Friday, August 08 2008

SARATOGA NOTES, August 8, 2008

Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Macho Again breezed four furlongs on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track this morning, covering the half-mile in 50.12 on ground rated “fast.”

“He worked well,” said trainer Dallas Stewart. “We’re happy with him. So far, so good. ”

The move was a maintenance work in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm here on Saturday, August 23.

REWRITE KEEPS FAMILY STORY ALIVE IN YADDO HANDICAP

It’s amazing how a horse can hold a family together through a difficult time.

For Kathy and Karen Johnson, owners of Amherst Stable, Rewrite helped them through the saddest time of their lives – the loss of both their father, Hall of Fame trainer Phil “P.G” Johnson, and their mother, Mary Kay, four years ago.

On Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, the sisters will cheer on 5-year-old Rewrite in the 29th running of the $100,000 Yaddo Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares going nine furlongs miles on the turf. The race as originally scheduled for Saturday, August 9.

STORM SCRAPS 8 SPA RACES

A severe summer thunderstorm, complete with heavy rain, hail and lightning, washed out part of the main track at Saratoga Race Course, forcing the cancellation of racing after this afternoon’s second race.

Eight races were cancelled, including the $80,000 Waya for older fillies and mares at a mile and a half on the turf.

Patrons were given a two-part rain check for admission and program upon exiting the facility. Exchange of reserved seats will be granted for future dates, based on availability.

The track remained open for simulcasting.

RAFFIE’S TREASURE STANDS ALONE IN STATUE OF LIBERTY

In the paddock before the 6th running of Thursday’s $147,000 New York Stallion Series, Statue of Liberty Division, trainer Dominic Galluscio called an audible before giving a leg up to jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard Raffie’s Treasure.

“He said, `Let’s try something today and tell the starter to leave her alone, to let her break by herself,’” said Desormeaux. “She actually turned her head still when the doors opened, but she broke running. So, we were able to engage and she enjoyed the going.”

FOUR OVERNIGHT STAKES ON 11-RACE SATURDAY CARD; YADDO HANDICAP RE-SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY

Saturday’s 11-race card, which includes four $100,000 overnight stakes, has attracted horses prepping for two key races – the 55th running of the Grade 1 Woodward and 29th running of the Grade 1 Forego Stakes -- on the final weekend of the 140th Saratoga Race Course season.

The 36-day meet, which began July 23 and concludes on Monday, Labor Day, September 1, is closing in on its half-way point.

Saturday’s featured 10th race will be the $110,000 Duke of Magenta for three-year-olds and up at a mile and three-sixteenths. It has attracted a field of seven, including Magna Graduate and Fairbanks, both of whom could be facing 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin in the $500,000 Woodward, a weight-for-age, nine-furlong event, on Saturday, August 30.

Thursday, August 07 2008

PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR HIGH ACTION IN SMITHWICK

High Action remained undefeated in the United States has he kicked clear after vaulting the final fence Thursday afternoon and drove on to a 1 ½-length victory in the 13th running of the Grade 2, $85,600 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase at two miles and a sixteenth over National Fences.

The 8-year-old Theatrical gelding owned by Carl Barnes and trained by Doug Fout, held position on the inside as favored Salford City (IRE) set the pace to the final fence. There, jockey Paddy Young powered his mount home for the win in 3:53.45.

SARATOGA NOTES, Thursday, August7, 2008

Sackatoga Stable racing manager Jack Knowlton and trainer Barclay Tagg were still elated this morning after Doc N Roll won Wednesday’s $150,000 Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series for three-year-olds on the turf by a neck over Gold Vendetta.

It was the third victory in four turf starts for the three-year-old Wheelaway colt. After four tries over the Aqueduct inner dirt track, including two for a $35,000 maiden claiming tag against other New York-breds, Tagg put Doc N Roll on the turf at the same level for near 10-length victory.

`DOC’ COULDN”T WAIT TO ROLL IN CALLOWAY

Patience is one of the more important traits a jockey can possess, but sometimes, it may not be his choice to use it.

Wednesday afternoon, certain that he didn’t have an ideal scenario, jockey Eibar Coa let Sackatoga Stable’s Doc N Roll loose on the turn and then helped him hold off Gold Vendetta for a neck victory in the sixth running of the $150,000 Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series for eligible three-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth on the inner turf.

Wednesday, August 06 2008

NO BULL! NAFZGER TOOK THE LONG ROUTE TO HALL OF FAME

It’s safe to say that trainer Carl Nafzger has taken the road less travelled on his self-described “unbelievable journey” from his father’s farm in Olton, Texas to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY where he was inducted on Monday morning.

It all began in the saddle. Not a horse saddle, but a saddle on the back of a bull.

The young Nafzger became entranced by the beauty and independent spirit of the bull. Even today, the legendary trainer known for his knack with a story will tell you that “…there’s nothing prettier than a bucket bull.” Few people would describe an animal known for its aggression as “pretty,” but then again, few people are legends in not one, but two industries centered on fickle animals.

SARATOGA IS HALL OF FAMER PRADO’S “SUMMER PLACE TO BE”

When he left his native Peru in pursuit of greater success in the United States, Edgar Prado’s goal was simply to do the best he could. Twenty-two years later, Prado’s best has landed him in Thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame.

“It’s a dream that’s come true all my career,” said Prado, who was inducted on Monday and then crossed Union Avenue to ride at his favorite track, Saratoga Race Course, where he has been leading rider three times (2002, 2005 and 2006). “I wanted to be the best that I could.”

The son of an assistant trainer, with one brother who is a jockey and another a jockey-turned-trainer, the 41-year-old Prado clearly has horse racing in his blood.

SARATOGA NOTES; Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Saratoga Race Course got exciting news Tuesday afternoon when Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Farms announced that the next race for 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin will be the 55th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward for three-year-olds and up at nine furlongs on Saturday, August 30.

For years a fixture at Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet, where its victors included four-time winner Forego (1974-’77)’ three-time winner Kelso (1961-’63) and two-time winners Sword Dancer (1959-’60), Slew o’Gold (1983-’84), Cigar (1995-’96) and Lido Palace (2001-’02), the Woodward was moved to Saratoga in 2006, where Premium Tap (2006) and Lawyer Ron (2007) were winners. Curlin later defeated Lawyer Ron in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the slop at Monmouth Park, defeating a field that included Lawyer Ron.

MIXED UP OUT OF SMITHWICK

Hall of Fame rainer Jonathan Sheppard indicated that he would scratch Mixed Up from Thursday¹s $80,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course. The morning-line favorite at 3-1, Mixed Up developed a leg injury after a workout Monday on the Oklahoma training track¹s turf course.

“It¹s been sort of a nagging problem,² said Sheppard of the high suspensory ligament. “When he had that fast work (5 furlongs in 1:00 2/5) the other day it flared up again. We had it scanned and they said `if you like this horse you probably shouldn¹t run.’ Well, we like him so we¹ll give him some time.”