July 24 Saratoga Special

The Year 10 • Issue 2

✫ aratoga Saratoga’s Daily Newspaper on Thoroughbred Racing

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Raisin’ Hell

Devil May Care stars in Coaching Club.

Tod Marks

Opening Day Recap • Entries • Handicapping

Here & There at Saratoga License Plates of the Day

517 Broadway, Suite 207 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (Second Floor, around the back)

GIDDIEUP on a New York Honda.

MORACIN from South Carolina.

Phone: (518) 490-1175 Sean Mobile: (302) 545-7713 Joe Mobile: (302) 545-4424

TARPON from New York GOLF BRT from New York

E-mail: sean@st-publishing.com or jclancy@st-publishing.com Internet: www.saratogaspecial.com

What’s On Your Phone?

Everybody has a photo on their phone so The Special will ask around: Trainer Mike Hushion: Grandchildren Lincoln and Violet.

Retired jockey Richard Migliore: Daughter Gabrielle riding Bonnie the pony.

The Special’s Joe Clancy: A photo of Graceland

Published Wednesday through Sunday during the racing season.

Every day of Sales Week Aug. 2-8.

The Staff

Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy, Joe Clancy.

Staff Writers: Phil Janack, Karen Johnson, Mike Kane, Terese 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.

By The Numbers 7:36: Post time for the first Beer Pong game in the backyard on Friday morning.

Worth Repeating “My embarrassment is limited on a smaller course.”

Jockey Rajiv Maragh, before going to play a charity round of minature golf “Opening Day is like a holy day of obligation.”

Sovereign Stable’s John Macklin

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

“Jockey For Postion.”

Advertisement on the back of a bus crossing Union Avenue “Raining...Opening Day.” Jockey John Velazquez, as it began to rain Friday morning “How many times do you hear that in a day?”

Trainer Dale Romans after telling Jack Clancy, 14,that he grew since last year “I put you on my Facebook page, you know you’ve made it.”

Trainer Mitch Friedman to The Special “Why did we go from there to there?”

Jockey Channing Hill to agent Sal Russo who moved his golfcart 10 feet Friday morning “That’s what we ask about you jocks all the time.

Why did he go from there to there?”

Russo to Hill “Dale Romans Academy of Golf.”

Sign outside the trainer’s barn Friday morning “You giving lessons?”

2

Dave Donk to Romans

It was a wet opening to the 142nd season of racing at the Spa.

Just Sayin’

“S

omebody asked me how many I was riding today?” ~ Retired Jockey Richard Migliore Friday Morning

Let us quote your next trip.

800-523-8143

Horse Transportation

www.brookledge.com

Tod Marks

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.

Call us about your editorial needs.

“Editorial excellence is not a goal to be sought and one day acquired and then retired to the trophy case. It is instead an ambition which must be pursued each day, never ending, never totally achieved. That striving, that ambition is an essential part of our newspapers, a cornerstone of what we have been, what we are, and what we will be.”

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

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Here & There at Saratoga

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.

Jose Espinoza was one of many who needed a shower despite Friday’s rain.

“Countless times.”

“Already?”

Tod Marks

Hotwalker for Bill Mott when asked if he’d ever been yelled at in three years of walking horses at Saratoga Response to the loose-horse siren, six minutes into training Friday morning

Racetracker 1: “Are you psychic?”

Racetracker 2: “Well, I’m psychotic.”

The Saratoga Sale Selected Yearlings August 2-3 7pm

One Winner

Phil Serpe: “Golden Commander.”

Dale Romans: “De Price.” (scratching today) Bruce Brown: “Arrr Pirates Booty.” (in the 9th race Monday) Ralph Nicks: “Let me work some babies.”

Ken McPeek: “Bridgetown and Moon Town. Instead of one winner, two winners. How about eight winners?”

Mike Maker: “Hard to say. Hopefully we have more than one. I guess Beth’s Kitten.”

Christophe Clement: “I’m not sure yet.”

Kiaran McLaughlin: “Bank Merger (asked after he won on Opening Day). Beyond him, that’s a good question. Probably Torrone in a New York-bred a-other-than on August 8th.”

Since 1898.

No one has a longer pedigree.

Lexington, Kentucky 859.255.1555 www.fasigtipton.com

Saturday, July 24, 2010

3

Runnin’ with the Devil Devil May Care, seven head to CCA Oaks post

BY SEAN CLANCY Todd Pletcher knows all about losing the Kentucky Derby. In turn, he knows how to regroup and reload after losing on the first Saturday in May. The future Hall of Fame trainer had never done it with a filly until this year.

So far, so good.

Pletcher took a shot in the Derby, running Glencrest Farm’s Devil May Care against 19 male rivals. She ranged into contention turning for home and then faded to finish 10th, beaten 12 lengths

by Pletcher’s Super Saver, the trainer’s first Derby winner.

Like always, Pletcher went back and reevaluated his four runners in the Derby. The filly seemed no worse for wear.

“I’ve seen a lot of really, really top colts get beat further than she did and come back and do well,” Pletcher said.

Given two months to get over the stress, Devil May Care returned to win the Grade I Mother Goose at Belmont Park on June 26 and now she takes her second step in the second part of her 2010 campaign. The daughter of Malibu Moon is the overwhelming favorite See CCA Oaks page 6

Tod Marks

Devil May Care stretches her legs in preparation for today’s Coaching Club American Oaks.

JAN WOODS FINE ART EXHIBIT

Jan Woods

‘Flashing Past The Wire’

14” H x 16” W

Limited Edition Bronze Sculptures & Commissions

‘Uphill Lead’

24” x 36” oil on canvas

SHAWN FAUST - WORKS IN OIL-

Gideon Putnam Hotel

SPAC GROUNDS BLUE ROOM GALLERY SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY July 31 – August 29, 2010 10 AM – 8:30 PM Jan Woods Cell: 501-960-2440

4

Studio 501-225-7296

Open Daily

Shawn Faust Cell: 302-547-3517

Studio: 302-832-5950

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Saturday, July 24, 2010

5

CCA Oaks –

Continued from page 4

Biofuel, a four-time winner, returns to the dirt for the second time today.

Maggie Kimmitt

Thoroughbred Racing.

Ever wonder what it’s like on the inside track of the world’s most glamorous sport? Here’s your chance to find out.

in today’s Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks, a stakes moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga this year.

“We had a couple of weeks to get her back, get her weight back I knew physically she came out of it very sound, the focus at that point was to put a few pounds on so I felt good about it afterwards,” Pletcher said. “In the Derby itself, at the quarter pole, she loomed up like she had a big chance, she ran a decent race. Maybe if we caught a true sloppy track instead of a muddy track, it might have been different for her but she held her own in there pretty well.”

John Velazquez takes the return call from post 7.

Breaking to her outside looms Acting Happy, the biggest threat to Devil May Care. Trained by Rick Dutrow, Acting Happy upset the Grade II Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico in May and then went to the bench, by design. Dutrow likes it that way.

“I don’t like running them back in a month, in a month, in a month. I like spacing, especially the good ones, the more time the better,” Dutrow said.

“She’s a good filly. We’ve got a bunch of good ones pointing for big races and she’s part of it.”

Owned and bred by Jay Em Ess Stable, Acting Happy proved her picture was worth the frame at Pimlico. A beautiful, robust daughter of Empire Maker, she strutted into the paddock that day like she was ready for her stakes debut.

She stalked the pace and drew off to win by 1 1/2-lengths in a spill-marred race that knocked today’s rival Seeking The Title on the floor.

Trainer Dallas Stewart chalked that up to bad racing luck.

“She looked good there, (Kent) Desormeaux said he was just waiting to pull the trigger and the next thing you know he’s dancing on the ground,” Stewart said.

The trainer regrouped with the daughter of Seeking The Gold, trying the Grade I Acorn at Belmont Park June 5.

The one-turn mile proved too short she made up some ground but never threatened in sixth. Stewart blamed himself for that one.

“A couple of those things aren’t her fault, the one-turn mile in the Acorn was not a good move,” Stewart said. “I thought she might get in a nice stalking position but she’s speedier going two turns. She ran real good in the Acorn, it

was too short for her and then she came back and went two turns.”

