Sunday Showdown
Real Writing on Racing 💯
We are way behind schedule today and not because our main (only) writer is joining our Hollywood cousins and the SAG on the picket line, but he is just experiencing Saratoga fatigue. Yesterday was a perfect day in upstate New York, warm and sunny but not hot and sticky like a July afternoon can be. It was so nice that I spent most of the daytime card at the Spa in the picnic area with visiting friends before shuttling across Nelson Avenue to partake in the traditional “double-header” at the Harness track. Both venues had large, enthusiastic crowds (Saratoga paid attendance 32,321) and if you didn’t know better, you’d think horse racing was still in vogue…
Today’s Digest is brief but we will do a special edition for tomorrow covering the Haskell card and various news from across the racing world 🌎
1️⃣ The opener was a grass maiden for 3 and up with Noted, a Cairo Prince colt for the Repole-Pletcher combo getting a perfect stalking trip under Irad to hold off Clement first-timer Spirit Prince to get the nod at a crazy underlaid price of $3.50. Fractions and finishing time support turf listing as good.
2️⃣ The second was a starter allowance going once Around the main track (9 furlongs) and the public (and CAW teams) couldn’t separate Deputy Connect from the Cox outfit from Paddington, formerly from the Cox barn and now with the white-hot Rice stable. Apparently the current Cox entry had a slight amount more which matters when there is a late scratch BUT not when there is a horse declared a non-starter which triggers confusion and consolation prices. As for the race it was another Linda Rice off the claim tour de force as Paddington cruised wire to wire by more than 8 lengths under (who else?) Irad subbing for his brother Jose who was once again off all mounts and will miss Sundays card as well. Centavo was declared a non-starter after the stewards found that he was still in the hands of the assistant starter when the race went off.
🥈Rudy Rodriguez had a tough Spa meet last season going 3 for 94 but already has two winners this year, the second being Spooky Lady who went wire to wire to carve out a narrow victory in the 3rd, a NY bred maiden going 5.5f on the turf.
🥈Veteran conditioner Pat Reynolds also scored his second win of the meet when Winning Connection held on to win the 4th, a conditioned $25000 claimer under Trevor McCarthy. Reynolds who most notably trained Big Brown when he broke his maiden on the turf at Saratoga back in 2007 is also a notable sire as his son also Patrick Reynolds is a highly successful music industry executive known as “Plain Pat” who helped launch the career of huge star Kanye West and has worked with the likes of Drake, Mary J Blige and Alicia Keys among others. Ironically Winning Connection was claimed out of this race by Big Brown’s other trainer, Rick Dutrow.
🌹Only five in this years Caress (Gr III) but in the aftermath of the short field, newly minted stakes winner Roses for Debra was probably going to be the winner if it was a 50 filly field. Her first foray into stakes company wasn’t much different than her allowance race career, she stalked the pace set by the speedy Bubble Rock (the first quarter time was not accurate), powered by her in the stretch and looked like a winner every step for Christophe Clement and Irad (again). She probably isn’t quite in Caravel’s league yet but she is getting closer.
🍬 Race 7 was a 2yo MSW going six furlongs and the word was out on Asmussen first time starter, Valentine Candy, a son of Justify ridden by Ricardo Santana and bet to favoritism at 5-2. The word was right as the chestnut colt bolted to the lead out of the gate like a quarter horse, quickly opening two lengths on the field. Santana was mostly a passenger as Valentine Candy set swift fractions, opening daylight on the field turning for him before tiring late, the final winning margin being 3/4 of a length over hard closing Pletcher firster, Protective. There is a lot to talk about re: this race and we will delve into it more in tomorrows Digest.
🏇🏻The CCA Oaks only drew a field of six and went off with five when Hoosier Philly was declared out late Saturday morning due to what was described as a minor foot issue. We were big fans of George Weaver’s Sacred Wish in this spot, figuring that she could use her natural tactical speed to carve out a good trip with the main contenders mostly late running types. While we were right that she had a big chance at 10-1, Wet Paint threw cold water on our plans, rallying wide from the back of the pack to run down Sacred Wish in the shadow of the wire. Gambling Girl who was the slight betting favorite over Wet Paint was never a factor, picking up the pieces to be a distant third, beaten close to 9 lengths. Southlawn stumbled badly at the start, chased from the inside and packed it in. Wet Paint was considered the division leader heading into the Kentucky Oaks and figures to be a big player in the Alabama for Brad Cox and Godolphin.
💰Going in Circles Digest Spot play of the Day from ‘the Sniper’ Barry Spears
Shuvee (Gr II) $500,000 4&up F/M 9 furlongs
Skratch Kat - exits three horse, off the turf race last Sunday where she just galloped along, picking up second money in what I described as the least competitive race in recent Saratoga history. This will be more competitive but she doesn’t appear to have any prayer against the top two and will battle it out with the Parx shipper for the $50000 grade II placing consolation prize. Props to the connections for taking a swing though.
Nest - last year at this time she was coming off of a blowout destruction of the CCA Oaks and Secret Oath. This year hasn’t gone so well as an early season sickness derailed her to where this is her first start since the Breeders Cup Distaff. In that race, Irad took a curious and extremely wide route with her before making an early move down the backside which gave her little chance of success and was one of his worst rides in a big race. Her advantages here are that she has much more natural early speed than her chief rival, an affinity for this surface and Irad is making all the right moves. The downside is it’s a long layoff to start back at 9 furlongs and Clairiere is at the very top of her game right now. However I’d give her the slight edge over her older foe in what should be an interesting stretch duel.
Pistol Liz Ablazen - ships up from Parx for sharp trainer Reid. She’s in good form but not against anything like she is facing here. Likely pacesetter will take them as far as she can, hoping to pick up third money and the graded stakes placing rather than settling for fourth.
Clairiere - there was some doubt as to whether she’d even line up today or await the Personal Ensign (Gr I) later in the meet. Thankfully the connections decided to run as that decision saved this pretty prestigious race from being a joke. That said she has a huge chance to nail this down if Rosario can keep Nest in range and use Clairiere’s strong late kick and fitness advantage to wrest control late. Either way she has had a tremendous career and whether she wins or loses today won’t matter in the end but let’s hope her and Nest hook up down the stretch and give us something to remember.
🏆 Last years Shuvee was a 4 horse field as well but no one remembers that, just Clairiere outdueled Malathaat down the stretch!