Tuesday, September 02, 2008

VINEYARD HAVEN GETS TRIP—AND THREE CHIMNEYS HOPEFUL

Jockey Alan Garcia had already ensured himself of at least a tie with John Velazquez for the Saratoga Race Course leading rider title earlier on the meet’s Closing Day card Monday afternoon.

So, when he went to post aboard Vineyard Haven in the 104th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful, Garcia just wanted a clean trip and to give his horse a fighting chance.

He did just that, and got more than a little help from Cribnote and Munnings to win the seven-furlong sprint for two-year-olds by two and a quarter lengths in 1:23.40 on the fast track. It was Garcia’s 39th winner of the 36-day meet.

HOSTESS IS THE MOSTEST IN GLENS FALLS ‘CAP

Jockey Rajiv Maragh had a tough beat on William L. Clifton Jr.’s Hostess when he rode her for the first time on June 21.

But Maragh gained knowledge and put it to good use Monday afternoon, as he patiently rated Hostess and then turned her loose in the lane to win the 13th running of the Grade 3, $108,900 Glens Falls Handicap by a neck over rallying Palmilla.

Her winning time of 2:11.66 for the 11 furlongs was a Saratoga Race Course inner turf course record, breaking the old mark bet by Babinda (GB) on July 26, 1997.

KIMMEL’S STREAK REACHES SEVEN

When Premium Gold spurted away to victory in Monday afternoon’s third race at Saratoga Race Course, he handed trainer John Kimmel his seventh consecutive victory.

Before the unprecedented streak began, Kimmel had saddled only one winner at Saratoga this season. That changed when Kimmel saddled three winners on Friday, August 29 and one each on Saturday, Sunday and two of the day’s first three winners on Monday’s card.

Kimmel also entered Break Water Edison in Monday’s featured 10th race, the 104th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful

Monday, September 01, 2008

NYRA BACKSTRETCH NOTES

Today is the final day of racing at Saratoga Race Course for 2008.

Entering today’s card, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin holds a tenuous 16-15 lead over Todd Pletcher in the standings. McLaughlin has entered two today as he seeks his first Spa leading trainer title, while six-time Saratoga leader Pletcher has four set to go to post.

McLaughlin and Pletcher are good friends and both were former assistants to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

MARLANG LEADS PARADE IN SARANAC

Following Marlang’s 1¾-length victory in Sunday’s 101st running of the Grade 3 Saranac, 80-year-old owner Gustav Shikendanz by-passed the winners’ circle and paraded the colt and jockey Richard Do Ramos up the track to the delight of Saratoga Race Course’s fans.

“That’s his tradition,” said winning trainer Deborah England. “He sort of does whatever he wants.”

Sort of like Marlang did in the mile and three-sixteenths Saranac.

Marlang, a son of Shikendanz’s 1996 Forego Handicap and Vosburgh winner Langfuhr, spurted from the gate to set fractions of 24.40, 48.44, 1:11.88 and 1:35.58 before winning in 1:53.10 on the firm Mellon Turf Course. It was the first Spa stakes win for both England and Dos Ramos.