July 23 Saratoga Special

The Year 10 • Issue 1

✫ aratoga Saratoga’s Daily Newspaper on Thoroughbred Racing

Friday, July 23, 2010

Saratoga embarks on 40-day voyage

Schuylerville Preview • Entries • Handicapping

Here & There at Saratoga 517 Broadway, Suite 207 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (Second Floor, around the back) Phone: (518) 490-1175 Sean Mobile: (302) 545-7713 Joe Mobile: (302) 545-4424 E-mail: sean@st-publishing.com or jclancy@st-publishing.com Internet: www.saratogaspecial.com Published Wednesday through Sunday during the racing season.

Every day of Sales Week Aug. 2-8.

The Staff

Jack Clancy

Bill Mott talks over strategy with Garrett Gomez and Ron Anderson on the eve of the 2010 Saratoga Racing Season.

Worth Repeating “Glad to be back – I think.”

Intrepid trainer, two days before Opening Day

“It all comes back to you.”

Trainer Todd Wyatt, 1-for-2 at Saratoga last summer, as he unloaded hay on the farm “He gets taller. I get shorter.”

Owner Sandy Maggio when seeing The Special’s Jack Clancy, 14 “See when you have friends.”

Trainer Angel Penna as he hitched a ride on the back of Phil Serpe’s golf cart Wednesday morning

“That would have made the paper.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen after nearly being run over by a Saratoga Special golfcart

“But, that was last year.”

Jockey Rajiv Maragh, after reciting his 2009 stats – third leading jockey, nine stakes, four Grade I stakes wins...

“Ten minutes, Jamaican time?”

Maragh, after a 20-minute wait that was promised to be 10 minutes “Aut No God” Note on the backside Coke machine, we think it means out of service “If you put me at the bottom of exactas last year, you had a good meet.”

Trainer Rusty Arnold, who had nine (by his count) seconds here in 2009

“It’s now official.”

Jockey Mike Luzzi when seeing The Special crew Thursday morning “A lot of dogs. A lot of fleas.”

Luzzi while describing the crowded Saratoga jockey colony “This is where I’m meant to be.”

Jockey Calvin Borel, two days before Opening Day “If you want to say something, think about it.”

Jockey Edgar Prado advising his agent, Jim Riccio, about The Special’s reach “Oh no, it’s that time of year again.”

Trainer Seth Benzel, when asked to give his “One Winner”

2

Just Sayin’

“W

e’re excited about this meet, we have a bunch of good ones pointing for big races. It’s all led by Boys At Tosconova – he’s the man.”

Let us quote your next trip.

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~ Trainer Rick Dutrow Horse Transportation

www.brookledge.com

Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy, Joe Clancy.

Staff Writers: Phil Janack, Karen Johnson, Mike Kane, Therese Karmel, Ben Meyers, Katie Bo Williams.

Layout/Design: Dan Vunk.

Photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush.

Handicappers: Gaile Fitzgerald, Dean Keppler, Brian Nadeau, John Panagot, John Shapazian Assistants: Chelsea Brown, Maggie Kimmitt.

Distribution: Ryan Clancy, Jack Clancy, Nolan Clancy, Jane Motion.

Advertising Sales: Contact a Clancy or call Kathy Rubin at (203) 650-6815.

ST Publishing Inc. Home Office 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921 (410) 392-5867 • Fax (410) 392-0170 www.st-publishing.com info@st-publishing.com The Saratoga Special Steeplechase Times Thoroughbred Racing Calendar The Best of The Saratoga Special Saratoga Days and other acclaimed products and services within the equine industry.

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– Lee Hills, Pulitzer Prize winner, Knight Ridder chief executive, in 1974

Friday, July 23, 2010

Here & There at Saratoga

The humans aren’t the only ones exchanging greetings at the start of the meet.

Connie Bush

One Winner In this game there is no sure thing, but The Special wants to know who is the closet to one.

Jimmy Jerkens: “Kastraki, at the end of the meet.”

Tom Proctor: “I haven’t had one in two years, now you want me to guarantee one?”

Seth Benzel: “The Ghallimh Girl.”

Rusty Arnold: “It’s Tea Time in a restricted 3-year-old filly stake, it’ll be an easier spot than the (Kentucky) Oaks.”

Dallas Stewart: “Let me think about that.”

Tom Bush: “I have one to breeze on the turf and then I’ll tell you.”

Al Stall: “I hope it’s Blame, are you kidding?”

Todd Pletcher: “I’m hoping Quality Road.”

By The Numbers 4:28: Time The Special’s Joe Clancy uttered, “This might be as far behind as we’ve ever been,” on the night of the first 2010 deadline.

32: Run-in sheds built by Old Friends with a grant (one of six totaling $1 million to various racehorse welfare organizations over the next three years) awarded by the ASPCA this year.

NEW YORK: LATITUDE

License Plates

1966 Saratoga Yearling Grad OBEAH, sold by her breeder, Bertram Linder, to Mrs. Jane Dupont Lunger’s Christiana Stables. A two-time Delaware H. winner, a prestigious stakes which for many years was a G1 race, OBEAH produced 3 GSWs. But it was her Champion two and three-year-old filly— GO FOR WAND— which insured her immortality.

FinesT Since its beginnings almost a century ago, Saratoga is the first place for the fascination and glamour of Thoroughbred sales and racing.

Champion Racehorses. Champion Sires.

Champion Broodmares. The Triple Crown and stirring victories in Grade I events all over America. Recognition around the globe, from Royal Ascot, to Longchamp, to Australia and Japan.

When racing success at its highest level is the goal, your pursuit should begin at Saratoga in August.

Name of the Day

Bank Merger, third race: Cleverly-named Darley colt is by Consolidator out of the Seeking The Gold mare Lucrative.

Weather

Today: High of 77. Thunder showers in the afternoon. 70 percent chance of precipitation.

Tonight: Low of 69. Scattered thunderstorms. 60 percent chance of precipitation.

Tomorrow: High of 84. Partly cloudy. 10 percent chance of precipitation.

Sunday: High of 81. Scattered thunderstorms. 30 percent chance of precipitation.

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3

Step One

Freshmen fillies take center stage as new season starts 40-day march by mike kane

SCHUYLERVILLE PREVIEW

Saratoga Race Course opens for another season today the way it has done since almost the very beginning, showcasing young talent in the featured stakes race.

