Halfway There
Real Writing on Racing 💯
🎪 We have reached the halfway mark of the 2022 Saratoga meet and the pace thus far has been swift! Not regarding my wagering exploits💸, of which few positive stories have emerged, but business at the old girl off of Union Ave has been strong with all measures positive at the midway marker. The biggest story so far might be the unusually hot temperatures that has made for many steamy afternoons at the mostly A/C friendly Spa. Though the occasional sudden Saratoga thunder storm has rolled in, including on Whitney Saturday, for the most part the rain has come on Monday’s which is a dark day on the schedule. With only 6 races having been taken off the grass, compared to 21 at this point last year, that paucity of rainfall has to be considered a factor in the overall handle gains (up 8% vs last season - $416,924,385 vs. $385,973,818). Average field size ticked up from 2021 (7.94 vs. 7.87) and attendance/paid admissions is also up despite the heat (486,408 vs. 477,097 - seasons passes are included in daily figures). The usual suspects lead the trainers/jockey standings which have become tedious to follow, however it is notable that Joel Rosario has already won 10 graded stakes (10 for 18 which is 55%!!!) in 19 racing days which places him just one behind the all-time meet record of 11 held jointly by John Velazquez (2005) and Javier Castellano (2015).
🏆 British jockey William Buick visited Saratoga for the first time this past weekend and wound up leaving with an undefeated riding record and two more graded stakes wins on his resume. His ride on Nation’s Pride (Ire) in Saturday’s Saratoga Derby (Gr I) was notable for his aggressive early positioning which gave his mount, who was the best runner in the field, a perfect opportunity to flaunt his advantage with a clear run in the stretch to prove easily best. Sunday’s race was a little more difficult to navigate yet Buick, aboard With the Moonlight (Ire), showed why he is considered to be among the world’s best riders. The very high strung Frankel filly, trained by Charlie Appleby, was a handful in the paddock and warming up before the Saratoga Oaks (Gr III). She was sweating profusely prior to being loaded in the starting gate and once the race began, With the Moonlight (Ire) wanted to go. Buick deftly guided her into a relatively comfortable stalking position behind leader, Contemporary Art, after getting bumped and tossing her head just after the start. With the compact field of 5 in addition to a slow pace, it would have been easy for Buick to let the headstrong filly run early and avoid potentially fighting with her. However he got her to settle just enough where she wasn’t too rank nor was she running off either. When he asked her to quicken midway on the far turn, she blasted off with a 22.4 quarter and took control of the race right then and there. Buick let her drift to the 5 path in the straight, likely to get to better, less chopped up ground and kept her mind on business with a few left handed reminders as she stayed on her inside lead throughout. Unlike the previous days result where he really didn’t have to do much after getting the best horse into perfect striking position and letting him do his thing, Sunday it took a great deal of Buick’s horsemanship and patience to stay out of the flighty fillies way and provide just enough guidance to steer With the Moonlight (Ire) to her first graded stakes win.
🇬🇧 I don’t know if they sell Buicks or have any Applebee’s in the UK, but if they do, some marketing wizard should feature the William Buick/Charlie Appleby combo!
🥇 Wayne Lukas winning a graded two year old filly stakes at Saratoga…makes you feel like the Hot Tub Time Machine (not be be confused with Jones Time Machine) landed in Saratoga about 2:30 Sunday afternoon. The 2022 Adirondack (Gr III) was a small field of fillies that for the most part hadn’t raced in a particularly fast or flashy manner during their brief careers. Naughty Gal, a daughter of top stallion Into Mischief, had proved herself to be a Yankee Doodle Dandy when breaking her maiden in style at Churchill on the Fourth of July. That 9 length win in her second start was good for a 10 TG and 3/2 favoritism in the six and a half furlong event that dates back to 1901. Under a hustling Luis Saez, she set up shop on the lead between Apple Picker to her inside and Promise of Hope to her outside. After a quick quarter in 22.46, Apple Picker was unable to keep the pace while on the outside, Promise of Hope appeared to bobble slightly and was quickly taken in hand and eased by jockey Jose Ortiz as a precautionary measure. This left Naughty Gal all alone with a two length advantage passing the half mile marker. She drifted to the five path as they ventured by the quarter pole and even bore out more once headed down the home stretch. Maiden Janis Joplin and early trailer Sabra Tuff made steady gains up the inside but never really threatened the winner, who drifted even further which didn’t seem to bother Saez as he drove her out to the finish. Lukas intimated post-race that Naughty Gal’s next start would be in Kentucky at either Churchill or Keeneland before an anticipated Breeders Cup Juvy filly try.
💵 Al Stall unveiled a professional looking first time starter, a More than Ready colt named Gilcrease who scored a 28-1 upset in Sundays opener, a 2yo MSW race forgoing 5.5f on the grass. Leparoux rode for long time Stall client owner/breeder Columbine stable.