With the Black Eyed Susan debacle behind her and the one-turn experiment scrapped, Seeking The Title got back on track with a trip to Prairie Meadows.

Charles Fipke’s homebred rallied to win the Grade III Iowa Oaks for her first stakes score. Robby Albarado picks up the ride from Calvin Borel who goes to Monmouth to ride Rachel Alexandra.

“She’s pretty nice, she’ll give them a run for their money,” Stewart said. “She loves two turns, that’s her game. She’s quality enough. I don’t know if quality enough to beat them but she’s quality enough to be competitive. She’s a mile and an eighth, mile and a quarter type horse. Great pedigree. Her work was good over the Oklahoma.”

Seeking The Title breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00 3/5 seconds July 16.

Directly behind Devil May Care in the Mother Goose were Connie And Michael and Biofuel.

Connie And Michael switched from Ken McPeek to Dominick Schettino after the Mother Goose. Owned by Brooklyn Boyz Stables, the daughter of Roman Ruler made a run at Devil May Care but couldn’t match her stamina late, failing by 1 1/4-lengths under Rajiv Maragh.

The jockey retains the mount and thinks there’s a chance of turning the table.

“Devil May Care is definitely a topclass filly, but she’s beaten herself in the past because she can be a little temperamental,” Maragh said. “Being here in Saratoga with the up-tempo, you never know, maybe her nerves will get the best of her. Hopefully my filly is good enough to beat her or she beats herself.”

Canadian shipper Biofuel shipped to Belmont for the Mother Goose, her first start on a dirt surface. Brereton Jones’ homebred daughter of Stormin Fever made a long determined run at Devil May Care but faded to third, beaten 2 1/4-lengths for trainer Reade Baker and jockey Eurico Da Silva. A winner of half her eight starts, she returns to try dirt for the second time.

Bahama Bound makes her stakes debut for Barclay Tagg. The daughter of Empire Maker owns three wins from five starts, including her last two starts at Belmont Park.

Lisa’s Booby Trap rolls into Saratoga fresh off three consecutive wins at her home track, Finger Lakes. The daughter of Drewman hasn’t been tested in her three wins but faces an acid test, making her first stakes start for trainer Tim Snyder. Wayne Lukas entered Absinthe Minded the two-time winner is searching for her first stakes victory.

“Saddle up and enjoy the ride with Susan Richards.

You’ll love it.”

Whitehall Stable is a family-owned business nearby in Albany. We offer high-quality LLC racing partnerships. Please visit our current offerings at www.whitehallstable.com.

We’re excited to be able to bring these opportunities to our friends and neighbors. With one of the most respected horse racing venues in the world right here in our own backyard, isn’t it time you got on the inside track?

Call or visit us online to learn more.

(518) 218-7655 Toll free: (866) 721-7655

— Rita Mae Brown

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.

www.whitehallstable.com

6

Saturday, July 24, 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

Saturday, July 24, 2010

7

Aces in place

Tod Marks

Classy names flock to Saratoga 2010

By Sean Clancy tep 2 in The Special’s look at the best S horses on the grounds – or planning to be – at Saratoga this year.

Afleet Express Tipped his hand that he could be the leader of the second wave of 3-yearolds with an impressive win in the Pegasus at Monmouth. Is he better than the first wave? That’s the question he’ll answer for trainer Jimmy Jerkens in a competitive rendition of the Jim Dandy July 31.

“He worked good, real good,” Jerkens said after a Friday morning breeze over the main track. “I’m not surprised he’s developed to be this good, he’s always showed a lot of talent, we had a lot of problems over the winter, getting infections, skin disease, he had no immunity at all. We got back to New York and he’s really come around.”

Super Saver It didn’t take long after the Preakness (possibly during) for trainer Todd Pletcher to decide to regroup with the Kentucky Derby winner. Two weeks between the Derby and the Preakness

caused a regression for the WinStar Farm runner. It will have been a cool 11 weeks between the Preakness and his intended next start, the Haskell at Monmouth Park. If all goes well there, expect him in the Travers Aug. 28.

“The plan is the Haskell. He’s here at Saratoga, he’ll breeze one time and ship down the morning of the race. He’s training great, I thought his work last Sunday was as good as he’s ever worked, he’s coming up to it in good shape,” Pletcher said. “I think he’s regained his form; the Preakness just came up too soon, coming off a huge race in the Derby and three weeks after a big race in Arkansas. It just wasn’t quite enough time for him to get caught up, now that he’s had that extra time, he should be in good order. When you win the Derby and your horse is physically sound and acting good, you feel an obligation to try the Preakness but in the back of your mind, you’re always worried is this two weeks enough time.”

Lou Brissie Dogwood Stable’s dynamic 2-yearold will help welcome trainer Neil Howard back to Saratoga. The son of Limehouse won his first two starts and

Defending Turf Champion Gio Ponti will train at Saratoga, but run out of town.

then ran into the buzzsaw, Kantharos, at Churchill Downs back in July. Lou Brissie will aim to lessen that gap as the distance increases but ask any prey: the first prudent move of survival is avoidance. He aims at Sunday’s Sanford while Kantharos awaits a later dance.

“He’s good, real good. I did get away from (Kantharos) by going in this race.

He’s been here five, six days, enough time to get up here and gallop over the track and breeze once. That’s always important. Never hurts if you can do it. He’s back on schedule,” Howard said. “He’s a different 2-year-old, he’s not a speedball.

He’ll be OK for later on. His demeanor

makes me think he’s one you couldn’t change or turn into a speedy type. He’s a very mature, intelligent horse and I think he’ll display the same style as he gets older. He shouldn’t mind rain. I don’t know.

I don’t think he’d mind it any more than anybody else does.”

Trappe Shot Kiaran McLaughlin said that this electric colt was one of the best 3-yearolds in the country during Belmont Stakes weekend. The trainer might be right. The Florida-bred made his deSee ACES page 9

Lengths Ahead of the Field Engel Law Offices is a full service law office willing to serve your legal needs in the following practice areas: • Estate Planning • Business Development • Civil Litigation • Criminal Defense/Traffic/DWI • Equine Law Please contact us with your legal questions Engel Law Offices 1104 Middleline Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-490-1770 www.engelatty.com

8

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Aces –

Continued from page 8

but here last summer, his only start at 2, then won three straight against allowance foes. He showed 1 1/16 miles wasn’t out of his wheelhouse with an easy win in the Long Branch at Monmouth Park July 10.

“I made a comment that he was one of the best 3-year-olds in the nation earlier and I still believe that. The distance is a question mark, I don’t know if it’s up to a mile or beyond a mile and we’ll find that out on August 1 in the Haskell,” McLaughlin said. “He overcame things at Monmouth, the only thing Alan (Garcia) said in the paddock was that he didn’t want to be down on the inside and we were forced to be down inside the whole race. He’s a real professional, does everything right and has a lot of gears. I asked Alan if he was nervous down inside, I was more nervous than him. He’ll breeze Sunday or Monday, depending on the weather.”

A Little Warm Trainer Tony Dutrow has nibbled at the edges of the big races with this son of Stormin Fever. He returned from a freshening to wallop Delaware Park allowance foes. He’s another who will put his name at the top of the Jim Dandy exam and see if he’s good enough.

“I thought his campaign as a 3-yearold made a lot of sense, I don’t think we were aggressive with him or ran him too much,” Dutrow said. “We were forced to miss some time with him when we shipped up north to hopefully run in the

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Preakness, he got a temperature and we were forced to back off of him. We got him in great shape, we ran him in the allowance race at Delaware Park, we were extremely happy with that and here we are in the Jim Dandy. I don’t think there’s any question, the horse will run very good, wherever that makes him finish. We’re very confident he will run very good, we’re not going out on a limb there, when did he not run very good?”

Comedero

race, she runs,” Dutrow said. “It’s very obvious what she does, she’s not going to settle. That is not happening. We’re very fortunate she can go very fast the whole way around there. We talked about trying to get her to settle, but you know immediately that this isn’t working, ‘so much for that.’ I was worried to death about it, her whole career, she’s just ready to go. I thought she was more aggressive than ever going into this year, apparently she can handle her agressiveness.”

