Friday Fun
Real Writing on Racing 💯
Day one is in the books, albeit quicker than expected, as NYRA officials wisely accelerated the card by shortening time between races and got the 10 races in before the worst of the rain hit. A crowd reported at 29,102, bet $20,417,055, attendance up 2% from last years opener and the handle number down 6% in part because of the lack of post drag (we hate it but it helps). The wind was blowing pretty hard most of the day which did help keep the warm temps bearable. Changes to the facility (no clubhouse exchange stands/remodeled section by the finishline grandstand bar) seemed to be taken in stride by most, though a minor controversy about the area directly behind the box seats being cordoned off may be more of an issue with larger weekend crowds. Otherwise it was a nice day of racing with a big surprise pulled off by a first time starter in the days feature event, the Schuylerville (Gr III) stakes. Race reviews ⬇️
⏳ Race one was not a thing of beauty but the chalk Bustin Bay got the job done under an aggressive ride from Jose Ortiz for Linda Rice, a continuation of their recent Belmont Spring meet success that led to leading rider and training titles for the pair. This is the third consecutive Saratoga meet where Bustin Bay has won a race and the first at 9 furlongs, which was completed in a pokey 1:53.99. Virtual Reality led throughout before running out of gas late but held off Mia Bea Star for the place. Kentucky shipper Sabra Tuff was bet down to 3-1 dropping out of stakes company, made no impact.
🌠 Horseracing Twitter was well represented in race two by race winner, Sugar Hi, a 2 yo filly by Twirling Candy owned by CJ Thoroughbreds, managed by the popular CJ Johnsen (@ceejayjohnsen). Sent off a slight favorite at 2.10-1, Sugar Hi was confidently ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado for Bill Mott, stalking a fast pace set by 2-1 second choice Lady Moscato, before drawing away mid-stretch to win in hand by 6 lengths in a solid 105.14. Lady Moscato held off the “other lady”, Lady Blitz for the runner up spot. In retrospect, it could be argued that Sugar Hi was the most impressive two year old filly to run on this opening day.
🌿 Wouldn’t be a Spa grass for older fillies without Chad Brown having at least a couple going and race 4 fit the bill. The nw3x/opt 80000 claimer was won by Salimah (Ire) who was making her season debut after setting the pace and fading last December at Santa Anita in the American Oaks (Gr1) going 10 furlongs. Sent off the 4/5 favorite, the 4yo Irish bred daughter of El Kabir under jockey Flavian Prat, stalked the early pace set by Star Devine, taking over mid-stretch and finishing up well to win the 8.5 furlong event under steady handling. Poca Mucha rallied to be second, outfinishing the “other Brown” Kalifornia Queen (Ger), once again displaying far better form at Saratoga than anywhere else. Sister Otoole was out for the season, not the reason…tab when she stretches back out to marathon distances.
❓Dust Devil was well spotted in this open $20000 claimer going 9 furlongs, got a perfect trip from Flavian Prat and scored for good guy (and pretty good trainer too) Pat Reynolds as 9/5 second choice. Odd ride by Joel Rosario on Two Thirty Five who opened up 5 down the backside before drifting badly turning for home, forcing favorite Portos wide, yet didn’t fold up completely in the lane despite changing leads again late when checking in fourth.
🐎 Sometimes race results boil down to simple differences. In race 6, an OC 45k/nw2x race for NY breds sprinting 5.5 furlongs on the grass, the difference was that race winner Yarrow got good early position under Manny Franco and runner up Runningwscissors and Irad Ortiz, didn’t.