🫣 Sundays third race was a doozy. A rare NW3x allowance for fillies and mares going 6.5 furlongs, it featured an overwhelming favorite in Team Brown’s Goodnight Olive who was sent off at 2/5, shooting for her fourth consecutive victory. A split second before the field broke, #7 Piece of My Heart charged the gate and popped open the stall door before the starter had sprung the rest of the field. She eventually wound up running third behind the favorite who waltzed around the field as the ‘much the best’ winner. However because the rule in NY states that she caused her own trouble when gaining an unfair advantage by leaving early, Piece of My Heart was DQ’ed and placed last. Adding to the confusion was the timer malfunction (again 🙄) which led to ludicrous fractions (26.01 - 48.84) being posted, which duped track announcer John Imbraile into citing them in his call. It’s 2022 yet accurate timing still eludes us…
👍🏼 To the Colonial Stewards for getting both calls correct on Monday’s card.
💸 The annual Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale kicked off Monday night with some fireworks 💥 as four well-bred colts were hammered down for over a million dollars in just the first session. Most, if not all, of the buyers at that level are inflation, recession and any other -ion proof!
🍽 failed to mention had dinner with friends and colleagues at two places last week that didn’t make the Top 25 list but definitely are worthy. Max London on Broadway is a good spot with a nice bar and outdoor patio. Had a Wagyu Burger and Lobster pizza (don’t judge!) and both were top notch. The next night went to an old Classic that wasn’t included on our top 25, mostly because it’s on everyone else’s list, The Wishing Well. It was excellent, as always, traditional American fare, with large portions, expertly prepared. The crispy pan seared salmon was phenomenal and the roasted duck was reported to be excellent as well. Don’t hesitate to check out both spots but reservations are suggested.
🥝 They were giving away free kiwi’s at Saratoga on Sunday which has to rank among the strangest things you’d see at a racetrack. For the record I ate three of them though I countered that healthy eating by having an excellent brisket sandwich from the BBQ stand at the harness track on Sunday night.
📹 Jeff from Chartinghorsevalue.com handicaps the featured 8th race on Wednesdays card, the Tale of the Cat (Click Here) which we preview below 👇🏻
🎙 GOING IN CIRCLES BIG MONDAY SHOW! Click here to listen in to our show from Monday night! Lots of hot takes from the weekends racing action!
🎙 Going in Circles Big Monday co-host Barry Spears was a guest on the TDN Bettor Things w/ Joe Bianca podcast last week. Check it out Here!
🎙 I was a guest of Jason Beem’s great podcast Monday. Check that out Here!
Day 20 (20 racing days to go)
Tale of the Cat ®️$135,000 7f 4 and up NW stakes 2022
Isolate - the rarely seen Hawthorne shipper, this Amoss trained 4 year old colt has high speed as exhibited in his latest, a wire to wire job in a minor stakes in Chicago. From post one I expect Gafflione to send and at the very least engage Mr Phil who is the other main speed in here. On his best he is the fastest in here with a -1 TG three starts back but a cutthroat pace battle is a concern at 7 furlongs.
Awesome Gerry - has had success at the distance (4-2-2-0) and should sit good trip behind the two speed horses but in front of Southern District. He is a bit slower than the rest coming in (Lifetime top TG 3) but perhaps being in the garden spot behind a speed duel may mitigate that weakness. Trainer doesn’t win nearly as prolifically outside of Gulfstream and even his gaudy record with Irad (34%) is tempered by the current 7% win percentage for the combo over the 2012-22 Saratoga seasons. Tough call
Southern District - Union Rags colt makes first sprint start of ten race career in this spot. Has won three in a row (TG 0.5 3x) going through his conditions with the latest triumph coming at Churchill going one mile out of the chute. Has very little early speed so check on how the track is playing as the main track hasn’t been all that conducive for one run closers. If the expected quick pace materializes he will be flying late but taking a really short price on a closer on a track not helping that style is a dicey proposition.
Repo Rocks - hard knocker will be in chase mode here after making no impact in last against Life is Good and Speakers Corner in Nerud (Gr II). Low profile connections as DiPrima ships mid-Atlantic jock Wolfsant in to try to recapture magic of huge effort on April 28 at Belmont. Gelding is winless at 7f (10-0–2-4) and Saratoga (5-0-1-2).
Mr Phil - Trainer Atras has had a slow meet (16-1-2-1) after being tied for 5th in the wins category at Belmont. This speedy gelding reeled off three in a row (TG 1.5 3x) after being claimed for $32000 in February. Had to pick his poison in last, either choosing to race against Jackie’s Warrior in the True North (Gr II) or Life is Good in the Nerud (Gr II). Ultimately they chose the first option which resulted in him getting buried after forcing the pace briefly. Has a bullet work in his holster though his Spa record is not an enviable one (3-0-0-0). Best hope is Isolate doesn’t break or rates, as a duel with him seems to be the most likely scenario. I don’t know if either of them is good enough to win that battle and have enough left to hold off the closers going 7f.
Tale of the Cat winning the 1997 Kings Bishop stakes under Julie Krone