 lengths from 1st to 6th this time, and 6 of the 8 finished the race without leaving the course. The Sheppard-Sheppard double paid $81.50.

[Glimmerglass]

The showhorse thing didn’t work out so what about a return to the track? That’s the case with Cribnote. I recall betting on him a couple of times.

Handicappers have rarely had to make assessments on horses running off a 1,050-day layoff, but such is the case in Saturday’s first race at Saratoga, in which Cribnote, the runner-up in the 2008 Hopeful Stakes, makes his first start in nearly three years in a first-level allowance race for New York-breds.

Cribnote underwent knee surgery following the Champagne and never seemed to come back to his previous form while training. Cribnote also developed a rare disease that made him unable to assimilate sugars and starches, which resulted in him having muscle problems. He was retired by Red Diamond Stable, of which Dana Reis is the managing partner.

After a failed attempt in turning him into a show horse, Reis asked Violette if he would be interested in taking him back and putting him in training.

See SAT Aug 20, Race 1, PP #3 the ML favorite

[Madeline]

@Glimmerglass;5786497

Sad and biting commentary from the DRF’s Steve Crist blog of today (8-18-11) - although hard to say he doesn’t have a valid point:

Golly, I don’t see the problem. First of all, they carded an allowance/optional claiming jumping race that drew 11 starters. Actually, it drew 12 plus an AE. One scratch due to the death of the managing partner of the ownership group and the ensuing paperwork snafu.
Six finished. One fell at the last, unfortunately causing another to lose his rider. The other three , as has become traditional in jump races, pulled up before the last rather than risking another fence for bravado.

Is Crist implying that somehow Sheppard’s dominance at Saratoga is a problem? How could that be? Jonathan has been the dominant trainer of jumpers for a few decades now, and he has been stunningly successful at the Spa. I believe he was straight up leading trainer one year, despite running mainly just jumpers. He sent out a horse who lit up for the first time in a year or so. Horse jumped great and put some distance to the field.

Second race drew 8, Italian Wedding won by a length. Everyone stood up , one pulled up 3 out after making it clear in tha paddock that he didn’t want to play, and another was distanced and pulled up before the last.

I suspect that if they were running flat horses 2 3/8 miles, some of them would pull up when distanced. So far the jump races have had fields of 8,6,8,9,11,and 8. I think that the jumpers have done themselves proud at the Spa.

[CVPeg]

Yea, I’m not sure I get the point either - except that if you’re not a horseman, and only a bettor, as so many are today, you are miffed that your horse had some occurrence happen during the race. But that is part of steeplechasing. As Crist said, “Steeplechasing is at its best entertaining”, so he’s really whining that it doesn’t fit into his betting plans. I think the big bettors continually depict themselves as the most significant of horse racing fans, and could care less about what the majority want to see. They certainly act that way at the window. And yes, I agree that they spend alot of money at the track.

But I’m sick of hearing how they need to have all accomodations for them. Take a look at the throngs at Saratoga and tell me how many are there to play “professionally”, and sadly take a look at who shows up at Belmont or Aqueduct regularly. And yes, I know there are thousands playing off site, but that includes the casual bettor/enthused fan. Now that their opinions are definitely highly considered, I wish they’d stop counting out the general public in their demands. I find Crist’s work interesting, but often disagree.

Let’s not keep removing what makes the meet so unique and wonderful.

[CVPeg]

The Lake Placid/Winter Memories’ race

I am surprised by the lack of discussion generally this weekend regarding Winter Memories’ fate in this race. Many are discussing it as if she just got boxed in, and then had little left for the one questionable opportunity she had to finally break away, placing the failure firmly at her feet.

I really guess there was no continuous conspiracy in that race, and that the favorite is often targeted. But you couldn’t have choreographed a better demise for the favorite than in the Lake Placid. I played the rerun several times, and they really “took care” of her.

Can’t complain as I did cash a ticket on Hungry Island, but only because of the odds. I didn’t really think Winter Memories would lose, and was more enthused about watching her run a great race. In a way it is sad that we couldn’t have seen what she might have done had she been given the chance.

