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?

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.

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

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.

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.

Travers Day

The sun is out and the air is sticky as Travers Day is upon us in Saratoga. The humidity is sky-high today and there remains a threat of wet weather this afternoon. No major surprises as the card is set to start in less than one hour and the crowd is filling in around the grounds pretty nicely so far. Reading some early reports and watching the morning local news, most fans are sticking with Street Sense to win. Some, though, are a bit more adventurous and will try to pick the upset in the 138th Travers Stakes. Whoever wins, this year's Travers appears to be the annual event that it has become over the years. In case you missed my column today, I'm going with Street Sense, Sightseeing and Loose Leaf. Good luck to you all.

steamy Friday

It's a humid, wet day at Saratoga, one day before the Travers. Shortly before noon, a hard rain shower came through Saratoga and soaked the grounds. The humidity came back last night, which means today will be an uncomfortable one at the track for the Grade I Personal Ensign.

Spoke with Hall of fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas this morning. He trained the last horse to win both the Derby and the Travers, Thunder Gulch in 1995. He likes Street Sense to win, and applauded trainer Carl Nafzger's training program. He also appreciates that Nafzger chose the Travers rather than holding out of the race like some other trainers for the sake of prepping for the Breeders' Cup Classic. That makes three of them - Lukas, Nick Zito and Nafzger - who pride themselves on being "traditionalists" and keeping the Travers right up there in reputation with the Derby. We'll see how those feelings play out in the coming years.

Wait A While takes Ballston Spa

Wait A While, ridden by garrett Gomez and trained by Todd Pletcher, won Thursday's feature, the Grade II Ballston Spa Handicap, over a firm inner turf course at Saratoga. Vacare was second and Meribel was third.

Travers draw

The Travers weel festivities are in full swing in Saratoga, and today's post position draw only adds to the hype! Seven horses were entered, and leading the way is Kentucky Derby winner, Street Sense. The winner of the Jim Dandy is the 3-5 morning-line favorite and will break from post No. 4 under jockey Calvin Borel. Second choice on the morning line is C P West at 5-1. The longest shots on the board are Helsinki and For You Reppo, both at 20-1. Here is the complete draw (with trainer, jockey and ML odds):

1. Helsinki (Nick Zito, Julien Leparoux, 20-1)
2. C P West (Nick Zito, Cornelio Velasquez, 5-1)
3. For You Reppo (Helen Pitts, Garrett Gomez, 20-1)
4. Street Sense (Carl Nafzger, Calvin Borel, 3-5)
5. Grasshopper (Neil Howard, Robby Albarado, 8-1)
6. Loose Leaf (Ken McPeek, Kent Desormeaux, 12-1
7. Sightseeing (Claude McGaughey III, Edgar Prado, 6-1)

rare treat

Saratoga just hosted a rare kind of race, a 2-mile dirt race. Yes, 2 long miles. Touchdown Peyton won the race while pacesetter Nite Light was second and Winemaster third.

As the winner crossed under the wire, track announcer Tom Durkin proclaimed him the victor in "a very entertaining 3:27.91."

Alabama Day

Alabama Day should be a gorgeous one at Saratoga. The sun is out, the temperature is down and the breeze is blowing. Rags to Riches, rather than being prepped for her return to racing, is relaxing in her stall while two stablemates, Octave and Panty Raid, will run in her stead for trainer Todd Pletcher. While the headliner is out, the field for the Alabama is incredibly strong, as the seven horses have accounted for 28 victories.

First race goes off in seven minutes.

Zito to enter two in Travers

After watching both C.P. West and Helsinki work this morning over Saratoga's main track, trainer Nick Zito announced both will be entered in next Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes.

That announcement grows the list of definites to five: Jim Dandy winner Street Sense, C.P. West, Helsinki, Sightseeing and Tiz Wonderful. Loose Leaf and For You Reppo are being considered as well.

Zito won the 2004 Travers with Birdstone, as the colt barely beat a torrential rainstorm to win Zito's first Travers (the rain came so badly right after the race that the day's last race was cancelled). He said he learned a long time ago from fellow Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas about taking chances when you have a horse capable of doing so. Assuming both colts avoid any serious problems in the next week or so, he'll do just that with two horses.

Street Sense will likely be a huge favorite in the race. He worked Wednesday and trainer Carl Nafzger reported nothing but good things about his colt. The countdown has officially begun...

Travers nominations announced

24 horses were nominated for the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes, led by sevne for trainr Todd Pletcher. Interestingly, he doesn't plan to saddle any of the seven (including three fillies) for the race. Nick Zito entered four horses.

Yes, Street Sense was nominated and is expected to run.

Rags to Riches skipping Alabama

Rags to Riches will not run in this weekend's Alabama Stakes, trainer Todd Petcher confirmed Sunday afternoon.
The filly had her training interrupted after spiking a fever prior to the Coaching Club American Oaks. While she arrived in Saratoga late last month and breezed twice (including this morning), Pletcher said there just wasn't enough time to get her race-ready. INstead, he wil hold her out until the Ruffian Handicap at Belmont next month.

