Sweet Potato faded in the stretch by the way …
Nice to see that Rosie Napravnik takes two graded stakes within 24-hours albeit one in Chicago (Arlington Park) with the Grade 1 Secretariat and then back at Spa today for the Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid Stakes - via a DQ
… at least the weekend didn’t have any intoxicated fan shenanigans like Del Mar : nothing like a DUI for taking a vet van for spin on the track. Weird.
Although some idiot folks (for lack of a more profane descriptive) did break a fountain from 1870 in Congress Park Thur the 15th. That fountain was put in by John Morrissey, the man who made the track what it is today.
The claim of last-place finisher in the allowance race ($100k claim tag) Teaks North was by Eric Guillot who plans to take him to California to start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November.
“I think he likes firm going, I’m going to be stabled at Santa Anita. If the mile-and-a-half Breeders’ Cup Turf comes up easy, I might just stick him in there. That was the whole plan.”
No only will Oxbow not run in the Travers nor the Penn Derby, but it appears with the required time off the decision could be he’s sent off to stud.
Lukas said that Oxbow would be vanned this week from Saratoga to Calumet Farm in Kentucky and would be re-evaluated by Dr. Larry Bramlage in approximately 30 days.
“This year, we’re not thinking of running him,” said Lukas, echoing comments he made to HRTV last Friday. “Bramlage told me there’s no sense in pushing him, just give him the time he needs.”
Lukas said that Kelley, the proprietor of Calumet Farm, would have the final say on whether Oxbow would return to race at age 4. But Lukas, understanding the economics of the sport, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Kelley opted to stand him at stud.
Looks like the postings from yesterday were zapped by the board. Oh well.
Saturday is the big day at Saratoga:
The Travers highlights a 14-race card that kicks off with a special first-race post time of 11:35 a.m. EST and also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Foxwoods King’s Bishop, the Grade 1, $500,000 Test and the Grade 2, $250,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa.
NBC will provide live coverage of just the Foxwoods King’s Bishop and Travers from 4:30 to 6 p.m. EST The Travers has a post time of 5:46 p.m.
The field for the Travers is deep - even without Oxbow able to race. Currently Verrazano is the ML favorite.
$1 million Grade 1 144th Travers Stakes @ 1 1/4 miles
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Morning Line Odds
Neat article from the Times Union - Hooves and history: Saratoga Race Course marks 150th year as the biggest game in a fun-loving town
Journalist Nellie Bly in the New York World on Aug. 19, 1894: “Saratoga is the wickedest spot in the United States. Crime is holding a convention there and vice is enjoying a festival such as it never dared approach before.”
It’s what drew the likes of John “Bet-a-Million” Gates to the Spa. A Gilded Age industrialist who made a fortune in the oil industry and marketing barbed wire, Gates was a compulsive gambler who bet heavily in all-night poker games.
In one marathon gambling session at Canfield Casino, according to lore, he was down about $500,000 (roughly $9 million today) but he rallied after many hours at the table and returned to his Broadway hotel as the sun was rising with a mere $125,000 lost.
Bummers …
No Apple $250k bonus to the Finger Lakes shipper. Took 2nd in the Albany Stakes today
A possible Felony DUI for singer/actor David Cassidy, a Saratoga regular with stakes horses over the years … At least some humor with the arresting officer’s name
http://m.timesunion.com/tu/db_40503/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=1sQDjC04
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;7134029]
No Apple $250k bonus to the Finger Lakes shipper.][/QUOTE]
Can someone explain to me why Amberjack is being called a “Finger Lakes shipper?” Other than running his last race at finger lakes (like Smooth Burt and Go Get the Basil who ran in the NY Derby and then today in the Albany) he has run at Belmont, and aqueduct, for NYRA/Belmont based trainers in Romans and Hushion; and has all his workouts in the past 2 months at Belmont and Saratoga. Am I missing something in what this term means?
Anyone headed for the Travers?
Curious - anyone heading out for The Travers? Was planning on trying, but now on the fence about it. Tomorrow a lonnnng day for me.
But truly still on the fence. It is such a great race. Good weather forecast! :yes:
http://www.drf.com/news/affirmed-and-alydars-travers-showdown-still-rouses-emotions
a great read. seems like it was yesterday…
[QUOTE=lizathenag;7136090]
http://www.drf.com/news/affirmed-and-alydars-travers-showdown-still-rouses-emotions
a great read. seems like it was yesterday…[/QUOTE]
Thanks for bringing this up. If you blew up the finish line photos, I’d be a speck somewhere right there. 
My mother and I stood there in the heat at the finish line for several hours to hold our spot. Was a great memory together. She is 98 and has some dementia. Think I’ll print the article, as she would probably remember doing this. :yes:
I remember the hush that fell over the crowd, and so many of us being in tears.
Liza, big thanks with posting the article on Affirmed v. Alydar at the Travers. Well done retelling of the tale. Cvpeg, wish I had been there like you.
The Travers will be interesting tomorrow as there is no lack of drama: Joel might be off Orb - with a broken foot from a spill today. Saturday morning the decision of ride or not will be made. He has a lot of great mounts this weekend in Spa and Del Mar
http://www.drf.com/news/saratoga-rosario-breaks-bone-foot-after-being-unseated
Per Dinny Phipps if Joel is not able to ride Orb then they might seek Jose Lezcano or Rosie Napravnik. However they are crossing fingers his Dr will give the ok during the 8:45 am appt.
No idea what Bob Baffert will do with Game On Dude at DelMar Sunday if Joel is off his mounts.
Joel is out for six weeks, and Lezcano will ride Orb today in the Travers.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/80249/rosario-out-six-weeks-with-fractured-foot
[QUOTE=grits;7137392]
Joel is out for six weeks, and Lezcano will ride Orb today in the Travers.
Reminds me of GoGo with the broken heel right when he was in the grove with winning. He’s never been the same since. A lot money lost for Joel over these next six plus weeks. Hopefully he’ll come back as strong as before.
Chad Brown named Mike Smith on My Happy Face in the Grade 1 Test Stakes, no named replacement for Forty Tales in the Grade 1 Kings Bishop. Baffert hasn’t named anyone on Game on Dude yet.
Jeez, no ‘Sam the Bugler’ at Spa for the Travers. Like singer/actor David Cassidy earlier thus week there has been a DUI charge.
http://m.saratogian.com/saratogian/db_280617/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=tOelDyKO
Wow, I guess if I ever make to Saratoga I’ll be sure to make my DH do all the driving:lol:
Can’t really make up my mind who to root for today, but leaning toward Palace Malice.
DRF sez Baffert will move Martin Garcia to Game on Dude, and scratch Liaison. Aren’t there any more good jocks in So Cal to ride?
This has to be one of the best weeks in racing. Good stuff from coast to coast,
I keep hearing a quiet but persistent buzz about War Dancer. I admit to being swayed by the Verazzano hype and I’m sticking with Palace Malice in the exotics toobut I admit to using him.
And an all-stakes Pick 4 at Saratoga today…how often does that happen?
Dear NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. You bite.
Instead of travers coverage they have pre empted it with redskins football. Just great.
Photo finish:
Will Take Charge
Moreno
Orb
Palace Malice
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;7137747]
Dear NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C. You bite.
Instead of travers coverage they have pre empted it with redskins football. Just great.[/QUOTE]
I had to resort to Twinspires to watch. Even my horse was banging her head against the wall. (Seriously.)
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