The fastest 3-year-old sprinter in the land? Trainer Mike Stidham could ship the over-achieving bullet to Saratoga for the Amsterdam Stakes Aug. 2 and/ or the King’s Bishop on Travers Day. Unbeaten at sprint distances, he has taken his game on the road with wins from Charles Town to Pimlico. If you’re counting, that’s eight wins from nine starts – so far.

“We’re aiming at the Amsterdam, but we’re not in love with coming to run against Discreetly Mine,” said assistant Hilary Pridham. “He missed some training with stitches in his hind leg, he’ll work on Wednesday at Delaware Park. He’s an amazing horse.”

Winslow Homer

Rightly So

Havre De Grace

The New York-bred filly stepped – leapt – out of the restricted division with a second in the Grade II Vagrancy and a win in the Grade III Bed o’ Roses earlier this summer; trainer Tony Dutrow points Zayat Stable’s 4-year-old to the Ballerina Aug. 28. She’ll be on the lead, that’s for sure.

“Speed’s dangerous, it’s as simple as that. She’s a very fast filly, she’s always run well, she’s like a machine, every

Three-year-old filly did everything but win the Delaware Oaks when ambushed by the great Blind Luck, succumbing by a nose to the divisional leader. Trainer Tony Dutrow could swing again at Blind Luck in the Alabama Aug. 21.

“We’re hoping she can stretch out another furlong, I don’t know, I’m not one of those trainers that talks like they know, who the hell knows how far one will go, maybe Charlie Whittingham

Originally on the Triple Crown Trail after he won the Holy Bull Stakes in February, the big son of Unbridled’s Song hit the shelf when diagnosed with a fracture in his shin. Trained by Tony Dutrow, he returned to the races with a third in the Iowa Derby behind Concord Point and Thiskyhasnolimit.

“He could show up in the Jim Dandy, also the following day, we’re considering the Curlin,” Dutrow said. “We’re feeling very good about the horse, the injury cost us the spring races but we feel he’s made a full recovery and we’re very happy with him.”

knew,” Dutrow said. “Blind Luck is special, there’s no getting around it, she’s special. That was a tough beat.”

Life At Ten Another in a long list of Pletcher standouts, she won the Delaware Handicap to make it five in a row and Pletcher has penciled in the Personal Ensign August 29.

“We always hoped she would come around, she always trained really well.

The biggest thing was we got her off the synthetic tracks and got her stretched out on the dirt and that’s really what she’s wanted,” Pletcher said. “It was just a case of not having her in the right place at the right time previously. Last year we ended up running her seven eighths and that was probably too short for her, once she got stretched out on the dirt, she’s been able to do what we hoped she was capable of doing.”

Gio Ponti Another reigning champion who will only train at the Spa. The 2009 Turf Champion rallied from last to win the Man o’ War at Belmont in his most recent start but trainer Christophe Clement has his GPS programmed on Arlington Park or Del Mar. Bummer, better wake up early and watch him train, that’s all you’ll see of him here.

“He’s spent 10 days just jogging after his last race, he’s still at Belmont Park but will come here sometime this weekend. He will be aimed to be entered in either the Arlington Million or Pacific Classic. I will speak to the owners sometime next week, with the Arlington Million being the most likely at the moment.”

9

the

Power grid Race #

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

John Shapazian

John Panagot

Gaile Fitzgerald

Brian Nadeau

Mineswept Abilio Winning Token Never Right Joey D’ Sauvage Crafty Concorde Keep Me Informed Rock America Baatesh Good Prospect Thunder Perfect Missinglisalewis Heck Fastish Moonwalk Beauty Eire’s Run Hammock Duke of Naples Pletcher Entry Soldat Wine Police Ash Zee Happy Week Zonga Zing Devil May Care Acting Happy Connie and Michael Ae Pit Equestrio De Price

Mineswept Tom Kitten Thunder Chief D’ Sauvage Tall Tale Teller Private Rules Keep Me Informed Baatesh Chairman Now Bull Hole Thunder Perfect Compliance Officer Heck Turned to Gold Lindsay’s Point Eire’s Run Come Undone Saginaw Soldat Joe Vann Wine Police Happy Week Zonga Zing Persuading Devil May Care Connie And Michael Acting Happy Ae Pit Equestrio De Price

Mineswept Tom Kitten Mr. Vantastic Never Right Joey D’ Sauvage Tall Tale Teller Keep Me Informed Chairman Now El Primero Thunder Perfect Missinglisalewis Cherokee Speed Fastish Lindsay’s Point Moonwalk Beauty Eire’s Run Duke Of Naples Hangingbyathread Mythical Truth Soldat Joe Vann Ash Zee Happy Week Persuading Biofuel Devil May Care Connie And Michael Ae Pit Equestrio Winning Touch

Mineswept Abilio Tom Kitten Cousin Frankie Never Right Joey Tall Tale Teller Keep Me Informed El Primero Joshua Reynolds Strong Commitment Bull Hole Northern Giant Fastish Awakened Beauty Heck Eire’s Run Duke Of Naples Midnight Billy Soldat Wine Police Santiva Zonga Zing Ash Zee Happy Week Biofuel Devil May Care Acting Happy Equestrio Ae Pit De Price

s t e B st e B Records

3/10

2/10

3/10

in town!

Things to do, places to go, businesses to call...

10

2/10

Dean Keppler Abilio Leatherhead Mr. Hooker Never Right Joey D’ Sauvage Cousin Frankie Chairman Now Joshua Reynolds Baatesh Missinglisalewis Bull Hole Thunder Perfect Heck Fastish Turned to Gold Hangingbyathread Hammock Spa City Fever Biddy Soldat Wine Police Zonga Zing Happy Week Persuading Connie and Michael Devil May Care Bahama Bound Equestrio Winning Touch Rumbling

2/10

Equine cold therapy options for tendons, knees, ankles, hocks, hooves, etc.

Preventative/Therapeutic

For veterinarians, dealers & catalogs Call: 800-786-6633 www.icehorse.net

Saturday, July 24, 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

Saturday’s Saratoga entries Saturday, July 24. Post Time 1 p.m. Entries with program number, post position, jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds.

