CVPeg either fire up the DVR or plan on driving to Spa Saturday as Eblouissante is entered for the Grade 3 $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (Race 9)
She’ll face 6 others and will break from PP 3 with Junior Alvarado up.
Full fields Saturday (although the weather may result in scratches) save for the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) [race 10] with a California racing like thin field of just 5. I’m surprised that the Ramseys don’t have a runner in there for the money 
Yay! I’m heading out for opening day at the Spa in a few minutes. DD’s bf is riding a 2 y.o. filly. It’s going to be a scorcher but the NYRA website says that there will be multiple hoses and vets posted throughout the path to and from the paddock. Hope everyone is safe, horses and people alike.
Have fun, FM! I also read on Bloodhorse of the additional provisions provided. Had to get to a forecast of 98-over 100 to close Belmont last year.
Good luck to your DD’s bf and filly!
Ditto on the good luck today and staying as cool as possible 
First issue of the 2013 meet with the Saratoga Special (pdf)
You can also read-online their July 15, 2013 edition of the ST Times via Issuu
Coming up this weekend, if you are looking for a Marylou Whitney runner, you’ll find one on Sunday the 21st, Race 4 with Pow Wow Wow trained by Nick Zito. Compared to the visible success of Lukas this year you’d think Nick has fallen off the face of the earth.
ETA - if you haven’t seen the Sakatoga Stables silks in a long time you will again in today’s 10th race with Barclay Tagg again as trainer with Sunbio in a rather rich $75k maiden NYState bred race. The gelding is 4 starts 0-2-0 thus far.
With “Eby”, as tweeted today by the DRF: “though Shirreffs still plans to enter Eblouissante in allowance for Monday he said “more than likely she’s going to run in Shuvee” Saturday.”
DRF - “All systems go for 150th anniversary meet”
Unlike the first race meet in 1863, which lasted only four days and had a total of eight races, the 144th Saratoga season is set for 40 days through Labor Day and likely will consist of approximately 400 races.
Eight of the country’s top 10 riders by mount earnings will be part of the jockey colony. Twenty-one of the country’s top 25 trainers in purse money won have stalls at Saratoga this summer.
There will be 53 traditional stakes – 18 of which are Grade 1s – offered this summer, highlighted by the $1 million Travers. That Aug. 24 card also will include the Test, King’s Bishop, and Ballston Spa.
The Alabama on Aug. 17 could go a long way in determining the 3-year-old filly championship if Close Hatches, Dreaming of Julia, Princess of Sylmar, and Fiftyshadesofhay make it to the race.
Race 1 of the open, a turf race, is in the books with the Augustin Stables runner, “Will Call”, just nipped by “Hardest Core” a couple strides from the wire.
A 9/2 over a 4-1 over a 5-1 over a 5-1.
Care to watch a replay? NYRA has them all - including head-on views - free, no registration required, no hassles. Click here
With Race 2 it’s nice to see a Steeplechaser taking a win Multiple National Steeplechase Association’s trainer of the year Jack Fisher trained the winner - Short Shrift with Alex Solis up.
From a Chronicle of the Horse article in (Feb 9, 2009) on Jack:
A champion rider (best known for his unmatched success over timber with Saluter) as well as trainer, Fisher still spends plenty of time in the tack. He typically doesn’t wear a helmet when mounted, but when he does put one on, you’d better watch out, said Dowling.
“When you see him put on his hat, you know it’s a serious ride. We’re going cross-country, and we’re in trouble,” said Dowling. “You’ll be jumping stuff you wonder if they’re going to jump. You could do anything, but you know it’s going to be fast and you’re going to be jumping fast.”
Talk about a wild photo capture and being in the right place at the right time - wow: Barbara Livingston posted on Twitter 7/18/13 of an errant runner - Associate hurdling on the loose July 16th.
As Barbara said he “tried steeplechasing” 
I think it was more like “You want me to practice? Hell no! I’m outtahere suckers!”
Video replay 2013 $150k Schuylerville (G3) 7-19-2013
Rosie Napravnik, the rider of Brazen Persuasion, looked over at Corey Lanerie, the rider of Bahnah and said, “You got it.”
Napravnik was right and wrong.
When the numbers were posted on the tote-board, both Napravnik and Lanerie got it as Brazen Persuasion and Bahnah dead-heated for win.
The heat didn’t help the opener from a business perspective …
With temperatures in the mid-90s and a heat index near 100, the on-track attendance was 21,935, down 15 percent from last year’s figure of 25,676.
On-track handle was $3,338,203, down 18 percent from last year’s total of $4,075,817. All-sources handle was $15,591,240, down 7 percent from last year’s total of $16,690,234.
Despite the heat, there were few problems on opening day, with no reported incidents of horses being adversely affected by the heat.