[Glimmerglass]

@Madeline;5788227

Golly, I don’t see the problem. First of all, they carded an allowance/optional claiming jumping race that drew 11 starters. Actually, it drew 12 plus an AE. One scratch due to the death of the managing partner of the ownership group and the ensuing paperwork snafu.

Six finished. One fell at the last, unfortunately causing another to lose his rider. The other three , as has become traditional in jump races, pulled up before the last rather than risking another fence for bravado.

I won’t get into Crist’s mind, but I doubt there is a complaint about one trainer dominating the ranks. In fact its not exactly a secret hunch play to have gone for the Sheppard early DD (R1 & R2) and net a fat $80+ payoff for $2.

However I have to say that it was disappointing (and not much can be done I suppose) when back to back steeplechase races result in fallers with both races. It’s hard to draw in new fans from this type of venue when they’re seeing horses hitting the ground. I don’t care how much TVG’s Jimmy Dugan says “99% of the time they’re fine” it still is something that makes everyone wince.

I never did see any comments as to who was to blame on letting the field for the feature steeplechase race go off 3-min too early. However that is completely unacceptable as it leaves money on the table. An extra 5-minutes from the horses not yet in ready formation adds more money for all.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;5792175]
I am surprised by the lack of discussion generally this weekend regarding Winter Memories’ fate in this race.[/QUOTE]

Maybe people were still fixated on The Alabama I thought that St. John’s River could’ve pulled it off and why would a ‘Bayou trainer’ make only his 2nd trip ever to Saratoga if she wasn’t a top chance? I kept waiting for her closing kick but it never arrived. Oh well.

I never did expect Inglorious to do well nor did she. She’s not a dirt horse - two prior failures - and it wasn’t going to change just because she won on the biggest race in Canada on synthetic.

Video: Grade 1 $500k Alabama Stakes - Aug 20, 2011

Saturday had 33,380 go through the turnstiles and they got to see who is the leading contender for becoming the Eclipse Award 3-year old filly.

With the aforementioned Sunday spotlight race:

Video: 1 1/8 mi $150,000 Grade 2-T Lake Placid Stakes - Aug 21, 2011

Hungry Island, with Alex Solis up, who returned $21.40 to win, completed the distance in 1:53.77 over the yielding course and may now be pointed to the Grade 1 Garden City at Belmont Park on Sept. 18,said trainer Shug McGaughey.

“I wish it hadn’t rained but the ground had a little give to it when she broke her maiden,” said McGaughey. “She’s a good filly who has done everything we’ve wanted this year. We skipped the Lake George because I didn’t want to rush her back off her last win at Belmont knowing we had this race, the Garden City and the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland coming up. And if all goes well we might be able to make all three with her.”

[Glimmerglass]

Image (Skip Dickstein/TU) Alex Solis giving Hungry Island a kiss on the neck after winning the 28th running of The Woodford Reserve Grade 2 Lake Placid.

So no Blind Luck or The Factor at Saratoga this year. Both are staying in Del Mar. Blind Luck appears to be taking on the boys in Sunday Aug 28 The Grade 1 $1 Million Pacific Classic - just the 3rd time ever for such an entry. While Baffert is pointing The Factor to the Pat O’Brien Stakes. Who knows maybe Uncle Mo scared him off from Saturday’s King’s Bishop?

Interestingly Blind Luck may take on the boys in an historic effort and so too will, potentially, her chief rival: Havre de Grace. She’s going for the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 2 … if she wins that her connections are making the bid they want for Horse of the Year. As we’ll recall only one female has ever won the historic Woodward — Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in 2009. That win cemented her HOY title. This should be one heck of a race!

From white hot to ice cold: Johnny Velazquez hasn’t won since taking the first four races on Friday. Zero on Saturday and Zero on Sunday.

