Three More Weeks…
Real Writing on Racing 💯
🎪 Sunday might have been the greatest weather day in the history of horse racing on the continental United States. After sweating out, literally, some sultry afternoons earlier in the meet, Sunday was a perfect mix of bright sunshine, a slight breeze, very little humidity and just plain awesomeness. Of course it couldn’t last as by the time you read this, Saratoga has likely already seen rain for hours…but at least we had Sunday.
🎪 Deccan Prince (Ire) seemed to be wildly over-bet in the Sunday opener and as it turns out that sentiment was correct as he didn’t run a step, finishing a well beaten 6th at 7/5. Rock Chalk raced greenly yet was still running at the end, checking in second in his debut for George Weaver. (Keep Cindy Weaver in your prayers 🙏🏻)
🎪 2nd race was a 2yo filly MSW going 1 1/16 on the inner turf and Maker once again had the favorite, Towhead, a Malibu Moon filly that had “won” the 7th race here on July 24. By “won” I mean she got to the wire first but since there was a starting gate tractor issue, the race was declared a “no contest”. This time she wasn’t as fortunate as Moma, an Uncle Mo homebred for Pletcher and Prat overcame a rough start with a rail skimming rally to take her debut. Root Cause for Brown and Irad Ortiz was second best. The exacta with the two leading trainers horses running 1-2 paid $49.50 for $1.
🎪 Mrs Green was making her fourth lifetime start in the MSW for 3 and up fillies and mares going 5.5 furlongs on the grass. She had run well in the three previous runs and just missed earlier in the meet. Placed in perfect striking position by the venerable Jose Lezcano, the Midnight Storm filly darted through a narrow opening mid stretch and ran away from them as the 2/1 favorite.
🎪 Brattle House was odds-on favorite in this NW2x allowance/optional claiming race going 7 furlongs on the dirt, coming off of a dominant win in an allowance at Belmont in June. The Malibu Moon filly was also sporting a gaudy record of 6-4-2-0, never having been worse than second in her career, She kept that record intact Sunday, but she didn’t get her picture taken in the winners circle, that honor went to Betsy Blue. The four year old New York bred filly also had an excellent record of 15-6-7-1 coming into the race, but had been dealing with some seconditis having been 2nd in this same class three races in a row plus was 5-0-4-1 at Saratoga. With Jose Lezcano aboard, she made a strong run at the 1/4 pole to sweep past Brattle House under steady urging, drawing away late. Sweet Willemina closed from far back to be third. Forever Dreaming took lots of early money stemming from a series of bullet works that stretched back to June but didn’t do much running.
🏆 Big Invasion has dominated the east coast three year old turf sprint ranks this spring and summer and that dominance continued on Sunday afternoon in the Mahony going 5.5 furlongs on the grass. Under a very confident Joel Rosario, the Declaration of War colt settled near the back of the pack as Monmouth shipper, That’s Right blazed the way on the front end. Rosario deftly guided Big Invasion to the outside on the turn, while still appearing to be in no big hurry as they moved into striking position nearing the head of the stretch. Once he straightened away, Rosario shook the reins at the bay colt and he took off after the tiring leaders, collaring them effortlessly about mid-stretch and cruising to another open lengths win while being taken in hand late. Christophe Clement has a choice to make on which route to take for his final prep for the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. The Belmont Turf Sprint (Gr II), 6f on the grass against 3 and up for $200,000, is scheduled for October 1st at Belmont at the Big A meet but Kentucky Downs also has two potential spots. The Franklin-Simpson (Gr II) for 3yo’s going 6.5 furlongs and $600,000 on September 10 or the $1,000,000 FanDuel Turf Sprint (Gr II) going 6f for 3 and up that same day. There is also the $350,000 Woodford (Gr II) at Keeneland on October 8 going 5.5f over the same turf surface that the Breeders Cup will be held on. Regardless of which spot Clement chooses, I’m taking Big Invasion over anyone and that includes defending champion Golden Pal.
😠 Race 2 on todays card features an 8 year old war horse named Greeley and Ben who is making his Saratoga debut. Of course that isn’t the story here, it’s the reemergence of former leading trainer David Jacobson. Greeley and Ben was purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton horses of racing age sale last month for the sum of $80,000 yet shows up a month later in a $16,000 claimer showing two glacial workouts at Belmont. Hopefully NYRA officials do everything in their power to ensure that this old warrior actually belongs on the racetrack tomorrow. Perhaps someone in an official capacity can remind his trainer that racing proceeded just fine without him the last few years as well.
🌍 English star miler Baaeed puts his undefeated record (9 for 9) on the line this morning at York when he competes in the International (Gr I) against six other mostly overmatched rivals. This is his first attempt over a mile as the International is contested at 1 5/16 on York’s left handed course. Mishriff, a top class horse that is winless on the year, is the main danger.
Day 25 (15 racing days to go)
Jonathan Sheppard H Gr I $150,000 2 3/8 miles
Down Royal - The Dalton Gang ships back up from South Carolina trying to sweep the two big Grade I steeplechase stakes at Saratoga, after annexing the AP Smithwick (Gr I) back in July. The 8yo Alphabet Soup mare picks up 2 pounds off of that win but is still in receipt of 21 pounds from the favorite Snap Decision. She is in career form and has to be considered though I’m not sure how she will handle less than form ground should the rains soak the course.
Belfast Banter (Ire) - reportedly was sent to the US in search of firm ground that he may not get today. Kept top company overseas and gets in rather light today. Jock not having stellar season as he currently has one win in 2022. Leaning elsewhere.
Song for Someone (Ger) - carries the colors of Mrs S.K. Johnston who won last Wednesday’s steeplechase with State of Affair. Trainer Young was having a strong season before Saratoga, where she has yet to hit the board in 5 starts. Euro import makes his US debut after racing in a 400k race over three miles at top track Cheltenham last out. Has shown an ability to handle boggy ground in the past, gets T. “James” Garner in the saddle and his lifetime record over jumps of 19–7-6-2 has to be respected.
Going Country (Ire) - six year old Yeats gelding struggled over the jumps in his Spa debut. Gets (I believe) Danny Mullins, nephew of Irish jumping legend Willie Mullins, in the saddle for Keri Brion who has had a good Saratoga meet. Is the low weight as the least accomplished of the field with only two wins over hurdles to his credit.
Redicean - made middle move before stopping in Smithwick. Has never been able to handle Snap Decision in the past. Jockey Garner abandoned ship for Song for Someone (Ger). Not optimistic
Snap Decision - the ⭐️ of this group, he comes in off of huge effort on the flat in the Colonial Cup in Virginia a few weeks back. Gets regular rider Watters back and he carries him along with quite a bit of lead under the 164 pound impost. Clearly the one to beat at a short price, he is 15-10-5-0 over the jumps, literally never running worse than second. In my amateur steeplechase opinion, the only danger to him other than the 164 is the import, Song For Someone (Ger).
Chief Justice (GB) - looked like he was going to pull off the upset in the Smithwick till he just got run down late by the aptly named Down Royal. The jumping boys didn’t seem to believe that the Smithwick was a stellar version this season but this guy has been in pretty good form.
Historic Heart (Ire) - seemed to be traveling well before not taking a jump great and never really recovering . Brion and Hendricks combo is always dangerous and perhaps the longer trip and a clean run gives him a shot to hit the board at a much better price than last time out.