As it has been since 1973, the Grade III Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies is the marquee event on the first day of the meeting. Starting in 1869, the Spa season opened with the Flash Stakes for juveniles. The Flash disappeared from Saratoga after Riva Ridge’s victory in 1971. The Test was the feature the first day of 1972 and the Schuylerville, which was first run in 1918, was moved to the primary position on the Spa stakes schedule the following summer.

Six fillies with a nary a stakes appearance among them, are expected to go to the post for the 6-furlong Schuylerville this afternoon. Post time is estimated for 5:30 p.m. The group includes Stopspendingmaria, a Montbrook filly trained by Todd Pletcher who broke her maiden impressively in her last start; and Let’s Get Fiscal, a runaway winner in her lone appearance for trainer Rick Violette.

While Riva Ridge went into a fine career that carried him into the Hall of Fame, the winner of the initial Flash at Saratoga was the filly Remorseless, who beat males and females that afternoon a little over 14 decades ago. She also won the Nursery and Saratoga Stakes and was second in the Hopeful. Remorseless was the third member of the “Barbarous Battalion,” five full sisters sired by Eclipse out of Barbarity. The five owned

by Francis Morris were Hall of Fame member Ruthless, winner of the first Belmont Stakes and the Travers; Relentless; Remorseless; Regardless; and Merciless.

Unbeaten Final Mesa, the most experienced of those entered today with two stakes wins on her resume, will not run in the Schuylerville. She was part of a New York-bred entry with Spa Sunrise, but trainer Wesley Ward decided that she will pass on this race. Final Mesa won the Polly Drummond at Delaware Park May 15 and the My Dear at Woodbine June 26.

“She ran a powerful race at Woodbine and I just thought I’d give her a little more time,” Ward said. He said she

Schuylerville contender Let’s Get Fiscal takes a stroll Thursday morning.

may be better on artificial surfaces and is considering sending her to Del Mar for her next start.

Spa Sunrise, a daughter of Eddington, handled state-breds in her only start, July 8 at Belmont Park. She jumped out to a quick lead under jockey Eibar Coa, who will ride again today, extended her advantage to four lengths and held on to win the 5 1/2-furlong race by 1 1/2 lengths.

Connie Bush

“It was a nice race,” Ward said. “She was a little green and she ran well. This field came up where it looks like it’s going to be a little short. We thought we’d jump in and maybe get lucky and get a piece of it.”

Ward said Spa Sunrise didn’t have to work too hard in her debut so it made sense to run her back in the Schuylerville.

See schuylerville page 6

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Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

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Schuylerville – Continued from page 4

“She’s already shown speed, she’s a bigger filly and she’s an early foal, a January foal,” he said. “We’re hoping that if we can get lucky and beat four of them we’ll get stakes-placed, which would be nice.”

Ward’s 2-year-olds have been running well this season, but he knows that his filly is making a big step up the competitive ladder.

“A stake in a place like Saratoga is tough,” he said. “We know we’re up against it. But anything can happen. The rest of them are talented. Our other filly is the one who really belongs in the race.”

Stopspendingmaria finished third behind Schuylerville starter Show Me the Bling on June 5 at Monmouth. She got it all right the next time out though, rolling to a seven-length victory under a hand ride by John Velazquez on July 1 at Belmont Park. Velazquez will be aboard again and they will start from the rail.

Pletcher has won the Schuylerville

three times: in 2002 with Freedom’s Daughter, 2003 with Ashado and 2006 with Cotton Blossom.

Violette said that Let’s Get Fiscal deserves high marks for the way she’s handled the transition from the 2-yearold sale to the race track.

“She’s been very professional from Day One,” he said. “We’ve never had to show her anything twice.

“Actually, she’s very laid back when she’s by herself and she doesn’t get her game face until you put her with company. It’s very cool. She’s medium-sized, very muscled, with a great mind, a good

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racehorse mind.”

Violette purchased the Florida-bred daughter of Bandini for the partnership of clients Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence and has had her in his care since the winter.

“We had her down at Palm Meadows originally and she’s never missed a beat,” he said. “She was probably ready a couple of weeks before we actually ran. There was some weather and some of the races didn’t go. She was pretty well primed. We expected a lot of her and she didn’t let us down.”

Let’s Get Fiscal won her debut by 5 1/2 lengths June 17 at Belmont Park.

She pressed the pace under Alan Garcia then drew away and won the 5-furlong race as she pleased in 57.70 seconds.

Violette thinks his filly has some range and will be able to stretch out.

“She’s by Bandini, who is by Fusaici Pegasus. You’d think she would go on a little bit,” he said. “She doesn’t have to be a sprinter. I think a mile or a mile and a sixteenth would be well within her scope.”

Le Mi Geaux easily broke her maiden for owner-breeder Lansdon Robbins by 7 1/4 lengths on June 20 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., the First Samurai filly will be ridden again by apprentice Frederick Lenclud.

John and Kim Glenney’s homebred Dos Lunas, has done most of her training on the artificial surface at Keeneland, broke her maiden on turf at Churchill Downs and will race on Saratoga dirt in the Schuylerville. She was a decisive winner in her lone start.

Show Me the Bling shows four bullet works for trainer Patrick Biancone during the past few months to go with her victory at Monmouth. The Too Much Bling filly was the fastest of 75 workers going a half-mile in 47 2/5 seconds at Monmouth July 18.

www.EQB.com

Connie Bush

Dos Lunas and John Glenney tackle the Schuylerville today.

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Friday, July 23, 2010

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Friday, July 23, 2010

7

A Nice Spot

Stellar field shows up for co-feature, meet by sean clancy Steve Asmussen hoped for a nice spot to snap Grade II stakes winner Friesan Fire’s two-race losing streak.

Tom Bush searched for a reasonable race for You And I Forever to continue his 5-year-old season. Eight other trainers circled today’s eighth race in the book and thought, ‘Hey, that’s a good spot.’

Call Herr’s and tell them to name a potato chip after James Marvin. Spicy, extra salt.

The $75,000 overnight stakes would highlight any card in the country. Instead, it’s a co-feature on Saratoga’s Opening Day card.

That’s why the fans love it and the trainers hate it.

The 142nd Saratoga meet gets underway today with the Grade III Schuylerville and the ungraded James Marvin. The 7-furlong stakes attracted six graded stakes winners including three-time Grade I winner Vineyard Haven, who makes his first start since November for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor.