🃏 Four scratches (3 by trainers, Status Seeker was a vet scr) cut the Schuylerville field down to 7 and Becky’s Joker made her debut one to remember for trainer Gary Contessa and owner Lee Pokoik. Under a well timed ride by JJ Castellano, the Practical Joke firster recovered quickly from a flat-footed start, stalked the leaders from the inside, split horses at the head of the lane, powered through to grab the lead passing the 1/8th pole and remained clear to the wire despite wandering in deep stretch. Carmelina was sent right to the front from the outset with Saratoga Secret stalking her in second and even money fav Wine on Tap chasing while three wide. They reminded that way around the turn with the winner sitting right behind those three, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. As the field passed the 1/4 pole, Carmelina was starting to falter while Saratoga Secret drifted out allowing Castellano to shoot through a huge opening while Wine on Tap wasn’t doing enough to keep pace. Becky’s Joker, while clearly still green, proved to be easily best, covering the six furlongs in 1:12.52, with no one else really having much of an excuse. The 21-1 outsider came into the Schuylerville (Gr III) off of a series of good works including a bullet 34.4 last Friday over the surface and props to Contessa for taking a shot as it paid off in spades ♠️ 💵
🤔 The field for the finale was hustled to the track under increasingly dark skies and when 8/5 favorite Arisaema broke terrible after tossing her head up at the start, the entire race complexion changed. Also breaking slow but able to recover much quicker was eventual winner, first timer Thundara for Phil Antonacci, his family’s Lindy Farms and Irad Ortiz. Arisaema will get all the hype coming out of this race because of the nice run she put in to get up for second but take nothing away from the winner who got a less-than-ideal, wide trip after her own slow beginning. Annoyingly the head-on replay wasn’t available post race.
🌽 Cool story about 61 year old jockey Cindy Murphy finally reaching a couple milestones recently after a spill almost prevented her from getting there.
😳 Apparently 2019 2yo champ Storm the Court has been transferred to trainer Tom Amoss and may start at the Saratoga meet. I don’t mean any disrespect Champ but if the race they are looking at isn’t a NW3 claimer…💸 and before people start throwing rocks at me…he hasn’t won since 2019. Two thousand nineteen. It’s been 1350 days since his last winners circle visit.
Speaking of which…clearly not all Breeders Cup fields are made the same…oh where have you gone Scabbard? Talk about a group that didn’t train on.
🏇🏻 Colonial Downs also opened up its summer meet Thursday, its initial run under the Churchill Downs banner. The meet features an interesting mix of horses from the mid-Atlantic region plus a lot of Florida shippers and plenty of Kentucky outfits are represented too. Turf, turf and more turf is the theme and while the move off of a Monday-Wednesday schedule seems like a mistake, you’d be remiss by not taking a look at their cards. Get well quick to regular announcer, the popular Jason Beem who will miss the opening week festivities as he recovers from a minor health issue.
⚠️ In Friday’s second race Dreamlike will likely be a prohibitive favorite dropping back into a maiden race when coming out of a close third place finish in the Wood Memorial (Gr II). Our only advice is beware of the free square…
Wilton (L) $135,000 3yo fillies ®️ 1 mile dirt
Just Katherine - bit of a tough spot for her moving into restricted stakes company after a fair try when a wide third behind Sacred Wish, after bombing in the GP Oaks
Unsung Melody - speedy Kentucky shipper stretches out for Saratoga newcomer John Ortiz (no relation to the brothers). Looks dangerous as she figures to be loose on the lead here with her sprinters speed and picks up Saez which is always a positive. Obviously the distance is the question but if she steals away to a long lead…
Sacred Wish - she exits a good try at Belmont on a muddy track when second behind a wire to wire winner. Outside of a non-effort in the Black Eyed Susan, she hasn’t really run a bad race. She was handy enough to win going 6f and may appreciate the cut back to a mile. David Aragona’s morning lines are usually close and he has her pegged at 7/2 which would be an excellent price on her. Big chance.
Accede - the first of a pair of Brownies that have three lifetime starts and bombed in the Acorn last out. This filly by Into Mischief who debuted in March, then ran a good third in the Eight Belles (Gr II) to Red Carpet Ready and Munny’s Gold (who both came back to lose next out) before clunking it up in the Acorn on Belmont Stakes weekend. IMO far more likely to rebound than her stablemate but I’d be wary of taking too short of a price.
Randomized - I’m a little skeptical about super fast Aqueduct figs and while she was sharp breaking her maiden at the Ozone Park oval back in March, 70 days later she didn’t show too much in the Acorn. If she wins, she’ll beat me.
It has little to do with todays card other than being a Saratoga filly stake with a 5 horse field but here is the 2000 Go for Wand Handicap