Friday, August 10 2012

LINDENHURST, N.Y. MAN WINS $100,000 “BATTLE OF SARATOGA” HANDICAPPING TOURNEY

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With a $40 wager on a 29-1 shot in the final race at Saratoga Race Course on Thursday, Emad Himaya of Lindenhurst, N.Y., vaulted into first place and took home the $100,000 grand prize in the “Battle of Saratoga” handicapping contest.

Himaya, 53, finished the two-day contest with a mythical bankroll of $1,050, edging Paul Caltagirone of Whiting, N.J., who won the $30,000 second prize with a bankroll of $1,032. Ross Gallo of Jupiter, Fla., came in third with a bankroll of $934 and won $20,000 in prize money.

RISING STARS ASSEMBLE FOR ADIRONDACK, SARATOGA SPECIAL

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A year ago at Saratoga Race Course, fans caught a glimpse of the future when eventual 2-Year-Old Filly champion My Miss Aurelia captured the Grade 2 Adirondack and 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags powered to a 7 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

On Sunday, six juvenile fillies and seven juvenile colts will try to take the next steps in their young careers and perhaps go on to greater glory in the 96th running of the $200,000 Adirondack and the 107th edition of the $200,000 Saratoga Special.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Thursday, August 9, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin adjusted Alpha’s training schedule to have the Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner breeze four furlongs on the main track on Thursday.

In his first workout since the Jim Dandy on July 28, Alpha was clocked in 48.33 seconds. The Godolphin Racing representative is targeting the Grade 1, $1 million Travers on August 25.

Thursday, August 09 2012

CHAMPION MY MISS AURELIA VICTORIOUS IN RETURN

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Undefeated champion My Miss Aurelia made a triumphant return to the races Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, overcoming a stumbling start and going on to a three-length victory over Delightful Quality in the $100,000 Mandys Gold overnight stakes.

Making her first start since winning the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November at Churchill Downs, My Miss Aurelia spotted her five 3-year-old rivals a couple of lengths after bobbling at the start, but quickly made up ground as they traveled down the backstretch. Asked for run on the turn by jockey Julien Leparoux, the bay Smart Strike filly powered to the fore at the head of the lane and drew clear without being urged.

COMPETITIVE GROUP TO MEET IN FOURSTARDAVE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The 2012 edition of the Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course attracted eight well-matched entrants, plus one entered for the main track only, with the group headed by Grade 1 winners Wise Dan, Data Link, and Get Stormy.

The Fourstardave, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up, was carded as the 11th and final race with a scheduled post time of 6:45 p.m. It will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from 6-7 p.m.

Wednesday, August 08 2012

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Wednesday, August 8, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After three futile runs in the Triple Crown races, Optimizer is back in his element – grass racing – and ready to go in the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for 3-year-olds on Friday at the Spa.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Optimizer will be joined in the race by Skyring, another Bluegrass Hall-owned and -bred son of English Channel.

Tuesday, August 07 2012

NEW HALL OF FAMERS ATTFIELD, VELAZQUEZ TEAM UP TO WIN RICHMOR AVIATION WAYA

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Roger Attfield and jockey John Velazquez, who will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame later this week, teamed up with Kissable on Monday at Saratoga Race Course to win the $100,000 Richmor Aviation Waya.

Making her United States debut, the 4-year-old filly ran well off the rail towards the rear as Bizzy Caroline led the field of nine fillies and mares through an opening half-mile in 51.97 seconds, with the mile going in 1:43.22. Hitting her best stride once in the stretch, Kissable kicked into high gear to take the lead inside the eighth pole and galloped under the wire four lengths in front of favored Starformer.

SOLID GAIN IN TOTAL WAGERING THROUGH WEEK THREE AT SPA

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Total wagering on races at Saratoga Race Course continues up compared to 2011 through three weeks (16 days) of the meet, according to The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).

Attendance for the first three weeks of the meet was 319,806, a 1.9 percent decrease from 325,909 in 2011.

DADDY NOSE BEST STAYS ON TURF FOR HALL OF FAME

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With his dynamic score in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby in late March, Daddy Nose Best headed into the Kentucky Derby as one of the hottest 3-year-olds in the country.

When the son of Scat Daddy failed to deliver in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, trainer Steve Asmussen changed gears. On Friday, Daddy Nose Best will attempt to strengthen his credentials as a quality turf runner when he takes on eight others, with one Main Track Only, in the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes for 3-year-olds at a 1 1/16 at Saratoga Race Course.

NEW YORK WATCH: DREAMING OF JULIA

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the third time during the 2012 Saratoga Race Course meeting, Stonestreet Stables unveiled a promising 2-year-old filly as Dreaming of Julia posted a runaway victory on Monday to join Kauai Katie and Teen Pauline on the New York Watch.

Dreaming of Julia was no secret in her debut, going off as the 2-5 favorite in the field of eight. After shooting up between horses to lead in the opening furlong, Dreaming of Julia led by one length through an opening quarter mile in 22.03 seconds, two lengths through a half in 45.55, five lengths at the stretch call, and 10 ½ lengths on the wire under John Velazquez’s hand ride. Runner-up Form Fitting was 2 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Neon Moon.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Monday, August 6, 2012

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Poseidon’s Warrior, upset winner of Sunday’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, emerged from the race in fine fettle and eagerly accepted congratulations and treats from visitors Monday morning.

“It was wonderful,” Virginia Reid, wife of trainer Robert “Butch” Reid, said of the victory. “So many people have stopped by to congratulate us. Yesterday when we got back to the barn [shared with trainer Tony Dutrow], Kim Dutrow had traced ‘Yes!’ in the dirt outside his stall. It was so sweet.”

Monday, August 06 2012

THINGS GO SWIMMINGLY FOR POSEIDON’S WARRIOR IN VANDERBILT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Moribund on the tote board at 36-1, trainer Robert “Butch” Reid Jr.’s capable sprinter Poseidon’s Warrior held little traction in the minds of handicappers Saturday alongside fearsome Classic winner Shackleford and blazingly fast Emcee in the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

Yet when the field moved inside the eighth pole for the stretch drive, Shackleford was laboring at the back of the field of eight, Emcee was wilting under the withering pressure of Rothko, and Poseidon’s Warrior was flying up on the outside. Drifting out under his terrific momentum, the 4-year-old son of Speightstown reached the front strides before the finish line.