1st (1:00) 1 Mile (Inner turf) NY bred 3 &Up Allowance Purse: $43,000 1 1 Winning Token...........Espinoza J L.......... Bush Thomas.........12-1 2 2 Franklin Delano..........Rodriguez J........... Campo John P Jr....30-1 3 3 Wishingonadream......Luzzi M J............... Disanto Glenn B.....20-1 4 4 Mr. Hooker.................Prado E S.............. Payne Curtis...........15-1 5 5 John Wyatt.................Lezcano J.............. Barbara Robert.........5-1 6 6 Tom Kitten..................Castellano J J........ Benzel Seth..............3-1 7 7 Abilio..........................Hill C..................... Rice Linda................5-2 8 8 Leatherhead...............Studart M.............. Ubillo Rodrigo A.......6-1 9 9 Mr. Vantastic..............Velazquez J R........ Lostritto Joseph A....8-1 10 10 Thunder Chief.............Desormeaux K J.... Gyarmati Leah........10-1 11 MTO Mineswept..................Garcia Alan............ Serpe Philip M..........8-5 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (1-3), Daily Double 2nd (1:33) 5 1/2 Furlongs NY bred 2YO Maiden Purse: $40,000 1 1 Cooks Forest..............Velasquez C........... Alexander Frank A....6-1 2 2 Never Right Joey........Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........3-1 3 3 Crafty Concorde.........Maragh R.............. Ritvo Timothy.........12-1 4 4 D’ Sauvage.................Castellano J J........ Amoss Thomas........5-2 5 5 Cousin Frankie............Cohen D................ Phipps William.........5-1 6 6 Tall Tale Teller.............Lezcano J.............. Bush Thomas M.......8-1 7 7 Private Rules..............Coa E M................ Ryan Derek S...........8-1 8 8 Bristol Harbour...........Dominguez R A..... Lecesse Michael.....15-1 9 9 Robbie’s Turn.............Rodriguez J........... Cedano Heriberto...30-1 Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (2-4) Pick 4 Races (2-5), Daily Double 3rd (2:06) 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) 3 & Up Maiden Purse: $51,000 1 1 Chairman Now............Garcia Alan............ Violette, Jr. R A .......5-2 2 2 Distant Sky.................Gomez G K............ Harty Eoin................8-1 3 3 Luna Pegasus.............Prado E S.............. Ice Tim A................20-1 4 4 Sensational Style........Albarado R J......... McPeek Kenneth....10-1 5 5 Warrant Ofc. Cook......Castellano J J........ Wilkes Ian R...........15-1 6 6 Baatesh......................Maragh R.............. McLaughlin Kiaran ..8-1 7 7 Rock America.............Desormeaux K J.... Mott William I...........4-1 8 8 Joshua Reynolds........Velasquez C........... Nicks Ralph E...........5-1 9 9 El Primero..................Dominguez R A..... Contessa Gary C.......9-2 10 MTO Cinnamon Beach........Luzzi M J............... Everett Scott...........15-1 11 MTO Keep Me Informed......Maragh R.............. Mott William I...........7-2 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (3-5), Daily Double 4th (2:39) 1 Mile (Inner turf) 3&Up Allowance Purse: $53,000 1 1 Thomas Got Even.......Lezcano J.............. Zito Nicholas P ......20-1 2 2 Good Prospect...........Garcia Alan............ Rice Linda................8-1 3 3 Thunder Perfect.........Albarado R J......... McPeek Kenneth......5-1 4 4 Compliance Officer.....Maragh R.............. Pompay Terri..........12-1 5 5 Missinglisalewis.........Prado E S.............. Domino Carl J..........4-1 6 6 Bull Hole.....................Velazquez J R........ Motion H Graham.....6-1 7 7 Northern Giant............Mena M................. Lukas D Wayne......12-1 8 8 Strong Commitment...Velasquez C........... McGaughey III C R...7-2 9 9 Ad Infinitum...............Desormeaux K J.... Mott William I...........5-1 10 10 Slevin.........................Dominguez R A..... Domino Carl J........15-1 11 AE Xodo..........................Gomez G K............ Ribaudo Robert J.....5-1 12 AE Piazza Di Spagna........Solis A................... Sciacca Gary..........20-1 13 AE Cherokee Speed.........Velazquez J R........ Toner James J..........3-1 14 AE Rein King....................Maragh R.............. Terranova, II John..20-1 15 AE Versailles Road..........Castellano J J........ Wilkes Ian R...........12-1 16 AE Romans Reward.........Albarado R J......... Romans Dale..........15-1 Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (4-6), Daily Double 5th (3:13) 6 Furlongs ny bred F&M 3&Up Maiden Purse: $40,000 1 1 Julie’s Ina Frenzy........Luzzi M J............... O’Brien Leo............15-1 2 2 Soldierette..................Lenclud F.............. Hertler John O........15-1 3 3 Turned to Gold...........Maragh R.............. Baker Charlton........10-1 4 4 Heck...........................Dominguez R A..... Weaver George.........7-2 5 5 Awakened Beauty.......Castellano J J........ Brown Bruce R.......10-1 6 6 Fastish........................Prado E S.............. Schosberg Richard...5-1 7 7 Miss Becky.................Samyn J L............. Simeone Paul J......50-1 8 8 Moonwalk Beauty.......Velazquez J R........ Martin Carlos F.........6-1 9 9 Lindsay’s Point...........Rodriguez J........... Ubillo Rodrigo A.......9-2 10 10 Katlyn Ann..................Velasquez C........... Hertler John O..........4-1 11 11 Being Queen...............Hill C..................... Shevy Michael J.....50-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (5-7), Pick 6 Races (5-10) Daily Double

Saturday, July 24, 2010

6th (3:47) 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) NY BRED 3&Up Allow/Opt Clm ($35,000) Purse: $45,000 1 2 Come Undone............Lezcano J.............. Serpe Philip M........12-1 1A 10 Good Karma...............Solis A................... Martin Frank...........12-1 2 1 Hammock...................Velasquez C........... Schosberg Richard...6-1 3 3 Saginaw.....................Castellano J J........ Brown Chad C..........8-1 4 4 Prince Dubai...............Desormeaux K J.... Gyarmati Leah........20-1 5 5 Alltiffedoff..................Cohen D................ Reynolds Patrick....12-1 6 6 Too Amenable............Velazquez J R........ Jerkens H Allen........8-1 7 7 Spa City Fever............Chavez J F............. Kelly Patrick J...........6-1 8 8 Hangingbyathread......Maragh R.............. Brown Bruce R.........7-2 9 9 Duke of Naples...........Prado E S.............. Levine Bruce N.........4-1 10 11 Stormy Success.........Studart M.............. Toscano John T Jr.. 30-1 11 12 Midnight Billy.............Santiago V............. Ortiz Juan.................8-1 12 MTO Eire’s Run...................Dominguez R A..... Rice Linda................3-1 13 MTO Dixie Nite Out.............Maragh R.............. Contessa Gary C.......4-1 A-Coupled: Come Undone and Good Karma Exacta, Trifecta, Pick 3 Races (6-8), Grand Slam Races (6-9) Daily Double

Don’t Just Be a Spectator, Be an Owner

7th (4:21) 5 1/2 Furlongs 2YO Maiden Purse: $50,000 1 3 Biddy..........................Gomez G K............ Pletcher Todd A........7-2 1A 6 Joe Vann....................Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........7-2 2 1 Santiva.......................Prado E S.............. McPeek Kenneth....15-1 3 2 Mythical Truth............Desormeaux K J.... Gyarmati Leah........15-1 4 4 Goodtimehadbyall......Castellano J J........ Scherer Merrill R......4-1 5 5 Cherryzapper..............Mena M................. Guillot Eric..............12-1 6 7 Derivative...................Albarado R J......... Lukas D Wayne........8-1 7 8 Soldat.........................Maragh R.............. McLaughlin Kiaran...2-1 8 9 Wine Police................Bridgmohan S X.... Asmussen Steve.......6-1 9 10 Wascally Rabbit..........Luzzi M J............... Contessa Gary C.....15-1 A-Coupled: Biddy and Joe Vann Exacta, Trifecta, Pick 3 Races (7-9), Pick 4 Races (7-10), Daily Double 8th (4:55) 7 Furlongs F&M 3&Up Allowance Purse: $52,000 1 1 Zonga Zing.................Castellano J J........ Terranova, II John....7-2 2 2 Persuading.................Lenclud F.............. Romans Dale............5-1 3 3 Spina..........................Chavez J F............. Friedman Mitchell...15-1 4 4 Ash Zee......................Bridgmohan S X.... Asmussen Steve.......2-1 5 5 Cinco de Mayo Mio....Dominguez R A..... Albertrani Thomas..15-1 6 6 Patience Drive............Maragh R.............. Benzel Seth..............8-1 7 7 Happy Week...............Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........4-1 8 8 Lady Etienne...............Albarado R J......... Stewart Dallas........12-1 9 9 How Far to Heaven.....Cohen D................ Martin Carlos F.......30-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (8-10), Daily Double 9th (5:30) BetFair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) 1 1/8 Miles Fillies 3Yo Stakes Purse: $250,000 1 1 Bahama Bound...........Castellano J J........ Tagg Barclay . ..........8-1 2 2 Lisa’s Booby Trap.......Castillo E............... Snyder Timothy......30-1 3 3 Seeking the Title.........Albarado R J......... Stewart Dallas..........8-1 4 4 Connie and Michael....Maragh R.............. Schettino Dominick..5-1 5 5 Absinthe Minded........Gomez G K............ Lukas D Wayne......15-1 6 6 Biofuel........................Da Silva E R.......... Baker Reade.............6-1 7 7 Devil May Care...........Velazquez J R........ Pletcher Todd A........6-5 8 8 Acting Happy..............Lezcano J.............. Dutrow, Jr. R E.........5-1 Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Daily Double 10th (6:04) 6 Furlongs 3&Up Maiden Purse: $50,000 1 5 Rumbling...................Desormeaux K J.... Albertrani Thomas....6-1 1A 8 Do It All......................Gomez G K............ Harty Eoin................6-1 2 1 Scary Guy...................Solis A................... Kimmel John C.......20-1 3 2 Cravin Caden..............Maragh R.............. Penna Angel Jr.........8-1 4 3 Equestrio....................Lezcano J.............. Zito Nicholas P.........9-2 5 4 Deadly Catch..............Mena M................. Guillot Eric..............30-1 6 6 Winning Touch...........Castellano J J........ Brown Chad C..........8-1 7 7 Grand Strategy...........Garcia Alan............ McLaughlin Kiaran...8-1 8 9 Ae Pit.........................Dominguez R A..... Serpe Philip M..........3-1 9 10 Prospective Union......Velazquez J R........ Howard Neil J.........20-1 10 11 Paperless...................Velasquez C........... Lukas D Wayne......15-1 11 12 De Price......................Albarado R J......... Romans Dale............5-1 A-Coupled: Rumbling and Do It All Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10)