It opens the door to maybe three way race for the jockey title if JV has a few more bad days: Ramon Dominguez (31 wins); John Velazquez (41); and Javier Castellano (33)

[Madeline]

@Glimmerglass;5792321

However I have to say that it was disappointing (and not much can be done I suppose) when back to back steeplechase races result in fallers with both races.

I believe that last year there were 5 jumping races and no fallers. So far this year there have been 50 starters with 2 fallers. Not perfect, but not a faller in every race.
There were no fallers in the second jump race last week.

[Glimmerglass]

A bit off topic with the Yaddo Handicap having been held Friday. Regardless this is a great opportunity if you’re an architectural junkie like me.

Yaddo News: September 18 with have (4) two-hour long tours of the mansion

The huge stone mansion is almost never, ever open to the public whatsoever. These guided tours of the historic Yaddo Mansion (and other sites on the private portion of the estate) are being conducted for the first time since 2003, and only the fifth time in its history.

Video sampler of the c.1895 mansion

The gardens are available daily for tour during the Saratoga race meet. The $40 charge for the mansion tour goes towards its restoration.

[Glimmerglass]

Despite poor weather impacting the number of races on the grass the numbers are still up for the meet thus far: NYRA 8-22-11 “Attendance, On-Track Wagering Up; All-Sources Even After 28 Days At The Spa”

Attendance through week five (28 days) was 632,600, up 3.7 percent from 609,943 in 2010.

On-track handle totaled $85,582,029, up 9.9 percent from $77,862,507 last year.

Wagering at the downstate Belmont Café and Aqueduct simulcast facilities was $13,496,697, resulting in a combined on-track handle of $99,078,726, up 15.5 percent from $85,770,387 in 2010.

Tomorrow - Wed August 24th - the draw for Saturday’s 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers will be done on-line. See @ 11 am EST

http://www.nyra.com/Saratoga/TraversDraw.shtml

NBC Sports will air the Travers and Kings Bishop spring live on Sat 8-27 starting at 5pm EST. It looks to be a sensational day of racing really worth tuning in. Mike Repole is certainly hoping he takes both races which would be an amazing feat.

Then again I still recall Lost in the Fog winning the Kings Bishop - unknowingly with a tumor - to honest applause. Video replay from 2005 - kicking butt, taking names and leaving this planet all too soon

Thursday’s steeplechase race entries (pdf) $100,000 The New York Turf Writers Cup (Grade 1-NSA)

I believe this will be the first race for PA-based Daniell Hodsdon (aboard Sheppards Nation Builder) since an injury in the spring.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5786394]
One of those “you just cannot believe it” stories.

Times Union 8-18-11 “Man drives car into lake, yells at cops” (with pictures)[/QUOTE]

And now he’s without his truck and a job …

TU 8-23-11 “Racing board punishes rider who drove car into lake” - excerpt

Citing his character, the state Racing and Wagering Board on Tuesday denied Daniel Burgess, 49, a license to work as a groom and rider at Saratoga.

“After careful consideration, you are hereby notified that the board refuses to issue you a license to participate in racing in the state of New York, for which you applied on Aug. 14, 2011, for the following reasons … your experience, character and general fitness are such that your participation in racing or related activities would be inconsistent with the public interest, convenience or necessity, or with the best interests of racing generally,” the board’s licensing office told Burgess in a ruling obtained by the Times Union.

The Kentucky man also omitted in his application that he had violated racing rules in Indiana, according to the state Racing and Racing Board. The Indiana Horse Racing Commission suspended Burgess in June 2010 for failing to provide “all information regarding his criminal history,” a board source said.

There are 1,934 licensed grooms at thoroughbred race tracks in New York and 967 exercise riders.

[Madeline]

@Glimmerglass;5795396

Thursday’s steeplechase race entries (pdf) $100,000 The New York Turf Writers Cup (Grade 1-NSA)

I believe this will be the first race for PA-based Daniell Hodsdon (aboard Sheppards Nation Builder) since an injury in the spring.

Almost. She trode One Giant Step to a 4th last week in the second race.

