Saratoga 141st meet concludes. That's all folks!

[Glimmerglass]

No 'chasing today but a chaser won!

Great weather when I was there on Thursday July 30th but not so good weather to be found on Friday July 31st Sadly few people were there on Thursday (15k or so) and understandably just 17k or so for Friday with the late start.

In the interest of being fair with the West Coast tracks and their injury woes, there was a fatality at Saratoga Sunday morning although not directly racing related It’s My Day - an entry for the 1st race Sun Aug 2nd: - per NYRA:

… flipped in the paddock, hit her head and died from a fracture at the base of her skull. Jockey Miguel Mena was caught under the horse and injured a leg. He was taken by cart to first aid but didn’t appear to be seriously hurt. It’s My Day, who was 1-for-7 lifetime, was owned by Alex G. Campbell Jr. and trained by Robert Reinacher.

Today - Monday August 3rd was something rather rare:

The 4th race was won by Sermon of Love trained by Jonathan Sheppard and Danielle Hodson up . It was a $59,000 Maiden Special Weight race on the turf at 1 1/2 miles. If you’re thinking what’s so special well the name is familiar to chasers because - he’s a steeplechase horse who just happened to be entered in to a flat race

Going 1 1/2 miles for a 'chaser is a walk in the park for ‘Sermon’!

It was August 27 2008 that Sermon of Love raced at Spa in the $70,000 The Happy Intellectual hurdle stakes. I wonder if he was thinking “Dude, where are the jumps?”

Regarding today’s victory per the Times Union:

Hodson said the conditions of the 1 1/2-race on the inner turf just happened to be perfect for Sermon of Love, trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

“I begged Jonathan,” she said. “We had no intention of running this horse on the flat. He’s a jumper. But the race for him isn’t until the end of the meet and he does happen to have been a maiden and you don’t get a mile and a half maiden race very often, so I kind of begged him to just to give me a shot just so I could have one chace to win at Saratoga.”

Sheppard had a big win Saturday with the very talented Forever Together winning her second consecutive $500,000 Diana Handicap for fillies and mares. The grey 5-yr old mare ridden by Julien Leparoux is owned by Augustine Stable and trained by Jonathan Sheppard; Forever Together was voted the champion older turf-course female of 2008

[Glimmerglass]

Oh, and going off in a few minutes in the 6th (Fleet Indian Stakes): Doremifasollatido

The Amsterdam Stakes (Grade 2) is the 8th race, off at 4:55pm EST with Quality Road, etc.

I think that Capt. Candyman Can might come through for the upset.

[Barnfairy]

Tom Durkin is warming up his vocals right now.

ETA: No! Not Tom! There will be no singing in the booth today!

[Glimmerglass]

It didn’t look that fast, but it was …

In the $150,000 Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes for 3-yr olds: Quality Road, the 3-4 favorite, finished the 6 1/2-furlong race in 1 minute, 13.45 seconds, more than a full second off the Spa track and stakes record set by Topsider (1:14.40) in 1979! It was a 2 1/4-length victory over Capt. Candyman Can.

It was his first race since his Florida Derby win in the spring.

He is expected to race in the Travers Stakes next on August 29.

[Larksmom]

Quality Road

Well, I watched till the last second, as I was leaving for work.:o He won as he pleased. I am thrilled to see him back. I haven’t read up on his feet yet, but I hope he comes out ok. And DOREME ran second I think in her race. Lots of two year olds. How exciting!

[Linny]

BIG NEWS AT SARATOGA TODAY! A COTH MEETUP!

I met Colliemom and “Mr. Colliemom” today in Saratoga. They were great and really enjoying the atmosphere. We walked around on the backstretch for a while this morning and met up briefly in the afternnon at the races.
They are probably on the way back to PA but I’m sure that they will be back! Saratoga has a way of sucking you in…

[Glimmerglass]

Good to see that COTHers are meeting up at the Spa

Soon to be racing there again is the old warrior (more in age then actual starts): 8-year-old Commentator put in a wicked work on Sunday 8-2-09:

… on the Oklahoma Training Track, [Commentator] covered a half-mile in 47.85 seconds. The move, with exercise rider Maxine Correa in the irons, was the second-best work of 19 at the distance, with stablemate Da’ Tara leading the way (47.55 seconds).