Sallee Horse Vans

1-800-967-VANS (772) 260-2586

11

Really let her Go

Lenclud guides Le Mi Geaux to an Opening Day score

BY JOE CLANCY

Five strides out of the gate in Friday’s Schuylerville, Freddie Lenclud pitched up Le Mi Geaux’s neck and watched his plan of sitting close to the pace slide by like rain toward a storm drain.

Five strides before the finish line, Schuylerville the apprentice was Stakes Recap counting the payday from his second career stakes victory as Le Mi Geaux rolled past Stopspendingmaria to win the $100,000 Grade III Opening Day feature. The Lansdon Robbins homebred scored by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:13.67 for the 6 furlongs, catching the tiring favorite inside the sixteenth pole. Show Me The Bling finished 2 3/4 lengths back in third.

Le Mi Geaux pressed the pace in her previous start, a June 20 maiden win with Lenclud at Churchill Downs, and the jockey expected to try similar tactics in the Schuylerville. His chestnut filly broke a step slow and to her right, bumping with Let’s Get Fiscal and for a blink nearly unseating Lenclud.

“The jock almost fell off our horse coming out of the gate, did you see that?” said trainer Rick Dutrow while watching the replay. “At the three-eighths pole I was feeling much better about her pickSee Schuylerville page 14

Tod Marks

Le Mi Geaux catches favorite Stopspendingmaria in the stretch to win the Schuylerville on Friday.

Winner of the Grade I American Oaks Invitational.

Purchased from Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $60,000.

A Grade I, Grade II, Grade III and Listed Stakes Winner by Dynaformer out of a Kingmambo mare.

A real value at $60,000, let me find your next star!

Kim M. Valerio (859) 338-9015 2045 Williams Lane Versailles, Kentucky 40383

Gozzip Girl

12

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Saturday, July 24, 2010

13

Schuylerville –

Continued from page 12

Le Mi Geaux and Freddie Lenculd enjoy the wet winner’s circle on Friday.

Tod Marks

ing a check up, not about winning. But she didn’t quit. She kept running. Wow. That’s beautiful.”

Le Mi Geaux actually did herself a favor at the gate as she backed off fractions of 21.81, 45.87 and 59.44 seconds.

Breaking from the rail, Stopspendingmaria took the early lead but had company from Let’s Get Fiscal and Show Me The Bling. Fourth and getting pelted with mud, Le Mi Geaux waited behind the battle up front and eased outside on the turn. The daughter of First Samurai advanced in the stretch, paid no attention to a drifting Show Me The Bling and wore down Stopspendingmaria to improve to 2-for-3 in her young career.

“We thought we were going to be close to the pace like last time, but she didn’t break so good, then they kind of squeezed her so I just had to be patient and hope she would make a run,” said Lenclud. “I was pretty impressed especially on this track. Speed’s been holding on all day.”

Lenclud brought his tack to Saratoga for the first time in hopes of making a few contacts and building his business for this fall in Kentucky. The Opening Day stakes win will do more than that.

“It’s only my second stakes ever and it’s always a good feeling to win a stakes but to win a stakes on Opening Day at Saratoga is pretty special,” said the 23year-old Frenchman. “Sometimes you need to get lucky and win from the getgo, then your business picks up. To win at the front end of the meet helps for sure.”

Lenclud came to the United States a two years ago and worked for Ian Wilkes and Carl Nafzger. The jockey won his first American race last July and found success at Oaklawn Park, Keeneland and Churchill Downs this year. He would have been among the leaders at Ellis Park this summer, but opted for Saratoga. Agent Doc Danner let Lenclud make that call.

“We can go to Ellis and win 20, 25 races or go to Saratoga where you’ll be lucky to win one or two,” Danner told his jockey, “but, you’ll meet the right people.”

Lenclud chose Saratoga, despite never having seen the place.

“You have to take your shot of coming here and meet the good trainers,” he said. “At Ellis I may have won a lot of races and probably been one of the leading riders, but it doesn’t get me anywhere because when it comes to Keeneland and Churchill those horses won’t be competitive there and those trainers may not be there. We came over here to meet the people so maybe they will know my name.”

Everybody knew it Friday.

Like The Special?

Support our advertisers or become one

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

www.newcastlefarm.com 14

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

Saturday, July 24, 2010

s t e B st Be

in town!

Things to do, places to go, businesses to call...

Make your business a “Best Bet” for the meet • E-mail Kathy Rubin at kathyrubin@st-publishing.com American French Italian Global Comfort Foods Reservations Accepted Private Chef Tables Available

26 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs - 587-9463 Open 7 nights a week 5:30 p.m. - Whenever Now Offering Outside Dining

“The Fitness Place To Be!” All Access Day Pass $5 165 High Rock Ave. Saratoga Springs 518-584-5004

19 Kendall’s Way Shops of Malta 518-899-9199

www.GlobalFitnessNY.com

THE PERFECT FOURSOME. Montecristo Romeo y Julieta

H. Upmann Por Larranaga

TRY ONE TODAY. BEVERAGE CENTERS

Only

$5

West Ave., Saratoga 584-1160 • Maple Ave. (Rt. 9), Wilton 587-2476 • Quaker Rd., Queensbury 793-5159

Great selection of Premium Cigars 10% off Altadis Boxes Surgeon General Warning: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer and Heart Disease.

Saratoga's Premier Handicapping Sheet

www.minoguesbeverage.com

VISA

MC

DIS

AMEX

Available every day at the track On the OTB Network, Wed. & Sun @ 10:30 AM Top guests and key information. trackfacts@gmail.com

On Exhibit at the Equidae Gallery • Saratoga Holiday Inn • July 25–Sept 6

Saturday & Sunday

18 Holes/Cart

37

$ Sporting Art by Beth Parcell Evans • www.bethparcellevans.com • 609-466-2573

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Tuesday

18 Holes/ Cart /Lunch

33

$

Thursday 18 Holes/ Cart

25

$

13 miles east of Saratoga on Rte 29, 2 blocks east of Washington County Fair

15

Vineyard Haven draws off to win the James Marvin Stakes on Friday.

Tod Marks

Vineyard Haven toughs out rain Good opener for longshots at Spa

BY MIKE KANE Longshot players cleaned up several times on Saratoga’s soggy Opening Day program Friday, but not in the James Marvin Stakes when Vineyard Haven ran like, well, like Vineyard Haven.

In his first start of the year, the 4-year-old Friday’s Lido Palace colt burst Racing out of the gate, set a fast, pressured pace Recap and scored a 1¾-length victory over Half Metal Jacket in the seven-furlong stakes.

The $75,000 Marvin, loaded with major stakes-tested veterans, preceded the Grade III Schuylerville for juvenile fillies on the first program of Saratoga’s 142nd season.

Heavy rain turned the main track into a sloppy mess and prompted the New York Racing Association to move the final three of the five turf races to the mud.

High-priced winner followed high-priced winner until Vineyard Haven scored as the 3-5 favorite in the field of nine.

