Snappy Winner
Real Writing on Racing 💯
🎪 A grade I race deserves a grade I performance and Wednesday’s opener, the Jonathan Sheppard Handicap (Gr I) received such, as star jumper Snap Decision put on a show. Carrying a whopping 164 pounds including jockey Graham Watters, the 8 year old gelding by Hard Spun, bred by the Phipps Stable, moved to the lead on the turn following the first jump. He maintained a clear margin for most of the first lap, always jumping well, before separating himself from the field going into the final jump and opening up an insurmountable lead turning for home. Watters peaked back at the top of the stretch and saw no threats and pumped his fist to the still arriving crowd mid-stretch as Snap Decision cruised to the wire more than 13 lengths clear of runner up, Going Country (Ire), who was the recipient of 24 pounds from the winner. The race was a tour-de-force and clearly indicated to the rest of the steeplechase set, who the boss currently is. The win ran his amazing career record to 16-11-5-0, as he has been first or second in all sixteen of his jumping starts. Trainer Jack Fisher has him nominated to next weeks John’s Call stakes at 1 5/8 miles on the turf and based on his showing in the Colonial Cup in his last start on the flat a few weeks back at Colonial Downs, in addition to his cakewalk yesterday, Snap Decision might be a major factor in that spot if he does wheel him back.
🎪 Todays blog won’t be long because, to be frank, not much interesting happened on yesterday’s card, which was contested under mostly cloudy conditions with a few midday rain showers mixed in. It did rain last night which may affect the status of several grass races today.
🎪 We wrote yesterday about the troubling entry of Greeley and Ben in the second race but thankfully he was scratched by the NYRA veterinarian, avoiding a potentially ugly outcome. The race was won by Quick Return, who provided owner/trainer Joe Sharp with exactly that, winning his second of the meet, off the claim. He was claimed out of this race too, as were three others with only longshot and last place finisher, Manifest Destiny not changing hands post-race.
🎪 The fifth was a MSW for two year old fillies going six furlongs with Pletcher and Asmussen first timers, Mija and Justifying by far taking the most betting action, going off at 7/5 and 9/5. That money all went up in smoke as neither showed up, Mija looking barely getting out of a gallop, showing little while getting beat 25 lengths and Justifying chasing the early pace before stopping badly. Meanwhile, Bill Mott’s two, Socially Selective and Padma, were running one-two from the gitgo, with the former, a Speightster first timer under Jose Lezcano, ultimately prevailing by better than 7 lengths.
🎪 Red hot freshman sire Girvin got another winner when his U Glow Girl, ran away with the 7th, a restricted MSW for 2yo fillies going six furlongs. Ridden by Flavian Prat, she showed good speed from the start, drawing away to win by seven lengths to give trainer Brad Cox his second of the day.
🎪 Dakota Gold was 2/5 to capture the $150,000 NY Stallion Series Cab Calloway event going a mile on the inner turf. Sent to the lead by Irad Ortiz, the son of Freud set a slow pace under minimal pressure from the motley group of mostly non-stakes performers, was put to a drive 3/16th’s from the wire and held safe, winning by a measured length. Danny Gargan, who has had a quiet meet, picked up his second winner from twenty three tries.
🌍 Baaeed made it ten in a row with another easy score in the International at York. The Champions Stakes at Ascot on October 15 is scheduled to be his final race as the Arc and Breeders Cup Turf do not appear to be in his connections plans.
🏖 Spendarella, who was last seen running second in the Grade I Coronation Stakes at Ascot this Spring for trainer Graham Motion and owner/breeder Gainesway, takes on four Phil D’Amato fillies in the Del Mar Oaks Saturday at Del Mar. The Karakontie (Jpn) filly was ranked 7th in the older female turf category (despite being a three year old) in our Going in Circles Gold 7 division rankings released on Tuesday. Click here to see where all the division rankings.
Day 26 (14 Days to go)
Todays race card is perhaps the weakest of the meeting so far. The feature is the filly division of the NY Stallion stakes and is run as race 9 of 10. Dream Central, who has inexplicably run far, far better since entering the stallion series races, capturing the June 19th Stallion division and then the Suzi O’Cain in her last here at the Spa on July 20, after struggling against maidens prior to that, is 5/2 on the morning line. JJ Castellano picks up the mount for Gary Sciacca and Eddie F’s racing as Jose Lezcano, who had been aboard for Dream Central’s only the two wins, opts elsewhere, riding Busy Morning, a recent maiden breaker for Jorge Abreu and the 2/1 morning line favorite.
📰 Big story brewing in Saratoga…stay tuned…