He’ll race in Saturday’s (Aug 8th) 82nd running of the Grade 1 $750,000 Whitney Handicap for another repeat. While that race was just added to the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” program, meaning the winner of the race receives an automatic berth into the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7 - it will be an automatic no-go for Commentator even if he wins.

Also going on that day:

The Fasig-Tipton Festival will be highlighted by the 82nd running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap and the 84th running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Test. Commentator will attempt to join Kelso and Discovery as the only horses to win the Whitney three times.

Whitney Postal Cancellation: To commemorate the 82nd running of the Whitney, the Saratoga Race Course post office will offer a special Whitney postal cancellation.

On Sunday August 9th:

Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing Book Signing with Bobby Flay: Celebrity chef and horse owner Bobby Flay will sign copies of his newest cookbook Burgers, Fries and Shakes at the NYRA Store in front of the paddock, from noon to 2 p.m. A limited number of books will be available for purchase at the NYRA Store, or guests may bring their own copies of Flay’s other cookbooks for signature. Flay will also call the race for the Finney Stakes to be run on the turf.

Fasig-Tipton Festival Fashion Contest: Saratoga Race Course will host a “Best Turned Out Filly” fashion contest, with the best-dressed woman to be awarded a $250 gift certificate from the Pink Paddock Boutique before the running of the Honorable Miss. Ladies can stop by the sponsor kiosk behind the clubhouse from 1 to 3 p.m. to participate; judges, including Lilly Pulitzer Print Designer Rebecca Allred, will be roaming the track from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. looking for best-dressed candidates.

Two Grade 2 Stakes: The Fasig-Tipton Festival will be highlighted by the 24th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and the 18th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap.

Other activities this week: Week 2 at the Spa

[Glimmerglass]

Is there doubt with Quality Road’s final time in the Amsterdam?

DRF 8-4-09

Although the magnitude of Quality Road’s performance returning from a four-month layoff to win the Amsterdam despite a wide trip is indisputable, his track-record time of 1:13.45 has been questioned by Andrew Beyer and Associates. Beyer said methodology used by Randy Moss, who times races electronically from video, sets the final time of the Amsterdam at 1:14.70, with only a .05 margin of error.

As a result, Beyer has awarded Quality Road a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the Amsterdam based on a final time of 1:14.70 - well below the colt’s career bests of 113 and 111 earlier this year for victories in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. Beyer said Quality Road would have earned a 119 Beyer using the track’s official time of 1:13.45.

Pletcher said the speed figure service that he uses timed the race off video and got a final time just under 1:14.

“Either way you slice it, in my mind he still broke the track record,” Pletcher said.

The old record of 1:14 2/5 was set by Topsider on Aug. 1, 1979.

NYRA officials said that after hand-timing the race and hand-timing the replay, they are standing by the official time as being correct.

I have to admit - and again this only from watching it on TVG so its just MHO- it simply didn’t look like the track record shattering effort that NYRA time claims to be.

[Glimmerglass]

Sad news of another horse injured in a freak accident at Saratoga this time on the main track (racing is dark on Tuesdays) and ultimately euthanized; this occured yesterday morning

DRF 8-5-09 “Finallymadeit euthanized after training injury”

excerpt

Finallymadeit, a multiple graded-stakes winner and $1 million earner, fractured his left front cannon bone during a workout Tuesday morning over the main track and had to be euthanized, trainer Tim Ritvo said Wednesday. Finallymadeit had been expected to run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

In his last start, Finallymadeit finished third in the James Marvin Stakes here on opening day, a race his connections were using as a prep for the Whitney.

According to Ritvo, Finallymadeit was cremated at the equine hospital at Cornell University, and his ashes will be sent to his owner’s Eclipse Training Center in Ocala, Fla.

“He was an iron horse,” Rodriguez said. “He was part of the family. We called him the running heart.”

Condolences to the connections

[Glimmerglass]

Regarding the 82nd running of the Whitney Handicap (Grade 1) at 1 1/8 Miles for Saturday - the field and post positions were drawn today.