“You mean the Grade I overnight $75,000, betterbe-graded-stake-next-year, James Marvin,” said As-

Vineyard Haven returns in today’s tough James Marvin Stakes.

mussen when asked about the race. “Last year Pyro ran in it, on his way to winning the Forego. There are no easy spots at this level. Nobody volunteers to lose around here.”

Bush had the same reaction when he saw the overnight.

“The race should be worth $150,000 instead of $75,000. If you finish second or third in this race, you should get a big chunk of change,” Bush said. “These

Tod Marks

are grade two, grade three horses and there’s a grade one horse in there. For me, if you’ve got to run against Vineyard Haven, you’re thinking running against him off a long layoff is better than with a race under his belt. You’ve got some contenders in there.”

For the record, the race (from the rail out) includes You And I Forever, Cool Coal Man, Half Metal Jacket, Vineyard Haven at 3-5, Discreet Treasure, Friesan See preview page 10

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Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

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Preview –

Continued from page 8

Connie Bush

Jockey Rajiv Maragh lines up a putt at the Old Friends miniature golf tournament Thursday.

Fire, Le Grand Cru, Flat Bold, Atoned and Silver Edition. Let the games begin.

The Saratoga season expands to 40 days – at least one stakes a day – equaling the longest season since 1882. With it come the best horses and horsemen competing for 52 stakes worth more than $10 million.

The horsepower runs long and deep (at least in training at Saratoga), including reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, Met Mile winner Quality Road, Derby winner Mine That Bird, Clark winner Blame, Eclipse Award winners Forever Together and Informed Decision, 2-year-old sensations Kantharos, Lou Brissie and Boys At Tosconova.

Among the humans, the competition is just as powerful.

Todd Pletcher and Linda Rice are sure to spar at the top of the trainers’ standings. Rice upset Pletcher last year, winning 20 races to best the six-time champion by one. Bill Mott, Asmussen, Barclay Tagg, George Weaver, Kiaran McLaughlin, Gary Contessa, Tony Dutrow and Mike Maker completed the top 10 last year and are sure to be factors again. Rick Dutrow entered stakes horses on the first two cards and has the likes of D’Funnybone, Rail Trip and Boys At Tosconova waiting in the wings. Neil Howard has returned after missing last summer while relative newcomers John Glenney, Derek Ryan, Eric Guillot and Tim Ice (who captured the 2009 Travers with Summer Bird) made the entry list over the first two cards.

Pletcher feels confident about the depth of his 2010 stable.

“I think it’s a more balanced group,” Pletcher said. “It looks like the 2-yearolds are running well and we have some exciting stakes races, so it feels it’s as strong a hand as we’ve had in quite a while but I have a lot of respect for how hard it is to win at Saratoga, so you’ve got to go into it with cautious optimism.”

Ramon Dominguez will try to win his 10th consecutive New York jockey title while taking on veterans, travelers and upstarts. Alex Solis joins the colony for the first time after winning close to 5,000 races mostly in California. Calvin Borel, regular pilot of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and Derby winner Super Saver, will be based in Saratoga for the meet. Two-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Garrett Gomez is back after spending the past two summers at Del Mar and most of this summer at Monmouth. Alan Garcia, Rajiv Maragh, Julien Leparoux, Kent Desormeaux, Javier Castellano, John Velazquez, Edgar Prado, Robby Albarado and Jose Lezcano rounded out the top 10 last year and return with firepower this summer.

They’ve all won major races all over the world, but there’s nothing like Saratoga.

“You miss the elite racing and the elite horses, the breeders and the bigtime owners, a stake a day, that’s all good for us,” said Gomez’s agent Ron Anderson. “This is horse country. It’s a horse place, everybody is into it, that’s missed, you’re not at Del Mar which is more of a beach atmosphere, people are vacationing. The intensity of six days a week is hard on everybody but this is where it’s at for us.”

And everyone else. Pull the curtain.

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2009 Leading Jockeys at Saratoga Name ...............................Starts .........1st .......... 2nd ............ 3rd ............ Earnings Ramon Dominguez ....................... 260 .............45 ................43 ..................46 ............$2,734,486 Alan Garcia . .................................. 202 .............40 ................19 ..................26 ............$2,280,689 Rajiv Maragh . ............................... 260 .............33 ................23 ..................36 ............$1,991,628 Julien Leparoux ............................ 215 .............28 ................33 ..................23 ............$2,367,494 John Velazquez ............................. 224 .............26 ................33 ..................27 ............$2,118,145 Javier Castellano ........................... 199 .............26 ................27 ..................20 ............$1,785,689 Kent Desormeaux . ........................ 160 .............26 ................26 ..................19 ............$2,123,053 Edgar Prado .................................. 165 .............22 ................13 ..................20 ............$1,644,526 Robby Albarado ............................ 134 .............19 ................19 ..................14 ............$1,409,571 Jose Lezcano ................................ 184 .............15 ................26 ..................32 ............$1,127,778 Cornelio Velasquez . ...................... 147 .............11 ................20 ..................21 ...............$723,159 Mike Luzzi ..................................... 119 ...............9 ................11 ....................8 ...............$422,574 Jesus Castanon . ............................. 75 ...............7 ..................7 ....................5 ...............$286,240 Jorge Chavez .................................. 73 ...............7 ..................6 ..................11 ...............$318,585 Eibar Coa ........................................ 92 ...............6 ................12 ....................7 ...............$353,729 Shaun Bridgmohan ......................... 60 ...............6 ..................6 ....................3 ...............$306,652 Jamie Theriot .................................. 72 ...............6 ..................5 ....................6 ...............$456,450 Jeremy Rose ................................... 16 ...............5 ..................1 ....................3 ...............$721,153 Sebastian Morales .......................... 61 ...............4 ..................4 ....................5 ...............$186,454 Richard Migliore ............................. 31 ...............4 ..................2 ....................1 ...............$321,187