Fast change - because Junior Alvarado was injured and taken off his mounts Rosie is now named to ride Eblouissante
He dislocated his shoulder (Junior A) and was taken off his mounts - although the shoulder was popped into place before the hospital - yet too late. Rosie gets Zenyatta’s half sister in the Grade 3 $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (Race 9)
Didn’t make it to the track, but scheduled other matters around watching the Shuvee Handicap on HRTV.
Got all settled in, the horses began loading, and “poof”, the satellite signal went out. Which, frankly, almost never happens here - not even during the worst snow & ice storms, and the nearest thunder storm was quite a distance.
Caught the replay finally on Blood Horse, but missed all the excitement at the gate. Guess it was not her day. So what an odd experience all around, beginning with Junior Alvarado first being taken off.
After a warm start, a few passing showers and incoming cold front made for beautiful weather for the last few races this afternoon!
I got to watch Eblouissante in the paddock today, and it was absolutely eerie how she would stop, hold her head up and look around… exactly like Zenyatta. After some very scary moments in the gate, and she broke poorly never really seemed to settle. She’s very pretty though, and I for one would be happy to take her off of their hands if the racing thing doesn’t work out for her.
Sunday’s big race the 99th running of the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes. Per the DRF " nearly flawless field lined up"
With a combined record of 9 victories in 10 starts, the field for Sunday’s $200,000 Sanford Stakes here is not only a precocious one, it also is indisputable evidence of why it is so difficult to win a graded stakes for 2-year-olds during the Saratoga meeting.
Race 9 Post time 5:20 p.m. EDT
2YOs, six furlongs (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
Quick video of Eblouissante before being saddled for Saturday’s Shuvee Handicap. Clearly the gate problems killed whatever chance she had in the race.
Per this morning’s tweet from DDRF’s David Grening
Eblouissante had a cracked tooth and some cuts on stifles, Shirreffs said. He praised asst starter from keeping her from going under gate.
The race itself (sans gate antics) - video replay: $200,000 84 Lumber Shuvee Handicap (G3) 7/20/13
Video replay: 99th edition of the Grade 2 2013 Sanford Stakes for 2-yr olds
Wired Bryan, the only New York-bred in the field, gave trainer Michael Dilger the first graded stakes winner and the first stakes victory of any kind in his brief career when drawing off to a convincing 5 1/4-length decision over the 22-1 Southern Blessing in Sunday’s $200,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.
Image Jan 1938 Stephen ‘Laddie’ Sanford at a Gulfstream FL polo match; he was born in Amsterdam, New York, September 15, 1899 and died May 31, 1977
Monday’s big race - the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes - was thriller to the finish. Race replay here (R9) July 22, 2013 - John Imbriale calling the race
(Bigger is Better wins but I thought Awesome Vision on the outside nipped him initially)
Who was Evan Shipman?
In the Twenties he lived in Paris and became a lifelong friend of Ernest Hemingway. Gertrude Stein’s “You are all a lost generation,” was directed at Shipman and Hemingway. In the Thirties he fought in the Spanish Civil War. During World War II he served in a tank battalion. In the late Forties and Fifties he established himself as our foremost turf journalist in the revival of harness and thoroughbred racing that followed World War II.
Entries (12) for Thursdays 1st steeplechase race of the meet $75,000, Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. Race 1, post time 1pm EST
Barbara Livingston on Friday (7/19) had this interesting column entry - “Exercise riders: Racing’s behind-the-scenes stars (expanded stories, with photos)”
Orb, stationed at Fair Hill (MD) continues to prep for the Travers Stakes
Orb has breezed three times since his Fair Hill arrival, including a half-mile in :49 1/5 seconds July 20, as he trains up to the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
McGaughey hopes to get in at least two more works before bringing Orb to Saratoga in mid-August.
Maybe Johnny V is just trying to get in the heads of his competitors, but currently he is #2 in the jockey standings (by $$) and in a threeway tied for wins @ 5.
JV’s had 33 starters whereas Javier Castellano has had 32 and Joel Rosario is in (for him) a slump with with 37 mounts and going just 5-6-6.
Yet in this article on the eve of the Spa start he suggested he only wants the big races …
With the personable Dominguez gone, the title is vacant. Many who follow this game would think Velazquez would be a logical jockey to win the title.
“These young kids are riding eight, nine horses a day,” Velazquez said while standing outside his car on the Oklahoma Training Track. “That’s not my thing.”
Johnny V said he hopes to ride six horses — tops — during the meet. He said he will be more than happy to step aside and let other riders slug it out for the top spot. If Dominguez was still riding, Velazquez said he would not finish in the top three this summer.
