SARATOGA - THE SUMMER PLACE TO BE

Well summer is officially here - it's opening week at Saratoga, and I went up for opening weekend.

Oh, there is nothing like Saratoga in summer - time to slow down and relax, leisurely read the form, take a drink from the Big Red Spring.  But mostly, it’s time for some of the best racing in the country.  From 2 year olds to Breeder’s Cup Champions to a second chance for the 3 year olds to the steeplechase races, you can see it all at Saratoga.  This weekend featured four stake races on Saturday - all Breeder’s Cup “Win and You’re In” races - and featuring the Jim Dandy on Sunday

Speaking of 2 year olds, Saturday’s 2^nd race featured just that, 2-year-old going six furlongs in a $62,000 Maiden Special Weight.  I now generally shout these races, as you never know who’ll come out of these races.  I was on the look out for an interesting prospect, by the name of Munnings, by one of my favorite sprinters, Speightstown, out of a Holy Bull mare.   I noticed the connections of Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith - as I do free-lance for the European paper The Irish Field, they are interested in any Euro connections, particularly anything to do with Coolmore.  I was surprised they had a sprinter; generally I see them with more “classic” type horses.

Munnings with Johnny V up

Anyway, Munnings was a definite looker, trained by Todd Pletcher, warranting his even money status.  I must say, he looks very much like his daddy - same coloring, similar body type but smaller I think.  Ridden by John Velazquez, Munnings broke well, and went for the lead, and was pressed by Just A Coincidence, and running fractions of 22.1, 44.1, and 5/8 in 57 flat, Munnings pulled away down the stretch and won in a final time of 1:09.4.  He was very impressive, and definitely one took look out for.  Add him to your virtual stable.

The first of the Grade I races was The Diana, fillies and mares on the turf going 1 1/8 mile. It was a very good field assembled, and featuring the return of Wait A While. Bayou’s Lassie jumped out to the lead and tried to get a jump on the field and opened up about 6 lengths on the field, but they were catching her on the far turn, with Dynaforce in second and Wait A While sitting forth.  Coming down the stretch, Kent Desormeaux - looking for his 5000^th career win - made the front with Dynaforce, whom I picked as a winner in a handicapping contest mind you, and looked like a sure winner. 

Forever Together goes last to first

But from last and flying down the center of the course Came Forever Together to catch Kent in the last 100 yards.  Kent was visibly pissed.  He really wants to get this 5000 win-thing over with already.

Kent had another chance in The Alfred G. Vanderbuilt, at 7 furlongs, aboard E Z Warrior. With Bustin Stones scratched due to a bruised foot, and that left a field of seven going to the gate.   

Abraaj with Alan Garcia

 Long shot Sammarco got the jump out of the gate and had the lead down the backside.  Black Seventeen took it to him around the far turn. But Sammarco kept up his show of speed, going the half-mile in 44.3, and 5/8ths in 56:4.  He was caught by the hard ridden favorite Abraaj, with a relentless ride by Alan Garcia.  First Defense finished 2^nd, with Sammarco barely holding on for 3^rd.

Next came the best race of the day for me.  I had assumed that the Go For Wand was a “gimme,” in that champion Ginger Punch was a sure thing in this race.  Bt as this is horse racing, there is no such thing as a “sure thing.” 

Ginger Punch - a true champion

Ginger Punch acted up a little in the gate, but broke on her toes, and went for the lead.  Rafael Bejarano got her to settle down and sit 3^rd down the backside.  But things got a little tight, as Ginger Punch got boxed in on the rail by Copper State, running second, and Runway Rosie running fourth. 

Ginger Punch was still bottled up at the head of the stretch by Edgar Prado aboard Moon Catcher to the inside and Copper State and Shaun Bridgmohan.  The gutsy mare finally punched her way between the two, with an eighth of a mile left, to win by 2 lengths.

She really is an incredible mare.