2009 Leading Trainers at Saratoga Name ...............................Starts .........1st .......... 2nd ............ 3rd ............ Earnings Linda Rice ....................................... 75 .............20 ..................4 ....................8 ...............$786,493 Todd Pletcher ................................ 135 .............19 ................28 ..................20 ............$1,458,487 Bill Mott .......................................... 88 .............18 ................12 ..................14 ............$1,133,625 Steve Asmussen ............................. 59 .............13 ..................6 ....................5 ............$1,485,235 George Weaver ............................... 51 .............12 ..................6 ....................3 ...............$400,765 Barclay Tagg ................................... 45 .............12 ..................4 ....................8 ...............$606,284 Gary Contessa . ............................. 105 .............11 ................10 ..................15 ...............$513,450 Kiaran McLaughlin .......................... 64 .............11 ..................5 ....................9 ...............$807,779 Michael Maker ................................ 57 .............10 ..................9 ....................3 ...............$404,982 Tony Dutrow ................................... 31 .............10 ..................7 ....................8 ...............$413,407 Mike Hushion . ................................ 28 ...............9 ..................3 ....................2 ...............$346,937 Saeed bin Suroor ............................ 14 ...............8 ..................3 ....................0 ...............$994,514 Graham Motion ............................... 39 ...............7 ..................6 ....................7 ............$1,028,043 Nick Zito ......................................... 60 ...............7 ..................6 ....................7 ...............$398,740 D. Wayne Lukas .............................. 69 ...............7 ..................3 ....................7 ...............$530,443 Wesley Ward . ................................. 32 ...............7 ..................3 ....................3 ...............$221,384 Christophe Clement ........................ 48 ...............6 ................10 ....................8 ...............$539,843 Mark Hennig ................................... 49 ...............6 ..................7 ....................6 ...............$310,426 Chad Brown .................................... 36 ...............5 ..................5 ....................6 ...............$273,208 Richard Dutrow Jr. .......................... 25 ...............5 ..................4 ....................2 ...............$290,759

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Three elegant tales filled with horses as complicated and spirited as their human counterparts, these are inspiring stories of courage and hope and the ways in which all love — even a horse’s — has the power to heal.

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Catch it online at www.saratogaspecial.com, in person all over town, the OTB Channel Sat. & Sun. mornings at 10 Friday, July 23, 2010

TERRY LINDSEY EQUIDAE GALLERY The Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs July 23-Sept. 6 • 9-9 daily demos each Friday at 10 AM Champagne Opening July 30 6-8 PM Artists (l-r from top): Jaime Corum, Terry Lindsey, Anthony Alonso, Louise W. King, Susan Cronin, Kathleen Friedenberg, Werner Rentsch, Terry Lindsey, Anne Wolff, Sharon Crute, Ely Fuller, Katie Upton

Friday, July 23, 2010

13

the

Power grid John Shapazian

John Panagot

Gaile Fitzgerald

Brian Nadeau

Dean Keppler

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Hittin the Note Seattle Mission Tapitdar Home Rule Holy Place Kathern’s Kitten Bonavento Aspire Mad for Smarty Chef Eric Cozy Lion Dunvegan Roderick Good to Be Me Second and One African Diamond Unaccountable Dantastic With the Current Malibu Cougar Allison Renee Vineyard Haven Cool Coal Man Le Grand Cru Stopspendingmaria Let’s get Fiscal Ward Entry In Just We Trust Adams Circle Awesome Encore

Seattle Mission Kuggerand Fortissi More Gold Collection Home Rule Mitigate Mad For Smarty Aspire Bank Merger Chef Eric Dunvegan Cozy Lion Beth’s Kitten Roderick Good to Be Me African Diamond Unaccountable Dantastic Allison Renee Malibu Cougar Maria’s Luck Vineyard Haven Flat Bold Half Metal Jacket Lets Get Fiscal Show Me The Bling Stopspendingmaria Adams Circle Insightful Unbridled Fury

Mr. Enrico Seattle Mission Steal The Shot Home Rule Holy Place Flourish Aspire Bimini Mad For Smarty Cozy Lion Brad’s My Hero Chef Eric Roderick Good To Be Me Beth’s Kitten African Diamond Unaccountable Dantastic With The Current Allison Renee Playing Pirates Vineyard Haven Cool Coal Man Discreet Treasure Final Mesa Let’s Get Fiscal Dos Lunas In Just We Trust Adams Circle El Tune

Hittin The Note Seattle Mission Kuggerand Remark Dandyna Simply Carina Mad For Smarty Bonavento Aspire Cozy Lion Simple Kind Of Man Dunvegan Beth’s Kitten Roderick Good To Be Me African Diamond Unaccountable Eldoktori Too Clever By Half Malibu Cougar With The Current Vineyard Haven Flat Bold Half Metal Jacket Stopspendingmaria Let’s Get Fiscal Final Mesa Run To Grand Ave. In Just We Trust Rotten To The Core

Tapitdar Seattle Mission Judge Well Flourish Holy Place Neenie’s House Bonavento Bank Merger Aspire Simple Kind of Man Cozy Lion Budget Roderick Good to be Me Second and One Dantastic Eldoktori Unaccountable Malibu Cougar Allison Renee Playing Pirates Cool Coal Man Vineyard Haven Friesan Fire Let’s Get Fiscal Final Mesa Dos Lunas Insightful In Just We Trust Hopeful Boy

2009

89/305

87/305

86/305

62/305

New Guy

Race #

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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Friday, July 23, 2010

Royal Ascot (June) L’Arc de Triomphe (Sep-Oct) Cheltenham (March) Dubai (March) Aintree (April)

For trip details and to reserve your space, call George Wagner, 1-800-368-0872 or visit our website www.horseracingtripsworldwide.com

friday’s Saratoga entries Friday, July 23. Post Time 1 p.m. Entries with program number, post position, jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds.