A true disappointment for racing fans here who would have flocked to Saratoga to see the star filly, but it's not a decision that comes as a huge surprise given the time she missed in July before being shipped here. Pletcher fans will still have a horse to root for, though, as Octave is a definite starter.

Tishmeister wins

Tishmeister won Thursday's feature race, the New York Stallion Series "Statue of Liberty" Division with jockey Javier Castellano aboard. Don't Mind Me was second and Western Sweep was third.

In other news at Saratoga, Flashy Bull was retired by West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Flashy Bull won the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap earlier this year, but was disappointing in the Grade I Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Perhaps the leg fracture just found was the reason why.

Also, the Travers Stakes is looking less and less interesting every day. Any Given Saturday is likely out, which means Todd Pletcher will not have a horse in the race. Curlin is a real longshot and Hard Spun is going to run in the King's Bishop, a sprint on the Travers undercard. Sounds like Saratoga's premier race is going to anything but.....

It's Nobiz Like Shobiz

Nobiz Like Shobiz now has a Grade I win on the turf and the dirt. Trained by Barclay Tagg, the son of Albert the Great roard down the stretch at Saratoga to win the Grade II National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes. Run at 1 1/8 miles over a firm inner turf course, Nobiz Like Shobiz beat Marcavelly and Distorted Reality under the wire for his first win since taking the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in April.

Tagg said he is unsure where the horse will run next, as his versatility gives his connections a lot of options. It is obvious, though, that he has enjoyed the switch to turf thus far.

Eight new Hall of Famers

As always, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion across the street from the track was a memorable event. Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino gave a great keynote address and the inductees told some unique and touching stories.

Jose Santos received the biggest ovation for his accomplished career (including Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes wins aboard New York-bred Funny Cide), and thanked every trainer he rode for and every agent who worked for him. John Veitch, a former trainer and now the state steward for Kentucky, spoke pointedly about doing the right thing for horses and Abigail Fuller-Catalano held off tears just long enough to thank the Hall of Fame for accepting her father's filly, Mom's Command, into its record books.

A great part of every induction ceremony is the list of past inductees who attend the event. A large group of trainers and jockeys (including Affirmed's Steve Cauthen and Secretariat's Ron Turcotte) were in attendance and were honored before the inductions began.

The crowd was fair - I thought perhaps this lineup would have pushed the pavilion to its limit - and the receptions for each inductee were heartfelt. In addition, the Hall of Fame deserves credit for fitting a keynote speech and eight inductions into a two-hour window, giving everyone more than enough time to get back to the track for the first race of the day.

Rags to Riches steals the AM

The track at Saratoga always has a unique buzz in the mornings. Today was particularly special, though, as Belmont Stakes-winning filly Rags to Riches breezed under Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr.

Rags to Riches went half a mile easily in :49 4/5 ad gallloped out nicely as trainer Todd Pletcher looked on trackside. A big crowd awaited the filly as she crossed Union Avenue and entered the main track, and most of the crowd of writers and photographers followed her back to Pletcher's barn, where the trainer expressed his happiness with the work. It was the filly's first serious workout since she was pulled up at Belmont Park during a work and then sent for a myriad of tests.

Pletcher said the filly's next work will determine if she goes in the Aug. 18 Alabama, but she looked great today. Cordero said she went smoothly without any problems and enjoyed all the attention she received. He also said he was nervous as he climbed aboard the popular filly for the first time - and he is a Hall of Fame jockey.

second Saturday

It's a perfect afternoon at Saratoga. The sun is out, the temperature and humidity are both down and the wind is blowing comfortably. The Test Stakes goes off in less than two hours, and Dream Rush and Cotton Blossom figure to be the top money-getters.

Already today, Derby entrant Teuflesberg has run over the turf - for the first time. Last year's suprise Sanford Stakes runner-up fared well over the turf, pressing the pace and holding on well for second. Trainer Jamie Sanders said she had to let the horse run, even though her initial plan was to wait for the King's Bishop. Regardless, the 3-year-old colt figures to get hsi 20th career start in the meet's top spring race, part of the Travers Day undercard. Teuflesberg hasn't won a whole lot of races in his career but he seems to put in a solid effort more often that not. Nearly winning a Grade II juvenile race at Saratoga as a maiden is quite a feat, and it looks like he still enjoys Saratoga - no matter the surface.

hot Thursday

Steamy and sunny here at Saratoga today. This morning among the barns was particularly hot, but there was a slight breeze that made it possible to stay upright and not pass out.

Rags to Riches galloped at Saratoga for the first time Wednesday and again Thursday. Trainer Todd Pletcher said she seems to like Saratoga very much (who wouldn't, if you're getting the royal treatment everywhere you go?). She is set to breeze early next week, which will be an indication of how ready she is for the Alabama.

Wednesday and Thursday are typically slow days, but Friday has the Grade II Honorable Miss on the card and the Grade I Test Stakes will be run Saturday. The sprint for fillies should be an entertaining race, with some pretty quality horses facing off. Hope it cools down a little bit.