Flat Bold provided the early pressure through opening fractions of 22.41 and 45.03, but Vineyard Haven was up to the task under Alan Garcia and earned his second victory at the track. Vineyard Haven won the 2008 Hopeful when he was co-owned and trained by the late Bobby Frankel. He came back last sum-

16

mer to finish first in the King’s Bishop for his new owner, Godolphin, but was disqualified. He made no mistakes in the Marvin and cruised to the wire under a hand ride in 1:22.30.

“He won a little more comfortably than I thought he would,” said Rick Mettee, U.S. assistant to Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “I really thought he might get a little tired the last part, but he was completely fit. That horse really pushed him. Flat Bold is a fast horse and he pushed him to a 45-flat over the track.

This is about as you want to see one run on a comeback. He ran a little better than I thought he would.”

Vineyard Haven won the DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park in late October and finished a close third in the Cigar Mile. He spent the winter and spring at Darley’s farm in Kentucky and the Marvin was the first step on the road to the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs in November.

“He was working good, but you’re really never sure when they get pushed like that through fast splits,” Mettee said. “Even for a good horse off a layoff, they’re going to get tired from a :45.03.

I know that Saeed is going to be really happy. He watched the race over there (England) and I know he’s going to be happy with that race.”

Mettee said the seven-furlong Grade I Forego on September 4 is the logical next step, but said Vineyard Haven might turn up in the nine-furlong Woodward the same day.

See Friday page 17

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Friday–

Continued from page 16

“It’s something we’ll think about, stretching him out to two turns,” Metee said.

• After track announcer Tom Durkin led the crowd through the annual cry of “and they’re off at Saratoga,” a pair of horses with heavy local connections played prominent roles in the first race.

Seattle Mission, owned by Sackatoga Stable managed by Jack Knowlton, was sent off as the favorite in the 1 1/16 miles allowance on the inner turf course, but finished third to Dontstealmyland, bred and owned by Saratoga resident Thomas Mina and trained by Glens Falls native

Richard Metivier “I won a stake race at Saratoga last year (the Cab Calloway as a co-owner of Uncle T Seven), but with a horse I didn’t breed,” Mina said. “Winning a race here with a horse that I bred and raised on my farm in Saratoga Springs is real special. It was great. It was really great.”

Mina said he has been a breeder for about 15 years.

“I’ve had a lot of winners, but nothing like at Saratoga on Opening Day with a horse that I bred,” he said. “Usually, I sell them at auction and they win for somebody else, which is OK, too, because I own the mares.”

It was the first Saratoga victory for Metivier, who now lives in Saratoga.

Metivier, 44, got his first taste of racing as a youngster when he visited Sara-

toga Race Course, with his father, the late Don Metivier, a well-known journalist for decades in Glens Falls at the Times and later the Post-Star. The younger Metivier was in business with his father, in ski-racing journalism and public relations, before turning to racing. He said he worked for Stanley Hough and Barclay Tagg before taking out his license 10 years ago. His five-horse stable is based at the Oklahoma training track.

Donstealmyland rallied in the stretch under Julien Leparoux and won by a neck. The longest shot in the field at 23-1, he paid $48.60.

“I knew he had a big race in him, but I didn’t think he could win this race because Barclay’s horse (Seattle Mission) is a monster on paper,” Metivier said.

“He’s done nothing wrong. I thought

we’d run well. This horse has done nothing wrong. It’s a joy to train him.”

Metivier didn’t seem to mind that his sports coat was soaking wet as he described his first Saratoga win.

“It’s such a gas to be here,” he said. “I have a couple of guys who work for me and they get on each other’s nerves. I tell them, ‘Listen guys, you’re in Saratoga, you’re working with horses, life could be worse.’ ” • Making her first start for trainer Mike Maker, Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Kathern’s Kitten stormed from far back under Leparoux to win the second race, a maiden on the grass, and paid $17.20.

“She shown some quality,” Maker said. “She ran at Churchill for Chad See Friday page 18

Savor the Saratoga Summer!

Steak & Lobster Dinner for Two, $59.00

Crisp Caesar salad, a grilled 16 oz. Certified Angus strip steak and a fresh 1 1⁄2 lb. Maine Lobster.

Track Talk live! radio Show

with Tom Gallo in the booth and Sean Clancy on the Backstretch

Star 101.3 FM every Saturday • 9 to 10 a.m.

Featuring • Saratoga Racetrack news & events • Celebrity Guests answering call-in questions • Handicapping with OTB/Glens Falls Post Star Racing analyst Kyle Brownell

LiSten in! Star 101.3 or tracktaLkLive.net

E-mail us • info@tracktalklive.net

SUPPort tHe SPonSorS!

legends

745 Saratoga Road (a few miles north of Saratoga Springs) 518-584-7640 or www.wishingwellrestaurant.com

Camden, South Carolina has been home to Thoroughbred excellence for generations.

The tradition continues.

Breaking • Training • Sales Donna Freyer

PO Box 2254, Camden, SC 29020 803-425-4848 • Fax 803-713-1382 803-243-4848 Mobile 803-713-8776 Stable djfreyer@bellsouth.net www.customcareequine.com

Saturday, July 24, 2010

17

Friday –

Continued from page 17

(Brown) in her first start and like most Kitten’s Joys, she moved up in class on the turf. She trained well and ran to her training.”

• Bank Merger won the third race, paying $25.20, and fooling his connections. The Darley colt had some shin issues as a 2-year-old and was making his first start in almost a year. He broke slowly for jockey Alan Garcia but finished with a rush to overtake the victims of a fast early pace.

“He’s trained very well at Monmouth for us,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

“We shipped him up yesterday and he won today. It surprised us, as it did a lot of the betting public, but it did set up well for him, coming from way back.”

From the head-on camera angle, it looked like Garcia and Bank Merger ran about a mile to win the 6 ½-furlong race.

“He said he kind of ducked out from the mud and was a little green,” McLaughlin said. “We’re just happy that they went fast early and he came flying.”

• Troy resident Roddy Valente watched his namesake, Roderick, win the fifth. Valente said he never cared for his legal first name, but decided to give it to one of his horses. The New York-bred gelding was the favorite and ran like it, completed the 7 furlongs in the mud in 1:24.60 and paid $3.70.

Valente has won many times at Saratoga, but he still gets a charge out of a trip to the winner’s circle at his home

track.

“At Saratoga, if you win one last year and you win another one this year, it’s like the first win,” he said. “There’s some mystique about winning a race up here.

I know it is for me. I wouldn’t care if it was a $10,000 claimer or it was a stakes race. It’s so hard to win at Saratoga that when you win up here you just appreciate it so much more.

“When I came here as a kid, the last thing on my mind would have been that I would be fortunate enough to own a horse some day, let another win a race here,” Valente said. “I didn’t grow up rich, for this to happen….”

• Cinder Cone shipped in from Finger Lakes and won the off-the-turf sixth, edging fast-closing Stopbluffing. Cinder Cone arrived with a three-race win streak and left with a fourth-straight victory for trainer Chris Englehart, paying $29.40.

• In the late 1990s, trainer John Kimmel encouraged jockey Edgar Prado to move his tack from Maryland to New York for the Saratoga season. Prado accepted the offer added to what became a Hall of Fame resume. Prado and Kimmel teamed up to win the seventh – the first 2-year-old maiden race of the season – with the filly Silvislip. She caught favorite Playing Pirates in deep stretch, won by 1¼ lengths and paid $25.20.

“The filly has been training very well,” Kimmel said. “We’ve been working her with two other fillies and her last two works and her gate work were very, very good. She showed me some talent in the morning and it makes the other ones she’s been working with look pretty good, too.”

Bank Merger was one of the day’s longshots paying $25.20 for his third race win.

Tod Marks

We make the grade.

Dave Harmon

Graded StakeS GraduateS Who reCeIVed earLY traINING at SCaNLoN traINING CeNter: • Afleet Alex • Artax • Bernardini • Circle Of Life • Celtic Melody • Dunkirk • Ice Box • Lion Heart • Master David • Seattle Fitz • Sarava • Songandaprayer • Songster • Stevie Wonderboy • Texas Glitter • Unbridled’s Song • Whoopi Cat • Whywhywhy • Zavata

S

Robert Scanlon Training Center

David Scanlon P.O. Box 599 Williston, FL 32696

18

P: (352) 528-2329 F: (352) 528-2218 Saturday, July 24, 2010

Finally, A Comprehensive Approach to Muscle Health

Muscle Fortifier

New ™

Complete Muscular System Support Exclusive formula for horses with high performance demands.

