Tuesday, August 26 2008

BIG WEEK FIVE BOOSTS SPA BUSINESS

Great weather and full fields during Week Five of the 140th Saratoga Race Course meeting produced increases in attendance and on-track handle over 2007, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). Attendance was up 3.3 percent and on-track handle increased 2.6 percent compared to the fifth week of the 2007 meeting, with all-sources handle down only slightly at 3.2 percent, in contrast to far greater decreases at other concurrent Thoroughbred meets nationwide.

The Week Five gains, including the second-largest all-sources handle in Saratoga history on Travers Saturday, led to decisive improvement of the meet’s overall numbers, although still trailing 2007’s record-breaking business. Total attendance through Week Five is down 11.6 percent (compared to 14.4 percent through Week Four), on-track handle declined 8.5 percent (compared to 11.5 percent through Week Four), and all-sources handle is off 11.0 percent (compared to 13.2 percent through Week Four).

FOUT HOPES 1-2 PUNCH CONNECTS AGAIN IN TURF WRITERS CUP

Trainer Doug Fout went 1-2 in the Grade 2 A.P. Smithwick Memorial at Saratoga Race Course on August 7 and will try to duplicate the feat in Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000-added New York Turf Writers Cup. The only Saratoga jump race run as the feature, the 2 3/8-mile stakes hosts its 67th renewal and attracted a field of nine including Fout’s dynamic duo of High Action and Dark Equation.

Though trained by the same man, the two horses couldn’t be more different.

“Country boy” High Action likes the farm, and ships in from Virginia to race, while “City slicker” Dark Equation likes the racetrack, and spends the summer at Saratoga with Fout’s small string of steeplechase and flat horses at the Oklahoma Annex.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE

WHAT: Week # 6 at the Saratoga Race Course

WHEN: Wednesday, August 27 – Monday, September 1, 2008

WHERE: Saratoga Race Course

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27

Racing from Across the Pond, Saratoga Race Course, 9:15 a.m. Racing fans can watch and wager on the best of British racing from the comfortable confines of Bunbury’s Pub in the backyard of Saratoga Race Course every morning and afternoon from Wednesday through Saturday. With a full bar featuring authentic British brews and traditional English pub-style décor – right down to the Union Jack – fans will feel as if they’re really “across the pond” during special Thoroughbred racing simulcasts from such legendary courses as Sandown, Newmarket and York.

Adriano tops Kent Stakes Field at Delaware Park

Donald Adam's Adriano tops a strong field of three-year-olds running in the $500,000 Grade III Kent Stakes (includes $100,000 Breeders' Cup Fund) at Delaware Park on Saturday, August 30.

Willmott Stable's Wesley and Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Ablaze With Spirit should give Adriano strong competition in the mile and one-eighth turf race, which has attracted a field of eleven.

The Kent Stakes field also includes one of the top local three-year olds, Augustin Stable's Deal Making. In his most recent start, the August 4 $150,000 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, he tasted defeat for the first time, finishing third after being blocked in the stretch. Deal Making has recorded three wins and a third from four starts with earnings of $106,200.

SUPER HIGH FIVE PAYS RECORD $437,893.40

Keyed by the 52-1 upset by Kiamika in the eighth and final race Monday, Del Mar's Super High Five wager returned a record $437,893.40 to a single ticket-holder. The bet was placed at a hub in Lewiston, Maine.

The Super High Five, new to Del Mar this summer, calls for bettors to select the first five finishers in exact order in the day's last race.

Juvenile’s Unexpected Win Puts Trainer on Different Track

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," as the saying goes.

It may be a bit extreme to think that trainer Ron Ellis is facing desperate times, but he is facing a time calling for some measures he didn't think he'd need to call on quite so soon.

And it's all because of a precocious 2-year-old named Believe in Hope.

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/25/8

POSSIBLE FULL FIELD SHAPING UP FOR GRADE II DEL MAR DERBY

With seven potential starters already in the fold, a full field of 10 appears likely for Sunday's 64th running of the Grade II, $350,000 Del Mar Derby.

Leading lights of those committed at this point to the 1 1/8-mile race on the Jimmy Durante Turf are Sky Cape, winner of Del Mar's Grade II La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf August 9, and Gio Ponti, winner of the Grade II Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs July 19.

Monday, August 25 2008

A TANGIBLE REWARD FOR INTANGAROO IN THE BALLERINA

By Jenny Kellner

Trainer Gary Sherlock had one thing in mind when he brought Intangaroo from California to Saratoga Race Course: setting her up for year-end honors.

Sunday, the 4-year-old filly came through for the third time in as many Grade 1 starts this year, rallying six-wide around the turn and pulling clear to a 2 ¾-length victory over Miraculous Miss in the 30th running of the $250,000 Ballerina. Favored Sugar Swirl was another three parts of a length back in third.

LADY RIZZI SETS MELLON COURSE RECORD

Lady Rizzi set the Mellon Turf Course record of 1:00.66 for five and a half furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday afternoon, winning the seventh race by three lengths over entrymate Myakka in the allowance/optional claiming event for New York-bred fillies and mares.

The previous record of 1:01.11 was set by Second in Command – who was once trained by Rice -- in the Troy Stakes on August 14, 2006.

“I set the course record? Are you sure the gate was set in the right spot?,” Rice quipped.

‘Glitter’ rocks the Belle Geste Stakes

TORONTO, August 24 - Glitter Rox rallied from just off the pace to capture Sunday's $100,000 Belle Geste Stakes at Woodbine.

For the Glitterman filly, the seven-furlong event for Ontario-foaled fillies and mares was the first added-money tally of her career.

Glitter Rox finished one length in front of Dance to My Tune, who nosed out Half Sister for the runner-up position.

Koonunga Hill takes Ice Water Stakes

TORONTO, August 24 - Koonunga Hill captured Sunday's inaugural running of the $100,000 Ice Water Stakes at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong E.P. Taylor turf event is for two-year-old fillies.

After a dramatic stretch battle, even-money choice Koonunga Hill prevailed by a nose over Panther Strike. Freyga closed to be third.

Monmouth Park Recap for Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Rancho San Miguel’s Hystericalady successfully defended her crown in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Stakes, drawing off to an eight length score after stepping the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:43 1/5.

Shining Image, who finished second by a head, was placed first in the Miss Woodford Stakes after Peisinoe, who crossed the wire first, was disqualified for coming out on her rival in the stretch.

Hystericalady broke sharply, before sitting second behind the pacesetter Rolling Sea. She powered past that foe nearing the quarter pole before drawing off easily through the stretch. She won last year’s Molly Pitcher by 6 ¼ lengths.