PP. Horse. (Jockey) Trainer (handicap weight) ML odds

1. Smooth Air (Chad Brown) Jose Lezcano (118lbs) 4-1
2. Asiatic Boy (Kiaran McLaughlin) Alan Garcia (121lbs) 6-1
3. Bullsbay (Graham Motion) Jeremy Rose (116lbs) 10-1
4. Macho Again (Dallas Stewart) Robby Albarado (119lbs) 7-2
5. Tizway (H James Bond) Rajiv Maragh (113lbs) 12-1
6. Dry Martini (Barclay Tagg) Edgar Prado (119lbs) 7-2
7. Commentator (Nick Zito) John Velazquez (121lbs) 8-5

Commentator won the Whitney in 2008 and 2005; the only other horses to win the Whitney three times were Discovery (1934-36) and Kelso (1961, 1963, 1965).

[Larksmom]

Anyone know what happened today in the third race?

I think I heard on TVG, [which I had on but was not paying attentiion,] there was a spill, and I think it might have been A Garcia. Of course, with the 'degenerate horse player, ’ Matt C he really doesn’t care much if a horse breaks down, just how does it affect his ROI:( [return on investment] And, btw, I am at work, and cannot easily get into the racing sites. I can get into COTH, whjhich is why I lurk so often in the evenings.]

[Barnfairy]

Word is that the filly Garcia was riding, Hidden Face, went down with heatstroke shortly after the finish line. She was revived and will be okay.

Actually, the degenerate horse players at TVG are usually pretty good about reporting updates when they can.

[Linny]

I saw the filly get into the ambulance on her own power. She was overheated and probably dehydrated. The hosed her down and were able to get a hose to her mout so she could drink a bit. She stood up and reluctantly loaded. I’m sure she’ll be OK.

I am not sure of Garcia’s status.

[Glimmerglass]

Sounds like despite the tense moment Hidden Face will be just fine: Times Union 8-6-09 “Empire Maker filly getting better after race collapse”

“Sometimes you know when a horse is tired by the quarter pole; you feel it and try to ride a little easier and come home safe,” said Alan Garcia, who had been thrown when the Bobby Frankel trainee, Hidden Face, went down in Wednesday’s third race.

The 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, who was making her first start, stayed prone on the track for a tense 10 minutes or so while track veterinarians worked to stabilize her condition. They poured iced water over her sides and doused her with invigorating alcohol. A rousing cheer went up when she managed to scramble to her feet a few moments later, woozy but well.

Alan Garcia who is the current meet’s leading rider to date (with Bill Mott having the distinction for trainer) is fine although for precaution he was taken off his mount in the 4th race.

[Glimmerglass]

Will it be for Commentatory just one more and that’s a career? Nick Zito suggested as much but that off the cuff commentary was withdrawn as owner Tracy Farmer wasn’t consulted.

Times Union 8-5-09 “Commentator still in running” - excerpt

Last week, Zito said he thought it would be a nice thing to have Commentator win the Whitney and then call it a career. When those words reached owner Tracy Farmer, it was news to him.

He said he has not discussed possible retirement for his famous New York-bred.

“Since I own the horse, I would say it (decision) would be mine,” Farmer said. “First we have to win it and it’s a tough field. So it may be answered for us.”

Zito admitted Wednesday that he should not have said anything about retirement. The trainer is always very close to his horses and looks out for them as if they were his children.

Zito may be playing it safe because of an incident that happened last year when another oldtimer he had – 7-year-old Wanderin Boy – had to be euthanized after the Cigar Mile last fall at Aqueduct.

“I probably should not have said that,” Zito said about Commentator retiring. “It’s the Farmer’s horse but if he crosses the line (first in the Whitney) I am certainly going to … I mean, what better thing would there be for him to win and then go out, right or wrong.”

Wednesday’s (Aug 4) recap: Attendance: 17,472; Attendance to date: 159,991

[colliemom]

[QUOTE=Linny;4281666]
BIG NEWS AT SARATOGA TODAY! A COTH MEETUP!