[Glimmerglass]

The meet’s showcase race the 142nd Running of the Travers Stakes for $1M at 1 1/4 mi. From this morning’s live draw for the Sat race

PP. Horse. … ML Odds

1. Bowman’s Causeway … 12-1
2. Rattlesnake Bridge … 8-1 (with JV up)
3. Moonshine Mullen … 20-1
4. Ruler on Ice … 6-1
5. Malibu Glow … 20-1
6. Raison d’Etat … 10-1 (Bill Mott trained)
7. Coil … 3-1
8. J W Blue … 20-1
9. Stay Thirsty … 5-2
10. Shackleford … 9-2

Looks like a very competitive field.

[Glimmerglass]

Saturday August 27th is really going to be a blockbuster with graded race after graded race. It’s a shame NBC is just going to be airing just 1-hours worth of coverage with the Travers and Kings Bishop.

Entries Race 8: $200k Ballston Spa S. (Grade II)
Approx. 3:28 PM EST with a field of 9

Entries Race 9: $100k Victory Ride S. (Grade III)
Approx. 4:03 PM EST with a field of 10

Entries Race 10: $250k Ballerina S. (Grade I)
Approx. 4:38 PM EST with a field of 7 including Tar Heel Mom!

Entries Race 11: $250k Foxwoods King’s Bishop S. (Grade I)
Approx. 5:12 PM EST with a field of 8

Then the 142nd Grade 1 $1,000,000 Travers Stakes at Race 12 off at approx. 5:45 pm EST

One horse making her maiden start - race 5: a $60k maiden for 2-yr old fillies: the Phipps owned and bred Trophy Wife (Giant’s Causeway - Pleasant Home, by Seeking the Gold)

Trained by Shug McGaughey she’ll be ridden by Alex Solis. I’m surprised nobody had registered a filly with the name …

[CVPeg]

Another Durkin memorable call

Believe earlier in this thread we were discussing favorite calls.

In today’s 5th at Saratoga, 100,000k MCl - the favorite won by five - the result was,

“and Hannibal Lecter had this field for lunch”:lol::lol:

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;5797350]
“and Hannibal Lecter had this field for lunch”:lol::lol:[/QUOTE]

That’s a gem Obviously a lot of folks knew that 2-yr old horse, Hannibal Lecter, had built up an appetite as he went from being 15/1 on the morning line to 8/5 at post time.

Twitter - Saratoga race feed

Twitter - DRF’s Inside Post feed

[Glimmerglass]

So no Blind Luck or The Factor at Saratoga this year. Both are staying in Del Mar. Blind Luck appears to be taking on the boys in Sunday Aug 28 The Grade 1 $1 Million Pacific Classic - just the 3rd time ever for such an entry.

Nada on that attempt by Blind Luck in the Pac Classic. She still won’t come to Saratoga but is going to skip that ‘win and you’re in’ race at Del Mar too.

“I’m trying to get to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Hollendorfer, who is two wins away from becoming only the fourth trainer in history to win 6,000 races. "It’s tempting to run for $1 million, but I think the Pacific Classic is coming up extremely tough.

“I don’t think my filly is really liking the Del Mar race track.”

As for Hannibal Lecter its worth reiterating that nothing should’ve suggested such a powerful effort or the short odds in advance. He trainer was ice cold in his JV success:

Trainer John Toscano Jr. is 0-3 over the past five years with juvenile debut runners in maiden claiming dirt sprints (0-1 at Saratoga). Toscano is 1-52 (2%, $0.17 ROI) with all debut runners since January 1, 2001.

Video - NBC Sports promo for Saturday’s races

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5797545]
Nada on that attempt by Blind Luck in the Pac Classic. She still won’t come to Saratoga but is going to skip that ‘win and you’re in’ race at Del Mar too.

As for Hannibal Lecter its worth reiterating that nothing should’ve suggested such a powerful effort or the short odds in advance. He trainer was ice cold in his JV success:

Video - NBC Sports promo for Saturday’s races[/QUOTE]

Is he on the same feed, or around the corner in the same barn as Gary Gullo’s Funky Munky horses?