1st (1:00). 1 1/16 Miles (Inner turf) 3&Up NY Bred ALLOW Purse: $43,000 1 1 Seattle Mission...........Velasquez C........... Tagg Barclay.............2-1 2 2 New Pais....................Albarado R J......... McCauley Tevis Q...30-1 3 3 Tapitdar......................Castellano J J........ Weaver George.........4-1 4 4 Judge Well.................Dominguez R A..... Farro Patricia..........15-1 5 5 Dontstealmyland........Leparoux J R......... Metivier Richard.....15-1 6 6 Fortissi More..............Arias S.................. Aro Michael C.........12-1 7 7 Sir Dunstan................Desormeaux K J.... Hertler John O........10-1 8 8 Kuggerand..................Lezcano J.............. Matz Michael R.........7-2 9 9 Monastir.....................Coa E M................ Hennig Mark...........12-1 10 10 Mr. Enrico...................Samyn J L............. Ortiz Paulino.............8-1 11 AE Mr. Hooker.................Prado E S.............. Payne Curtis...........30-1 12 AE Leatherhead...............Studart M.............. Ubillo Rodrigo A.....12-1 13 AE Thunder Chief.............Velazquez J R........ Gyarmati Leah........20-1 14 AE Mr. Vantastic..............Velazquez J R........ Lostritto Joseph.....15-1 15 MTO Steal the Shot.............Desormeaux K J.... Schosberg Richard...4-1 16 MTO Hittin the Note............Dominguez R A..... Schosberg Richard...7-2 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (1-3), Daily Double Wagers 2nd (1:33) 1 1/16 MILES (TURF) F&M 3 & UP MAIDEN PURSE: $51,000 1 1 Mitigate......................Dominguez R A..... Motion Graham......10-1 2 2 Flourish......................Desormeaux K J.... Mott William I...........7-2 3 3 Kathern’s Kitten..........Leparoux J R......... Maker Michael J.....10-1 4 4 Yesterday...................Bridgmohan J V.... Fields Charles Jr.....50-1 5 5 Fleet Allaire.................Maragh R.............. Kimmel John C.......15-1 6 6 Dandyna.....................Albarado R J......... Howard Neil J.........12-1 7 7 Neenie’s House...........Coa E M................ Weaver George.......10-1 8 8 Simply Carina.............Gomez G K............ Lobo Paulo H ..........8-1 9 9 Holy Place..................Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........6-1 10 10 National Gallery..........Garcia Alan............ Lerman Roy S........30-1 11 11 Home Rule.................Castellano J J........ McGaughey III C R...5-2 12 12 Speak Freely...............Solis A................... Dollase Wallace......20-1 13 AE Nae Problem..............Prado E S.............. Duggan David P.....30-1 14 MTO Cat Be Nimble.............Maragh R.............. Tagg Barclay.............8-1 15 MTO Gold Collection...........Maragh R.............. Mott William I...........7-2 16 MTO Remark.......................Maragh R.............. McLaughlin Kiaran...3-1 Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (2-4) Pick 4 Races (2-5), Daily Double Wagers 3rd (2:06) 6 1/2 Furlongs 3&Up Allow Purse: $52,000 1 1 Aspire.........................Leparoux J R......... Kenneally Eddie........2-1 2 2 Bank Merger...............Garcia Alan............ McLaughlin Kiaran ..8-1 3 3 Bold Victory...............Velasquez C........... Lukas D Wayne......15-1 4 4 Mad for Smarty..........Lezcano J.............. Jerkens H Allen........3-1 5 5 Bonavento..................Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........5-2 6 6 Bimini.........................Castellano J J........ McGaughey III C R...6-1 7 7 Footcandles................Maragh R.............. Kimmel John C.......15-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (3-5), Daily Double Wagers 4th (2:39) 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) 3&Up clm ($25,000) Purse: $29,000 1 1 Senor Enrico..............Maragh R.............. Persaud Randi........30-1 2 2 Cozy Lion...................Castellano J J........ Tagg Barclay.............5-2 3 3 Medjool......................Dominguez R A..... Contessa Gary C.....20-1 4 4 Exton..........................Luzzi M J............... Disanto Glenn B.....50-1 5 5 Great Crusade............Borel C H............... Lukas D Wayne......12-1 6 6 Budget........................Chavez J F............. Domino Carl J..........8-1 7 7 Simple Kind of Man....Mena M................. Guillot Eric................6-1 8 8 Sharif Al Medina.........Lezcano J.............. Matz Michael R.........9-2 9 9 Brad’s My Hero...........Garcia Alan............ Hennig Mark...........10-1 10 10 The Peloton................Cohen D................ Ryan Derek S.........30-1 11 11 Harlan Rush...............Coa E M................ Ryan Derek S.........15-1 12 12 Dunvegan...................Velasquez C........... Rice Linda................5-1 13 AE Ticondero...................Leparoux J R......... Kenneally Eddie........6-1 14 AE Morethan Fourhours..Prado E S.............. Kimmel John C.........6-1 15 MTO Tar Beach...................Maragh R.............. Brown Bruce R.........7-2 16 MTO Chef Eric.....................Lenclud F.............. Stall Albert M Jr.......3-1 Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (4-6), Daily Double Wagers 5th (3:13) 1 Mile (Inner turf) 3&Up NY bred mdn Purse: $41,000 1 2 Brunelli.......................Bridgmohan S X.... Bond H James........15-1 1A MTO Brolio.........................Lezcano J.............. Bond H James........15-1 2 1 Roderick.....................Velazquez J R........ Levine Bruce N.........2-1 3 3 Shipping News...........Garcia Alan............ Lerman Roy S........15-1 4 4 Second and One.........Dominguez R A..... Weaver George.......12-1 5 5 Good to Be Me...........Prado E S.............. Brown Bruce R.........7-2 6 6 Ommadon’s Answer...Espinoza J L.......... O’Brien Leo............12-1 7 7 City Train....................Castellano J J........ Contessa Gary C.......5-1 8 8 Joe D..........................Luzzi M J............... Disanto Glenn B.....30-1 9 9 Beth’s Kitten...............Leparoux J R......... Maker Michael J.......8-1 10 10 Whateverittakes..........Velasquez C........... Schosberg Richard...8-1 11 AE Jacob’s Dream............Borel C H............... O’Brien Colum........10-1