Muscle Fortifier™ supports: - Rapid Muscle Recovery - Normal Lactic Acid Levels - Proper Ionic Balance and Body Fluid Levels - Proper Muscle Contraction

Vita Flex Nutrition

1302-B Lew Ross Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 For more information, product details and study results, call 1-800-848-2359 or visit our web site at vita-flex.com. ©2008 VitaFlex Nutrition 08-0112

Saturday, July 24, 2010

19

Friday’s Saratoga results Friday, July 23. Track Good Races 1-2. Sloppy 3-10.

1st. 1/16 Miles (Inner turf) 3&Up Allowance Purse: $43,000 5 Dontstealmyland Leparoux J R 48.60 22.20 7.10 7 Sir Dunstan Desormeaux K J 15.40 6.40 1 Seattle Mission Velasquez C 2.30 Time: 1:44.47 Trainer: Richard Metivier. Owner. Tom Mina.

Gr. g. 4, Badge-Lifebythedrop, Robyn Dancer. Bred by Tom Mina (NY). $2 Exacta (5-7) Paid $452.50. $2 Trifecta (5-7-1) Paid $1,907.00. $2 Superfecta (5-7-1-10) Paid $15,556.00.

2nd 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) 33&Up Maiden Purse: $51,000 3 Kathern’s Kitten Leparoux J R 17.20 8.10 6.00 2 Flourish Desormeaux K J 5.50 3.80 6 Dandyna Albarado R J 7.50 Time: 1:45.84.

Trainer: Michael Maker. Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Dk. B./Br. f. 3, Kitten’s Joy-La Cat, Mr. Greeley.

Bred by Dr. John Eaton and Steve Laymon (KY). $2 Exacta (3-2) Paid $83.00. $2 Quinella (2-3) Paid $38.00. $2 Trifecta (3-2-6) Paid $800.00. $2 Daily Double (5-3) Paid $449.50 $2 Superfecta (3-2-6-1) Paid $7,098.00.

3rd 6 1/2 Furlongs 3&Up Allowance Purse: $52,000 2 Bank Merger Garcia Alan 25.20 12.80 7.00 7 Footcandles Maragh R 12.20 6.50 4 Mad for Smarty Lezcano J 4.00 Time: 1:16.33 Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin. Owner: Darley Stable.

Ch. c. 3, Consolidator-Lucrative, Seeking The Gold. Bred by Darley (KY). $2 Exacta (2-7) Paid $213.00. $2 Trifecta (2-7-4) Paid $1,076.00 $2 Pick 3 (5-3-2) 3 Correct Paid $6,318.00 Pick 3 Pool $115,106 $2 Daily Double (3-2) Paid $220.50 Daily Double Pool $75,384 $2 Superfecta (2-7-4-6) Paid $4,150.00 4th 1 1/8 Miles 3&Up Claiming ($25,000) Purse: $34,800 15 Tar Beach Maragh R 7.20 3.50 2.90 16 Chef Eric Lenclud F 4.50 3.70 10 The Peloton Cohen D 7.10 Time: 1:53.22 Trainer: Bruce Brown. Owner: Chalk Stables LLC. Dk. B./Br. g. 4, Sky Mesa-Quichesterbahn, Broad Brush.

Bred by John Oxley (KY). $2 Exacta (15-16) Paid $20.80. $2 Quinella (15-16) Paid $13.00. $2 Trifecta (15-16-10) Paid $209.00. $2 Pick 3 (3-2-15) 3 Correct Paid $959.00. $2 Daily Double (2-15) Paid $133.00. $2 Consolation Pick 3 (3-2-2,3,8,9,12) Paid $179.50 $2 Superfecta (15-16-10-6) Paid $1,047.00.

5th 7 Furlongs 3&Up Maiden Purse: $49,200 2 Roderick Velazquez J R 3.70 2.60 2.20 10 Whateverittakes Velasquez C 4.20 2.90 7 City Train Castellano J J 3.00 Time: 1:24.60 Trainer: Bruce Levine. Owner: Roddy Valente.

Ch. g. 3, Read The Footnotes-Appollo North, Polish Numbers.

Bred by Roddy Valente (NY). $2 Exacta (2-10) Paid $15.00. $2 Trifecta (2-10-7) Paid $41.60 $2 Pick 3 (2-15-2) 3 Correct Paid $334.50. $2 Pick 4 (3-2-15-2) 4 Correct Paid $781.00. $2 Daily Double (15-2) Paid $12.40. $2 Consolation Pick 3 (2-15-9) Paid $130.50. $2 Superfecta (2-10-7-15) Paid $185.40.

6th 1 1/8 Miles 3&UP Claiming ($20,000) Purse: $31,200 6 Cinder Cone Coa E M 29.40 13.60 7.60 14 Stopbluffing Luzzi M J 8.50 4.80 4 Dantastic Maragh R 3.40 Time: 1:53.23 Claimed: Dantastic by Gary Contessa (Winning Move Stable) Trainer: Chris Englehart. Owner: Wachtel Stable, Donegal Racing, Jerry Crawford.

Dk. B./Br. g. 6, Unusual Heat-Dalymount, Man From Eldorado.

Bred by Fast Lane Farm (CA). $2 Exacta (6-14) Paid $179.50. $2 Trifecta (6-14-4) Paid $1,076.00 $2 Pick 3 (15-2-6) 3 Correct Paid $223.50 $2 Daily Double (2-6) Paid $79.00 $2 Superfecta (6-14-4-3) Paid $4,196.00 7th 5 1/2 Furlongs 2 Year Olds Maiden Purse: $50,000.

3 Silvislip Prado E S 25.20 9.10 7.80 1 Playing Pirates Borel C H 3.70 3.20 5 Heavenly Pride Maragh R 5.80 Time: 1:05.35 Trainer: John Kimmel. Owner: Gold Mark Farm LLC. Dk. B./Br. f 2, Forestry-Ifyouprefersilver, Silver Deputy.

Bred by Capistrano Bloodstock (KY). $2 Exacta (3-1) Paid $112.00. $2 Trifecta (3-1-5) Paid $669.00 $2 Daily Double (6-3) Paid $321.50. $2 Pick 3 (2-6-3) 3 Correct Paid $570.00. $2 Superfecta (3-1-5-2) Paid $4,451.00.

8th James Marvin Stakes.

7 Furlongs 3&UP Purse: $75,000 4 Vineyard Haven Garcia Alan 3.30 2.70 3 Half Metal Jacket Dominguez R A 4.70 1 You and I Forever Lezcano J Time: 1:22.30 Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor. Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC. Gr. c. 4, Lido Palace-Princess Aloha, Aloha Prospector.

Bred by Lynne Scace (FL). $2 Exacta (4-3) Paid $13.80. $2 Trifecta (4-3-1) Paid $83.00 $2 Pick 3 (6-3-4) 3 Correct Paid $544.00. $2 Daily Double (3-4) Paid $40.40. $2 Superfecta (4-3-1-7) Paid $315.00

2.10 3.40 4.40

9th Schuylerville STAKES. (G3) 6 Furlongs 2YO fillies.

Purse: $100,000 3 Le Mi Geaux Lenclud F 20.20 7.70 3.60 2 Stopspendingmaria Velazquez J R 4.50 2.90 6 Show Me the Bling Leparoux J R 2.90 Time: 1:13.67 Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr. Owner: Lansdon Robbins lll.

Ch. f. 2, First Samurai-Message Red, Cryptoclearance.

Bred by Lansdon Robbins III (KY). $2 Exacta (3-2) Paid $71.50. $2 Trifecta (3-2-6) Paid $276.00 $2 Grand Slam (4,6,14-1,3,5-1,3,4-3) Paid $156.50. $2 Pick 3 (3-4-3) 3 Correct Paid $456.50. $2 Daily Double (4-3) Paid $54.00.

