Today is it for racing at Saratoga this summer. It's been a long six weeks, but a pretty good one. The meets closes with one of my favorite races, the Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds. It's perfect weather, so the track should be fast, and two of the top juveniles in the country will go head-to-head as Ready's Image and Maimonides will start.
Also, the jockey title is still up for grabs. Kent Desormeaux went nuts Sunday with four winners and he is now tied with Cornelio Velasquez with 43 winners apiece. Looking ahead, both have mounts in the 10th and final race. Overall, Desormeaux has nine mounts today while Velasquez has seven. First race goes off in 30 minutes and the last is scheduled for 5:52 p.m.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Jockey Prado injured at Saratoga
Edgar Prado, winner of the last two jockey titles at Saratoga, was injured in an accident following Saturday's seventh race. He became unseated from his mount after crossed the finish line and was tended to for several minutes on the clubhouse turn of the inner turf track. Initial reports are that Prado suffered an injury to his ankle, but that he was conscious. Still awaiting official word from NYRA as the Grade I Forego is set to go off in two minutes.
Right now, Midnight Lute (with Shaun Bridgmohan up in place of Prado) is the second choice behind morning-line favorite High Finance.
Right now, Midnight Lute (with Shaun Bridgmohan up in place of Prado) is the second choice behind morning-line favorite High Finance.
Friday, August 31, 2007
final weekend
Here we are, the final Friday of the 2007 meet. Twi-light racing takes place tonight, so ther first race won't go off until 2:45 p.m. This weekend carries four Grade Is - the Woodward, the Forego, the Spinaway and the Hopeful. The first two are for older horses, the last two for the babies. All, though, will have an impact on the fall races and especially the Breeders' Cup.
The weather looks like it will cooperate these final few days, as the heat goes away and the sun stays. NYRA likely won't hit the 1 million mark for attendance, but you have to call the meet a big success overall. Once the gates close, though, who knows who will be the ones to open them back up next July?
The weather looks like it will cooperate these final few days, as the heat goes away and the sun stays. NYRA likely won't hit the 1 million mark for attendance, but you have to call the meet a big success overall. Once the gates close, though, who knows who will be the ones to open them back up next July?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Street Sense survives...barely
The Kentucky Derby winner got past pacesetter Grasshopper in the final sixteenth of a mile Saturday to win the Travers Stakes. It is the colt's third career Grade I win. Those two were more than 10 lengths clear of third-place finisher Helsinki.
Interestingly, it was Calvin Borel on Street Sense and Robby Albarado on Grasshopper. Albarado and Borel hooked up in a sensational stretch run in the Preakness, with Albarado prevailing on Curlin.
While watching the replay, Street Sense's trainer Carl Nafzger was asked if it brought back any thoughts about the Preakness.
"I don't ever think about the Preakness," he dead-panned.
It's on to the next race for the Derby and Travers winner, but it's not certain where that will be. There are several options, or Nafzger could just train him up to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Interestingly, it was Calvin Borel on Street Sense and Robby Albarado on Grasshopper. Albarado and Borel hooked up in a sensational stretch run in the Preakness, with Albarado prevailing on Curlin.
While watching the replay, Street Sense's trainer Carl Nafzger was asked if it brought back any thoughts about the Preakness.
"I don't ever think about the Preakness," he dead-panned.
It's on to the next race for the Derby and Travers winner, but it's not certain where that will be. There are several options, or Nafzger could just train him up to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Hard Spun wins King's Bishop
In the Grade I King's Bishop Stakes, Hard Spun picked up the first Grade I win of his career, besting First Defence in a hard-fought stretch run.
Hard Spun was up with the pacesetter from the start and took the lead off the turn. First Defence got up for a short lead, but Hard Spun came back along the rail for the win.
In the day's first graded stakes race, the Grade II Bernard Baruch Handicap, Shakis won in record time, riding the fence with jockey Alan Garcia and getting through a hole in mid-stretch. Big Prairie was second and Drum Major was third. The time of 1:45.33 was a course record.
Travers post time is 5:40
Hard Spun was up with the pacesetter from the start and took the lead off the turn. First Defence got up for a short lead, but Hard Spun came back along the rail for the win.
In the day's first graded stakes race, the Grade II Bernard Baruch Handicap, Shakis won in record time, riding the fence with jockey Alan Garcia and getting through a hole in mid-stretch. Big Prairie was second and Drum Major was third. The time of 1:45.33 was a course record.
Travers post time is 5:40
Stakes races on tap
We are awaiting the start of the seventh race at Saratoga, the Grade II Bernard Baruch. Cosmonaut is the 2-1 favorite right now.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer made a quick trip to the press box a little bit ago and discussed where things stand with the franchise. He said he still plans on having his recommendation finalized by the Sept. 4 deadline "or shortly thereafter." He also said he has been a horse racing fan for many years and understands just how important the industry is to this area, and New York as a whole. We shall see what he does in due time.
Oh, still no rain and it's terribly hot and humid out.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer made a quick trip to the press box a little bit ago and discussed where things stand with the franchise. He said he still plans on having his recommendation finalized by the Sept. 4 deadline "or shortly thereafter." He also said he has been a horse racing fan for many years and understands just how important the industry is to this area, and New York as a whole. We shall see what he does in due time.
Oh, still no rain and it's terribly hot and humid out.
Still hot... and dry (sort of)
Three races down, nine more to go and the rain has yet to arrive at Saratoga. I hear the temperature is just about to hit 90 degrees and the humidity is about as bad as we've had all summer. Don't know what effect, if any, that might have on the horses running today.
The crowd has built up nicely around the track and the feeling of anticipation for the arrival of the Travers (and the Derby winner Street Sense) is growing by the minute. Horses have just hit the track to prepare for the fourth race.
If you're wondering, Desormeaux (Loose Leaf) and Cornelio Velasquez (C P West) both own wins on today's card.
The crowd has built up nicely around the track and the feeling of anticipation for the arrival of the Travers (and the Derby winner Street Sense) is growing by the minute. Horses have just hit the track to prepare for the fourth race.
If you're wondering, Desormeaux (Loose Leaf) and Cornelio Velasquez (C P West) both own wins on today's card.
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