Friday, July 23, 2010

12 AE No More Taxes...........Husbands S P....... Prine David.............30-1 13 AE Atitlan.........................Lezcano J.............. Brown Chad C........10-1 14 MTO Who’s Willie Fitz.........Leparoux J R......... Corrao James.........10-1 15 MTO Ponte Vecchio............Leparoux J R......... Weaver George.........8-1 A-Coupled: Brunelli and Brolio Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (5-7), Pick 6 Races (5-10) Daily Double Wagers 6th (3:47) 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) 3&Up clm ($20,000) Purse: $26,000 1 1 Unaccountable...........Lezcano J.............. Brown Chad C..........8-5 2 2 Dr Rico.......................Cohen D................ Brown Bruce R.......15-1 3 3 Web Gem...................Hill C..................... Badgett William Jr.. 20-1 4 4 Dantastic....................Maragh R.............. Schosberg Richard...5-1 5 5 Miner Bird..................Albarado R J......... Lukas D Wayne......20-1 6 6 Cinder Cone................Coa E M................ Englehart Chris.......20-1 7 7 Eldoktori.....................Prado E S.............. Reid Robert E Jr.......8-1 8 8 Lemon Shore..............Lenclud F.............. Persaud Randi........20-1 9 9 Stream of Gold (IRE)..Leparoux J R......... Maker Michael J.......6-1 10 10 Beneath the Crown.....Desormeaux K J.... Hills Timothy A.......12-1 11 11 King Carter.................Velasquez C........... Asmussen Steve.....10-1 12 12 French Transition........Samyn J L............. Martin Frank...........20-1 13 AE J J’s Prophet..............Dominguez R A..... Rice Linda................6-1 14 MTO Stopbluffing...............Luzzi M J............... Brown Bruce R.........5-1 15 MTO Stealth Missile............Dominguez R A..... Levine Bruce N.........7-2 16 MTO African Diamond........Lezcano J.............. Brown Chad C..........5-2 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (6-8), Grand Slam Races (6-9) Daily Double Wagers

Don’t Just Be a Spectator, Be an Owner

7th (4:21) 5 1/2 Furlongs Fillies 2YO Maiden Purse: $50,000 1 1 Playing Pirates...........Borel C H............... Lukas D Wayne........3-1 2 2 Too Clever by Half......Garcia Alan............ Brown Chad C..........8-1 3 3 Silvislip.......................Prado E S.............. Kimmel John C.......12-1 4 4 Maria’s Luck...............Dominguez R A..... Cesare William.......15-1 5 5 Heavenly Pride...........Maragh R.............. McDonald Michael ..8-1 6 6 Malibu Cougar............Albarado R J......... Asmussen Steve.......9-2 7 7 Silver Screamer..........Desormeaux K J.... Mott William I.........10-1 8 8 With the Current.........Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........5-1 9 9 Allison Renee.............Mena M................. Scherer Merrill R......4-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (7-9), Pick 4 Races (7-10) Daily Double Wagers 8th (4:55) James Marvin S. 7 Furlongs 3 & Up Purse: $75,000 1 1 You and I Forever.......Lezcano J.............. Bush Thomas M.....20-1 2 2 Cool Coal Man............Velazquez J R........ Zito Nicholas P.........6-1 3 3 Half Metal Jacket........Dominguez R A..... Dutrow Sydney.......10-1 4 4 Vineyard Haven..........Garcia Alan............ bin Suroor Saeed.....3-5 5 5 Discreet Treasure.......Velasquez C........... Brown Bruce R.......12-1 6 6 Friesan Fire.................Bridgmohan S X.... Asmussen Steve.....12-1 7 7 Le Grand Cru..............Gomez G K............ Pletcher Todd A......12-1 8 8 Flat Bold.....................Maragh R.............. Albertrani Thomas.. 12-1 9 9 Atoned........................Albarado R J......... Howard Neil J.........30-1 10 10 Silver Edition..............Borel C H............... Lukas D Wayne......30-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (8-10), Daily Double Wagers 9th (5:30) Schuylerville S. (G3) 6 Furlongs Fillies 2YO Purse: $100,000 1 4 Spa Sunrise................Coa E M................ Ward Wesley A.........2-1 1A 7 Final Mesa..................Coa E M................ Ward Wesley A.........2-1 2 1 Stopspendingmaria....Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........7-2 3 2 Le Mi Geaux...............Lenclud F.............. Dutrow, Jr. R E.........6-1 4 3 Let’s Get Fiscal...........Garcia Alan............ Violette, Jr. R A........7-2 5 5 Dos Lunas..................Court J K............... Glenney John.........12-1 6 6 Show Me the Bling.....Leparoux J R......... Biancone Patrick L...3-1 A-Coupled: Spa Sunrise and Final Mesa Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double Wagers 10th (6:04) 7 Furlongs 3 & Up Claiming ($25,000) Purse: $27,000 1 1 Hopeful Boy................Borel C H............... Zito Nicholas P.......15-1 2 2 Adams Circle..............Lenclud F.............. Stall Albert M Jr.......8-1 3 3 Southern Saint...........Mena M................. Guillot Eric..............30-1 4 4 Awesome Encore........Albarado R J......... Stewart Dallas........12-1 5 5 El Tune.......................Maragh R.............. Brown Bruce R.......20-1 6 6 Scorch the Torch........Velasquez C........... Hernandez Ramon.. 30-1 7 7 Custers Last Stand.....Leparoux J R......... Maker Michael J.....10-1 8 8 Rotten to the Core......Lezcano J.............. Serpe Philip M........20-1 9 9 In Just We Trust.........Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........7-2 10 10 Insightful....................Dominguez R A..... Tagg Barclay.............6-1 11 11 Hillswick.....................Desormeaux K J.... Albertrani Thomas....8-1 12 12 Run to Grand Ave.......Cohen D................ Levine Bruce N.........8-1 13 13 Unbridled Fury...........Castellano J J........ Brown Chad C..........6-1 14 14 Redwood Fever..........Gomez G K............ Benzel Seth............20-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10) Wagers

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Candid Saratoga brought to you by Kirkwood Stables Cell: (859) 312-3414 • www.kirkwoodstables.com From The Cover: Forty days mean all kinds of things – a long haul, stellar racing, amazing horses – and the season’s first cover offers a glimpse.

From upper left: Blame, Linda Rice, Rachel Alexandra, Proviso, Forever Together, Todd Pletcher, Ramon Dominguez, Devil May Care, Quality Road and with so much going on at the Spa, in both the morning and the afternoon, The Special is always looking for the next shot...

Photos by Tod Marks and Connie Bush

16

Friday, July 23, 2010

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17

Star with supporting cast Rachel Alexandra is Spa’s headliner, but she is not the only act in town

BY SEAN CLANCY As usual, Saratoga eventually comes down to the horses – not the springs, not Broadway, not the weather, not the new restaurants at the track, not Congress Park, not even the concerts at SPAC or politics.

This year’s equine population bubbles over with quality and The Special will look at some of the best – in no particular order (really) – over the first few days of the season.

Rachel Alexandra Reigning Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra, aims to continue her revival after two disappointing starts (for her) to begin her 4-year-old season. She won the Fleur de Lis with ease, her first step on that rise. Last year’s Woodward winner arrived three weeks before the rest of us, then owner Jess Jackson announced the plan to run in Monmouth Park’s Lady’s Secret Saturday. Bummer, but maybe we’ll see her on the main track before the end of the meet.