“Look, I’m coming here to win races, that is for sure,” Velazquez said. “You can’t win the title riding six a day. I’m not coming here to win the title, but if it happens, it happens. It would be great. I want to ride my good horses and win big races. And I want to be in the mix.”
The Times Union has their collection of photos thus far with some very neat shots in there.
With the Jacobson - Ramsey - Repole duel for owners title, where does it stand after the first break? (as ranked by $$$)
Ramsey Stables: 13 starters 1-3-3 and $111,644
Drawing Away Stable / David Jacobson: 9 starters 2-0-1 and $83,750
Repole Stables: 5 starters 1-1-0 and $70,517
Look for a Finger Lakes shipper - no, not Lisa’s Booby Trap - to make some noise at Saratoga with a fat bonus on the line: Amberjack needs to win the last leg of the Big Apple Triple to get a $250k bonus check.
He won Saturday the 41st New York Derby $160,800 New York Derby at Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack.
Amberjack will try to become just the second horse to sweep the Big Apple Triple when he runs in the $150,000 Albany Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 21. There’s a $250,000 bonus if he wins the third and final leg of the series. Only Tin Cup Chalice swept the series in 2008 for Finger Lakes-based trainer Mike LeCesse.
Going back to Friday’s race with the very small (in size) Bahnah dead heating in the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes G3 (replay), this quote was in Saratoga Special:
"She’s half our size, she’s some kind of fierce and tough.”
… Napravnik about Bahnah, who finished in a dead heat with Napravnik’s mount Brazen Persuasion in the Schuylerville
A small, 700-lb, but fierce filly
Best quote I’ve seen:
“One more second and I’ll have a minute.”
… Jockey Edgar Prado after collecting four seconds on Opening Day
Classic!
One of the best races on tap for Wed isn’t perhaps the feature Grade 2, $200,000 Lake George Stakes for 3-yr old fillies, but rather race 6 which was summed up best here:
Trainer Barclay Tagg called Wednesday’s sixth race at Saratoga “a Grade 1 allowance race,” and it’s likely the majority of his colleagues who also may have been looking for a soft spot for their stakes-caliber turf horses would agree with that assessment.
Tagg will send out his Grade 1-placed grass specialist Beau Choix against a field that also includes Grade 1 winner Turallure, the multiple Grade 1-placed Mr. Commons, South American Group 1 winner Vitoria Olimpica, and a strong supporting cast of Bim Bam, Paris Vegas, Pants On Fire, Seal Cove, Hoofit, Sleepless Knight, and Abilio.
Now that’s one heck of a line-up!
Bit of trivia with the steeplechasing (Thurs: Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes) and Jonathan Sheppard. He was the entry Martini Brother (owned by William Pape; formerly a Zito trained flat runner for Barnes & Noble founder & CEO Len Riggio) … he’s has won at least one race at each Saratoga meet since 1969. Sheppard also saddles a horse he owns, Barnstorming, in the same race.
Replay of Wed’s feature race: Grade 2 Lake George Stakes on the turf with an inadvertent ‘rabbit’ setting an insane pace.
The win puts the Ramsey Stable at the top of the owners standings with 15 starters yielding 2-4-3 and $240,844. It also vaulted Joel Rosario into 1st place for the jockey standings.
For comparison purposes (at the Saratoga meet) to show how much money is concentrated at the top - Joel Rosario (1st) has $684,640 earnings where as Rosie Napravnik (4th) has half as much with $335,803.
Be on the lookout for a promotional item tied to the 150th Anniversary with trading cards - 10,000 total per pack - sold on Mondays only
Four separate 10-card packs, totaling 40 cards, will be available for $2 each on four different Mondays — July 29, Aug. 12, Aug. 19 and Sept. 2 — in the grandstand near the Saratoga Styles Gift Shop.
Proceeds will benefit Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing care and service to maintain the health and well-being of employees in the backstretch.
Also, throghout the meet the NYRA Tumblr site will feature different horses over the decades who have left an impression at the Spa:
This weekend (Sat) will be the 50th running of the Jim Dandy Stakes which is considered a prep for the Travers - although some would argue the Haskell Invitations (held Sun) down by the Jersey shore is more telling
The Jim Dandy will be aired live on NBC Sports Network as part of their Summer at Saratoga coverage.
$600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes, Grade 2
Race 10 with post time of 5:45 EST
Distance of 1 1/8 miles (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, ML Odds
Equipment Changes: 3—Will Take Charge—Blinkers Off
Looking Cool will have the same colors as Street Sense did as he’s owned by Jim Tafel. He’s coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby. This will be the first start back for Tom Amos trained Mylute since his modest defeats by just 3 ¾ lengths in the Kentucky Derby and 2 ¼ lengths in the Preakness.
A flashback - (video) of Affirmed’s furious finish in the Jim Dandy in 1978
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