I met Colliemom and “Mr. Colliemom” today in Saratoga. They were great and really enjoying the atmosphere. We walked around on the backstretch for a while this morning and met up briefly in the afternnon at the races.
They are probably on the way back to PA but I’m sure that they will be back! Saratoga has a way of sucking you in…[/QUOTE]

Indeed! We were thrilled to just be there, and the added “extras” provided by Linny just made our weekend that much more fun. THANK YOU!!!

As it turned out, we did indeed get to the track Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday, although we left a bit early on Monday so didn’t see Quality Road’s race except later on TV. I liked him in the spring, and think he’ll make the late summer / fall races interesting. Sunday in the rain was fun, too. What else are you going to do on a rainy day but sit under the big beautiful roof and watch the races?

Again, a million thanks to Linny, and we will definitely go back!

[Glimmerglass]

Very promising young jockey Miguel Mena will cease his riding at Spa after today and go into AA in Kentucky.

Mena’s hopes for a solid first meet at Saratoga were dashed when a drinking problem caused him to miss his flight to Mountaineer Race Track last Saturday and he conceded his mount aboard Soul Warrior, winner of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby. Today is Mena’s last day in New York; he’ll resume racing at Ellis Park over the weekend and will begin an intense outpatient treatment program for alcoholism, said his agent, Steve Elzey.

How about this - and its the rules but it bites - “Be Fair, about that Grade 2 victory last week, sorry old chap but it now is “just” a Grade 3 on your record”

The American Graded Stakes Committee released a statement Aug. 5 that the previously grade II Lake George Stakes was automatically downgraded to grade III status because the originally scheduled turf event July 31 at Saratoga was moved to the main track.

In addition, the winner of the race, Be Fair, was not credited with a grade II win, and the second- and third-place finishers were not credited with Grade II placings.

The American Graded Stakes Committee, as routine, automatically reviews the running of any graded race that is taken off its scheduled surface.

The Lake George was moved to dirt due to heavy rain in New York that day.

[Glimmerglass]

Someone had asked about steeplechasing and today’s 1st race is one the biggest with the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Stakes

A.P. Smithwick Steeplechase Stakes
Grade 1-NSA
Disatnce: 2 1/16 Miles
Age: 4 & Up
Purse: $100,000

PP - Horse (Jockey) - Trainer (Morning Line odds)
1 Planets Aligned (Miller F B Jr.) Voss, Thomas H (7-2)
2 Dr. Bloomer (Walsh R.) Sheppard, Jonathan (15-1)
3 Rare Bush (Aizpuru X) Fisher, Jack (8-1)
4 Preemptive Strike (Petty J.) Hendriks Sanna N. (5-1)
5 Slip Away (Buchanan P.) Voss, Thomas H. (5-2)
6 Dark Equation (Young P J.) Fout P Douglas (3-1)
7 Mixed Up (Hodsdon D.) Sheppard, Jonathan (5-1)

[Glimmerglass]

Another win for trainer Jonathan Sheppard and jockey Danielle Hodsdon with a perfectly timed run on Mixed Up to come from the back of the pack and roar to the win over Preemptive Strike who was trying for gate to wire.

Rare Bush is fine despite the spill, but clearly was rank from even before they reached the start. By the first jump you knew it wasn’t going to be his day. The 9-yr old was getting blinkers added and I think trainer Jack Fisher will reconsider next time.

By the way if you thought you saw the Ramsey silks in the AP Smithwick (jumpers? who knew!) you did: Slip Away is owned by Sarah & Ken.

[Linny]

How about Danielle Hodsdon winning a flat race and a (G1) jump race inside 3 days at Saratoga? She won a flat maiden race on Monday (Sermon of Love trained by Jonathan Sheppard) and then won the G1 AP Smithwick 'chase today for the Sheppard barn. Danielle rides for Sheppard in the morning too. She is Forever Together’s regular exercise rider.

Colliemom, it was great to meet you and Mr. Colliemom. I saw Alex today and he said that you have a big milestone this year! Congrats!!! It was great to meet you both. I’m assuming that like most people you were so charmed by Saratoga, that you will be back.