“The circumstances she entered the barn in last year, off a 20-length Oaks win and running back in the Preakness

is a level of pressure and intensity that has not been matched this year, preferably by design,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Hopefully we’re rounding back into that level toward the end of the year. We were disappointed she lost but very understanding of the circumstances. We were well aware that her level of fitness wasn’t where we wanted but we were trying to make the Apple Blossom and meet the unique circumstances that were offered. We understood the timeline of the Oaklawn meet, we made concessions we wouldn’t have made and we didn’t get away with it. Hopefully she’ll be able to continue considerably longer into the year and culminate where it matters most. Mr. Jackson has mentioned races that include Saratoga.”

Devil May Care Obviously no worse for wear after trying the boys in the Kentucky Derby, she came back and won the Mother Goose with consummate ease. She will be the top draw in Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks where she See Horses page 18

Tod Marks

Devil May Care may not be the leading lady at this year’s meet, but she will be a strong presence nonetheless.

Our graduates include:

Vineyard Haven (Gr. l) • Zensational (Gr. l) Bustin Stones (Gr. l) • Awesome Gem (Gr. l) Macho Again (Gr. l) • Ten Most Wanted (Gr. l) Stately Character (Gr. I) • Toccet (Gr. l) Bella Bellucci (Gr. l) • Acey Deucey (Gr. l) Moon Catcher (Gr. l)

Already four 2-year-old winners in 2010 • Another Silver Oak at Delaware Park for Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher.

• Gambline Geraldine at Monmouth Park

Contact Jim Crupi Toll Free: (866) 313-5400 Cell: (352) 427-1600

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for Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher.

• K.R.’s Jazz at Monmouth Park for A Woman’s Thing and Mary Hartman.

• Saratoga Louie at Monmouth Park for Gary Barber and Peter Miller

Friday, July 23, 2010

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Horses –

Continued from page 20

off with Connie And Michael and Biofuel, the vanquished from the Mother Goose.

“We tried to do the right thing and give her plenty of time after the Derby, we passed the Acorn because of that, she responded well, she put some weight back on, we were confident going into the Mother Goose but every time you’re exiting a race as taxing as the Derby, you’re always kind of hoping that they come back into their best form,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “This race is a challenging race in its own right, but by all indications, she’s held her form since

the Mother Goose, she’s trained as we would have expect her to, her weight’s good, her attitude’s good. The Derby was the Derby, it’s over, and now we can manage her like any other 3-yearold filly.”

Kantharos Whoa, here’s the best 2-year-old in the country. Rachel Alexandra’s stablemate has been untouchable in two starts.

The water gets deeper at Saratoga but, so far, he’s showed off his water wings with two wild performances for Steve Asmussen and Jess Jackson.

“He is brilliant for a 2-year-old.

He hasn’t blinked, seems like he has a couple of gears left,” Asmussen said.

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“With him having the success he’s had at Churchill and knowing the Breeders’ Cup is there, we’ve had discussions about how many and what races will best enable us to get there. He ran extremely fast over the 4th of July weekend, we want to give him ample time to be over that race before we run back.

With as fast as he’s run so far, we’re not looking at too many races.”

Majesticperfection Think Asmussen isn’t loaded? The sprinter rocked Prairie Meadows with a track record earlier this summer, and the assault continues at Saratoga. The Vanderbilt Aug. 8 will be his next fest, er, test.

“He’s very fast, 1:08 and 1, 1:08 and 3 and 1:07 and 1, it is a race,” Asmussen said. “He’s a tremendous talent, a tremendous physical to watch him. He’s had a little trouble with his lead changes, if he gets that ironed out, how fast will he go? He’s targeting the Vanderbilt.”

Friend Or Foe

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Undefeated in three starts, the New York-bred will go big-game fishing at Saratoga, stepping out of the restricted division (one he dominated) and into open races. Trained by John Kimmel, the undefeated colt will stay right here and walk over for the Jim Dandy July 31.

“He’s undefeated, 3-for-3. He’s a horse who’s on the rise, a horse on the improve,” jockey Rajiv Maragh said.

“Even though his last two wins were against New York-breds, he actually won his first race against open company. He’s definitely proven he’s not just a state-bred class horse. I think he’s got the ability to take on some of the best in the game and he’s going to have his shot in the Jim Dandy to show where he really belongs.”

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Made his debut in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes, finishing second and then switched to Rick Dutrow’s New York-based barn and broke his maiden at Belmont Park like a freak of nature.

Dutrow will be patient with the son of Officer, making one start at Saratoga, probably in the Hopeful Sept. 6.

“I can’t wait to find out,” answered Dutrow when asked how good he is.

“We’re going to breeze him on the main

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on Friday, we’re pointing for the Hopeful, that’s what we think of him. As long as he and the owners are manageable, then taking care of him is simple. So far, so good. Right after the race, I talked to (the owner) and both of us had nothing on our minds but the Hopeful. It seemed like the right thing to do. When I saw Big Brown turning for home the first time I run him, I had already cancelled my reservations to Dubai. When I saw this horse turning for home, I just knew you have to point for a big race.

Why not? Why waste time? Why waste talent? Why waste ability? Everybody saw what I saw.”

Rail Trip One of the best California-based horses in training is now one of the best East Coast horses in training after exiting Ron Ellis’ barn and joining Dutrow’s stable. Plenty of options at Saratoga for the eight-time winner who finished second in the Hollywood Gold Cup for Ellis this summer.

“I would like to run him in the Woodward or the Jockey Club (Gold Cup), whatever race he’s on top of his game for, that’s what he’ll do,” Dutrow said.

“He flew into Albany so I just came up here to hang out with him. I like him, how can you not like him?”

Blame The son of Arch began his upward trajectory right here at Saratoga last summer for trainer Al Stall and will aim to keep it rolling in open Grade I stakes like the Whitney and Woodward. Versatile style and punishing stamina make him the most potent threat to Quality Road.

“We brought him here last year and he showed his hand a little bit in the Curlin, in a good way of course,” Stall said. “We always thought he was a nice horse but there’s plenty of broken dreams on this road. It’s rare in this game for a horse to improve the way he has, that’s what makes the good ones, things go their way and they handle everything you throw at them. He’s always been a nice horse and done things in a good way, it’s not been a night and day thing, he’s always been a good horse.”