10th 7 Furlongs 3&UP Claiming ($25,000) Purse: $27,000 9 In Just We Trust Velazquez J R 6.40 4.30 3.20 11 Hillswick Desormeaux K J 9.80 8.20 12 Run to Grand Ave. Cohen D 7.40 Time: 1:23.51 Claimed: In Just We Trust by Chris Englehart (Wachtel Stable), Insightful

by Gary Contessa (Winning Move Stable) Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC. B. c. 3, Forest Danger-Trust Fund, Conquistador Cielo.

Bred by Brilliant Stable (KY). $2 Exacta (9-11) Paid $66.00. $2 Trifecta (9-11-12) Paid $476.00 $2 Superfecta (9-11-12-10) Paid $1,937.00 $2 Daily Double (3-9) Paid $107.00. $2 Pick 3 (4-3-9) 3 Correct Paid $227.00. $2 Pick 4 (3-2/4-3-9/14) 4 Correct Paid $2,800.00. $2 Pick 6 (2-6-3-4-3-9) 5 Correct Paid $877.00.

Carryover Pool $42,113 Saratoga Attendance: 23,178 Mutuel Pool: $2,927,601 ITW Mutuel Pool: $3,162,032 ISW Mutuel Pool: $7,259,416

Like The Special?

Support our advertisers or become one

20

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Friday’s Saratoga winners • Photos by Tod Marks

1 Dontstealmyland

2 Kathern’s Kitten

3 Bank Merger

4 Tar Beach

5 Roderick

6 Cinder Cone

7

8 Vineyard Haven

10 In Just We Trust

Silvislip

STAR-STUDDED PERFORMANCES (Never a Cover Charge!) AT

SIRO’S

Saturday July24th

Audio Stars Saturday – Lounge Night 11:45pm - 4am

Featuring Siro’s World Famous Piano Bar Featuring Siro’s World Famous Piano Bar “...the most famous track side restaurant in America...”

www.SirosRestaurant.com

Reservations available for our gourmet fine dining

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Reservations available tonight for our gourmet fine dining

Pastrami Queen now at Siro’s “Best pastrami on rye anywhere” - ZAGAT NEW! REDUCED

DRINK PRICES

ASK ABOUT OUR CATERING AND PRIVATE PARTY ACCOMMODATIONS

Siro’s | 168 Lincoln Avenue | Saratoga Springs | 518.584.4030 (adjacent to the Saratoga Thoroughbred Track)

Restaurant – 6pm-Midnight | The Yard – 5pm-9pm | Lounge – Midnight-4am

Cards

21

A.M. Saratoga

I

t’s the mornings. The VIP room of Saratoga. Anybody can go racing in the afternoon, it’s the mornings that make Saratoga. The furthest waking moment from deadline, it’s the only time The Special laughs, talks or is allowed to drift for a moment. Afternoons and evenings are pressure. Morning is release.

Yes, they hit quickly and mercilessly, over and over.

The first 10 minutes never get any easier, like a dull knife to your senses; anything but this, anything but action, anything but movement. Just five more minutes. Just two more minutes. Make it go away.

Then reality takes over and your senses dull the knife; everything starts to come together. It’ll feel better with the first taste of tea or the first gulp of coffee, it’ll feel like home when you see the first horse of the day. If they’re up, you’re up.

The morning papers are on the porch. We are the only people in Saratoga that wake up to 1,500 morning papers. Stacked like gold bars (or flower sacks), ready for delivery. It still never ceases to amaze me when I see them printed and ready. ‘Wow, we did it again.’ Back the car up, toss them in the trunk, buckle the seatbelt behind your back and head down Lincoln on the way to the first of many stops. Jack Clancy, 14, hasn’t come to his senses yet, his hair had a party last night. He’ll come around soon.

We’re off our game on the first morning. Year 10, you’d think we’d remember. Instead we forget the paper rack at the kitchen next to Eoin Harty’s barn, then we leave too many at the clocker stand’s rack; we backtrack, drive in circles, forget a few loyal readers. We’ll be better tomorrow (today).

Todd Pletcher drives his golfcart to the backside of the main track. He seems out of place, training from

CUP OF COFFEE By Sean Clancy

the golfcart instead of the lead pony. So many horses, so little time. He can watch them better this way.

Pletcher in a golfcart, doesn’t seem right. Sal Russo, agent for Channing Hill, campaigns for some out-oftown business.

Dale Romans has left Paddy O’Prado and First Dude at Churchill Downs for the summer. Asked why he’s here, he says simply, “To find the next one.” Good point.

Forever Together is in the house. She arrived late last night or early this morning. She’s had a place in the Annex longer than most, she’s reaching over her webbing, looking for action. Doug Fout and Ben Garner hold down the southern corner of the Annex; Mike Maker and Seth Benzel anchor the middle. Walter Blum points out Bridgetown, the great little Bridgetown, who will make his comeback this meet.

Daisy Phipps-Pulito gets her first child acquainted with early mornings at the track. Get used to them, son.

John Kimmel hurries in his golfcart, set to work Khancord Kid a half on the main track. Richard Migliore needs a ride to see Kimmel. The jockey seems out of place without his teacup helmet, blue cap and

white star emblazoned on it. He weighs 124, not so gaunt. Some day, he’ll walk around here without qualms in his gut.

Afleet Express goes old school for Jimmy Jerkens, breezing 7 furlongs in 1:25.62. The horse is tuned. The trainer’s happy – or as happy as he gets.

Ramon Dominguez perches motionless aboard Boys At Tosconova as they pass the quarter pole. Rick Dutrow leans on the rail and follows his pupil’s trajectory out of sight. Boy, good horses always look like they’re going slowly. Oh, he was going slowly, he went 5 furlongs in 1:05.02, just a leg-stretcher, a long way from the Hopeful.

Graham Motion’s crew scurries to find a rider to breeze Icabad Crane, in preparation for Monday’s Evan Shipman. The scheduled jockey can’t be found, nobody’s seen him. They call Julien Leparoux’s agent Steve Bass. In less than five minutes, Leparoux is adjusting his irons on the New York-bred and has a decent pickup ride for Monday’s feature.

Jimmy Toner’s gray horse drops his rider on the turf and goes on a lark, right way, wrong way of the turf.

The siren blares. Toner curses. Gary Contessa sends former California stakes horse Whatsthescript through a 7-furlong turf drill. McPeek breezes two, you’d bet either one or both. Jen Patterson breezes a Shug horse, get its name.

Dallas Stewart talks about releasing Macho Again from his barn someday soon; the future stallion is on his way to Venezuela. “I don’t want to be there,” Stewart says, wistfully.

It’s raining. First day of racing. First day of rain.

Hope it’s not an omen.

It’s 11 o’clock. Morning’s over. Time to get serious.

World’s #1 Miler on Dirt in 2007

CORINTHIAN Following in the footsteps of PulPit’s successful sons taPit & Sky MeSa

• Corinthian dominated the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile posting a 119 Beyer, Retired Sound • Won prestigious Met Mile H.-G1 defeating Lawyer Ron-G1, Political Force-G1, etc.

• From the immediate female family of Leading Sires Sadler’S WellS & Nureyev Look for First Crop Corinthian Yearlings Selling this Year 22

Power. Passion. Performance.

Contact: Michael Hernon 859-293-2676 www.gainesway.com

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Connie Bush

Everyone was trying to keep dry at the Spa on Opening Day.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

23

First Samurai G I A N T ’ S C A U S E W AY – F R E D D I E F R I S S O N , b y D I X I E L A N D B A N D

1st Crop 2YO Wins Schuylerville-G3 at Saratoga 2 Winners, 3 Placed from 8 starters Lansdon Robbins’ homebred LE MI GEAUX draws off to win the Schuylerville-G3 in her stakes debut.

00628.CLB.FirstSamuraiSSpg7-24NEW.indd 1

10 0

C E L E B R A T I N G YEA RS

Post Office Box 150 Paris, Kentucky 40362-0150 Tel.(859) 233-4252 Fax 987-0008 claibornefarm.com inquiries TO Bernie sams e-mail: bernie@claibornefarm.com PHOTO © AdAm COgliAnese

7/24/10 10:48:48 AM