The featured race, the 81^st running of the Whitney Stakes, was a good betting race on paper, no Curlin running here, and there looked to be no standout, and could be anybody’s race to win.  I mean lets face it, this was barely a Grade II field - Cowtown Cat?  Oh please.  Commentator was the only legitimate Grade I winner, and he was looking to be a repeat winner, having beaten Horse of the Year, Saint Liam, in 2006. 

The 7-year-old gelding broke sharply for the lead, and was running comfortably down the backstretch. Solar Flare, my pick, made a run at him down there, and Commentator just opened it up a notch.  Coming around the final turn, Solar Flare was in an all out drive but could not catch Commentator, who spurted away by 3 lengths at the top of the stretch.  The only horse to make a run at him was Student Council, who was about 4 back at the finish.

7-year-old Commentator wins the Whitney a second time

I had to head back to the press box - which had to have the narrowest flight of stairs I ever had to go up and down.  I was lucky that it was 24 inches wide, built sometime in the 1890’s, when Americans were a much smaller people, then through a rat-like maze to get to the press box.

Oh yeah, got caught in those nasty lightning storms that passed through the area.  By the time I made it to the hotel in Queensbury, I was a cold & very wet rat.  A hot shower never felt so good.

Made it back to the spa on Sunday, which was a cap give away day - a black hat the red striped canopy logo on the front, with Saratoga on the back, rim trimmed in red.  Very nice.

Most of the day was spent checking to see which races Kent Desormeaux was riding, because he was still looking for career win 5000, as he had been stuck on 4,999 for about 2 weeks now.  All the photographers were grumbling, saying how selfish of Kent, making us wait and all, that it was taking so long to do this, standing by the rail of some claiming race, waiting for number 5000.

Well as of race number six, he was still at 4,999.  Kent’s riding in the 7^th race - a $62,000 Allowance, New York state-bred fillies and mares, on the turf.  And the good news, more rain clouds have rolled in, and it starts to rain … hard.

Now all the photographers are really annoyed.  And of course, I had to bitch about it - loudly - saying, “he got us out here for a lousy allowance, in the rain … he damn well BETTER win the %#@& race …”

 

Kent Desormeaux wins 5000th, in the rain, on Bella Attrice

 

And as most of us now know - Kent wins number 5000!  Aboard a dark brown mare named Bella Attrice.  NYRA had a big card announcing his 5000^th win, and they baked him a cake!  Well, NYRA didn’t really bake him the cake, but they had someone bake it, the previous Sunday to be exact, and presented it to Kent.  White with green lettering - kind of matched his silks. 

And as many of you know he was presented the cake … in the face.  I really need to get that guy’s name … I think Kent deserved that just for his ride on Big Brown in the Belmont.

Finally, it was time for the Jim Dandy.  My Derby horse, Pyro, was running here, and I must say, he gets all pumped up when it’s time to hit the track.  He’s a real nice looking horse, and I was rooting for him.  Da’Tara was out to prove that his Belmont was no fluke.  Macho Again was trying to show the good form he had while finishing 2^nd to Big Brown in the Preakness.

 Da’Tara went to the lead, as pretty much expected.  What wasn’t expected is that he was joined by Mint Lane, the Dwyer winner, whose jockey Eibar Coa was obviously hell-bent on getting to the lead.  Alan Garcia decided to join Coa on this suicidal run, the two of them opening up on the field, and going the ½ mile in 46.4, which is ridiculous for a 1 1/8 mile race.

Macho Again holds off Pyro

Mint Lane began to pull away from Da’Tara, but had nothing left as Tale of Ekati put his head in front, followed by Tiz Now Tiz Then.  Macho Again, who had been stalking in 4^th, got to the lead mid-stretch, and held on to win over the hard charging Pyro.

The Jim Dandy proved that, with the exception of Big Brown, and perhaps the top two finishers in this race, this year’s crop of 3-year old colts isn’t much.    Maybe some of these colts may turn out to be decent 4-year olds, but don’t expect a 3-year old to win the Classic this year.