Sunday, August 10, 2008

Just Another Day in Paradise

Saratoga Springs, NY, August 9, 2008--Although it didn’t appear so at first, it turns out that NYRA management made a good call when it decided to cancel Friday’s card moments before the running of the third race.

The argument was that they called it prematurely, that fans had time to spare, could busy themselves with simulcasting or picnicking, and that there would be plenty of daylight to finish out the card.

But the wash-out was worse than it first appeared. It took four to five hours to complete the repair, working, then reworking, the surface until it was suitable and safe for racing.

The track had washed away in at least three places between the five-sixteenths and quarter-poles, according to John Velazquez on Friday, and Robby Albarado said that the water atop of the surface was extremely deep.

The surface was fast, albeit inside-speed favoring, and the turf courses yielding for the Saturday program..

The third Saturday card of the meet had a celebratory theme: “Tradition Turns 140.” Historical vignettes, featuring a Saratoga Top Ten, from Colin to the great Kelso, twice a winner of the Whitney, were presented throughout the day, courtesy of the National Museum of Racing. Racing related, and good stuff.

The occasion of Saratoga’s 140th race meet might have made a greater impact had a graded stakes of some kind been offered as part of the racing program. But, hey, there were many warm bodies in the building, 31,497 of them, and not a raindrop in sight.

One could hardly ask for more.
* * *

First Race: Moore Miles and Great Emperor in his sights from the five-eighths pole, looked like a cinch to go by at any point, and he did. Only Great Emperor came again on the fence as Moore Miles went to hanging. It’s early yet, but the course seemed to play honestly.

Second Race: Ryan’s Comet, international good thing, was bet early and often. Todd Pletcher newcomer stalked from close range, moved up to challenge, then stopped. Second-timer In Speight Of It got underway too late; note… The experienced Flying Private showed speed throughout from the inside, was challenged throughout from the outside, and stayed gamely for the upset, Jamie Theriot in from Chicago, riding this one for Wayne Lukas. Theriot in to ride Closeout in the Madame Jumel for Tom Proctor. Gets shipping money home here ($18.00).

Third Race: R Fast Favorite just too much race horse for this group, leading them throughout the entire 6-½ furlongs. Second over the surface here July 27, Rick Schosberg dropped him a notch and had him spotted correctly. Big Brain came on well too late to impact the winner but showed improvement in second start for Greg DiPrima, who’s been very live this meet. Lost Going Home sat a rail trip under Channing Hill rating, tipped wide entering to challenge but offered little; class drop, please.

The James Marvin: Terrific race on paper lived up to its PPs with the performance of the top two finishers. The very speedy Delaware Valley performer Eternal Star took command immediately, was chewed on by Brilliant Son down the backside and rounding the far turn, drove clear, then repelled the late bid of super sharp Bold Start, an Ellis shipper who proved he belonged with these. No excuses, however, for slim favorite Noonmark, who should have benefited from the hot pace. Props to Ramon Dominguez who wouldn’t let the four-year-old surrender, and to Michael Trombetta, who’s kept this horse sharp all season. Eternal Star (1:08.79) improved his record to 8-for-13 lifetime, and did so coming come in :24 seconds flat after a half in :44.79. Good show.

The Solomon Northup: A rough-house event. Soon after entering the far turn, Dr. D.F.C. under Aldo Arboleda, commenced a huge move along the rail from last. His momentum carried him into third, still inside, when Arboleda had a decision to make; check his mount or slip through between horses. He chose the later and in doing so carried Tommasi several paths wide into the stretch, at which point the continued coming out slightly to brush that rival after straightening away. The incident appeared to cost Tommasi second money but at the point of contact, no salient camera angle was available. If this were an NFL replay we were looking at, the evidence would have been deemed inconclusive. A very tough call but, in context, probably the right one. It was trainer Rodrigo Ubillo‘s first Saratoga victory. (For the record, I took 2-1 on the runnerup, Stud Muffin, to win. I liked the name).

Sixth Race: Ramon Dominguez made the winning mid-race move on Volponi Dragon, opening a clear advantage before Burnished Copper swooped up to join him, then head him, before hanging on the money, out-bobbed by the winner under relentless left-hand pressure from Dominguez.

The Madame Jumel: Say what you wish about the IEAH folks but they continue making astute purchases, although one never knows for sure as the sales prices are never revealed. But 20 minutes after Plan--the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner of the G3 International Stakes at the Curragh last time out--finished second to fellow Euro Winchester in the G1 Secretariat at Arlington Park, Ariege roared home from the center of the course to win this mile on the Spa inner turf over last run strong finisher Closeout, who, as the race was run, might have been best, operative word being might. Dawdling behind very soft fractions, Theriot cranked up on the far turn, the filly’s momentum taking him seven wide into the lane. After gathering his filly, she finished with a flurry for place without ever seriously threatening the obviously talented winner. The inner seemed to play a lot slowly than the Mellon course did in the previous race, the fractions here going in :25.42, :50.35 and 1:15.14. The final quarter was run in an eye-opening :23.63. These talented three-year-olds should only get better from here; follow.

Eighth Race: A training double for Lukas, something we have seen for a while at the old Spa. Theriot gunned Nautical Storm from his outside slip and was joined immediately by Captivating Cat and Shaun Bridgmohan from the fence and the duel was on. After an opening gambit in :21.48, the winner took command into the stretch in :44.20 and kept right on going, stopping the timer in 1:10, a double for Theriot. The runnerup continued gamely, narrowly holding off Darkside Holiday at the line.

Ninth Race: He’s only run three times but when he run, Forest Command runs. Making his third lifetime start, he stalked the pace of longshot Bucky Came Come, took the lead when Edgar Prado asked, and drew off, winning in full stride, ridden out, in 1:21.89 for John Ward, now 2-for-3 with one second at the meet. Next stop, stakes.

The Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Magenta: Fairbanks is back! At least when he gets the right horses, when he’s allowed to set the tempo and when he finds himself on a speed friendly surface, as was the case in the day’s nominal feature. Richard Migliore again showed why he’s a superb tactical rider, setting a realistic, controlled tempo, before pulling the rug at the seven-sixteenths pole, winning the mile and three-sixteenths two-turner right there on the far turn. It was leading trainer Todd Pletcher’s 10th win of the meet, giving him a three race lead over current runnerup Steve Asmussen.

Eleventh Race: Mr. Sidney made the last run under Rajiv Maragh to take the nightcap going away, as Rogue Victory also finished well late for the place. Favorite Storm Harbor had a perfect trip in a no-excuse performance, fourth. It was victory number two for last year’s leading trainer, Bill Mott.

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