Forever Together Going for the three-peat. The 2008 See horses page 21

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Friday, July 23, 2010

Horses –

Continued from page 20

champion turf mare has won the previous two runnings of the Grade I Diana Handicap and trainer Jonathan Sheppard has her on the boil for her third.

Now 6, she finished second to Tuscan Evening in the Gamely, her most recent start.

Has she lost a step? Maybe.

Is she still formidable? Absolutely.

“The Diana is the gameplan. She’s easier to train, she seems a little more confident in herself, she used to be a little quirky, I think she’s happy and healthy. Her race in California was right up there with about as good as she can run, the winner came back and won again,” Sheppard said. “She’s a little bit bigger and stronger, a little more robust. I’ve been training her at Presque Isle, she likes training on the synthetic, she went back to the farm for a couple of days and she was due to get on the van to Saratoga (Thursday) night.”

Informed Decision Sheppard used to come to Saratoga loaded with turf horses and steeplechase horses. Well, he still does, but he also comes with the defending champion in the filly and mare sprint division.

She’s fast.

She’s good.

She’s tentatively pointing to the Grade I Ballerina Aug. 28.

“We’re not totally committed to the Ballerina, which would be the most logical place if she ran at Saratoga,” Sheppard said. “She maybe hasn’t run her best races at Saratoga but I don’t think there’s any particular reason. It was sloppy last year which I know she doesn’t particularly like. She can run on any track but I don’t think she likes getting the slop back in her face. There aren’t many other options so she’ll probably end up running in the Ballerina.”

Met Mile winner Quality Road is one of the runners to watch during the 2010 meet.

Tod Marks

We make the grade.

Quality Road He tried to play catch up last summer at Saratoga. This year, the older horse division will try to catch up to him.

Joining Todd Pletcher’s barn after an aborted attempt at the 2009 Triple Crown, the Florida Derby winner set a track record sprinting and then tried the Travers, failing to see out the mile and a quarter over a sloppy surface.

He hasn’t been beaten since and comes to Saratoga as the most dynamic 4-year-old in the country.

“We’re not in the same situation as last year but in some ways we’re in a similar situation coming back from the Met (Mile), from May 31 to August 7, there is a bit of time there, although everything has gone exactly according to plan, he’s trained very well, we haven’t missed a beat, haven’t missed a breeze, haven’t missed a day of training,” Pletcher said. “I really feel like that last year, had we not caught an off racetrack and got stuck down on the rail, he was prepared to run a good race – and he didn’t run a bad race – in the Travers, but I really think under different circumstances, he was ready to fire in the Travers.”

Friday, July 23, 2010

Dave Harmon

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21

Calling Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

CUP OF COFFEE

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.

About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there in the wide open air.

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss.

Miles Alexander Clancy, 19 months, picked the book off his shelf (among the Berenstain Bears, the Lorax and Goodnight Moon) and put it in my lap.

I read it, then hugged him and walked out the door trying not to let Miles see me cry. There’s no crying in horse racing. Times change. I used to cry when Saratoga was over. Now, I cry when it starts. Everybody

By Sean Clancy

said kids would change me. I scoffed. Now I cry.

On the first morning I was here this summer, Neil Howard told me to be careful, make sure you balance family and occupation.

Saratoga tilts the balance. Six weeks – now, six and a half weeks – away from home, under pressure, trying to get to the places you’ll go.

The last thing I did was read Oh, the Places You’ll Go before getting in the car and heading to Saratoga.

The book sounds so positive – outlandish and realistic at the same time – but so positive. There was a time I felt that way. Now, the sport I love is grappling for survival. The newspaper I love can only go as far and grow as strong as the sport it covers. Bad neighborhoods produce bad neighbors. Or, in this case, not bad, just struggling. At the job fair, you probably wouldn’t pick newspaper publishing and horse racing as the surefire way to make it big. Yeah, the places you’ll go.

Ten years now, we’ve been doing this paper. In 2001, Barry Schwartz stood at the helm, pitfalls and problems, but nothing like what Charlie Hayward navigates each day. Each summer, it has seems like it can’t get worse for New York racing – the bankruptcy, investigation, franchise, Eliot Spitzer – and then

it gets worse. Each summer, there’s uncertainty. And each summer, you think it will be more certain next summer. And, alas, it’s still as uncertain as relying on lily pads to cross the Mississippi.

NYRA struggles with the politics of VLTs, OTB. Thoroughbred racing struggles with declining attendance, image problems, participation woes, competition from the proliferation of gambling around the country and the overall stale economy. It’s the perfect storm. It’s a correction. A long, deep, painful correction. Racetracks will go. Horsemen will go. Perhaps there’s a stronger core. Perhaps, not.

Joe, Ryan and I went for a run (probably the last one for the season) Wednesday evening, took a tour of the backside. Three non-descript white guys in bad running gear, running through the stable area, huffing and puffing, thinking about how spent we’re going to feel in the Fasig-Tipton 5K later in the meet. Out of the blue – actually from a folding lounge chair behind Dale Romans’ barn – we heard, “Hey, when’s the paper come out?” Wow, we’ve made it. The first year, we couldn’t get people to pick up the paper, now we’re being heckled from the masses. Through labored breath (that Joe’s just got to get fit), we yelled, “Friday, God willing.”

Well, it’s Thursday night. And we’re still willing God to make the Internet work, the fonts to match, the server to talk to the router which needs to talk to the Gigabit switch, which needs to talk to the computers, which need to talk to the server, which needs to let the wireless do its job, which needs to let us print the proofs, which . . . this would all be easier if the cable See coffee page 23

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22

Friday, July 23, 2010

Coffee –

Continued from page 22

had worked when we walked in the office at 1 o’clock Tuesday morning.

At 4:28, Joe uttered, “This might be as far behind as we’ve ever been.” At 8:27, he admitted, “You know, we’ve been worse.”

It’s now 9:48 and I’m afraid to ask.

The Saratoga Special continues its chartered, stormy course. Ten years in.

Oh the Places You’ll Go. On and on you will hike and I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS! So . . . be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So . . . get on your way!

Don’t just sit there!

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Steeplechase Times, The Saratoga Special & ST Publishing Web Site deliver thousands of potential customers.

Call (410) 392-5867 or see st-publishing.com to learn more.

Friday, July 23, 2010

23

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