Monday, July 31, 2006

Hillary, Who do you like today?




Sen. Clinton visited Saratoga Saturday, taking in a few races and possibly looking for hubby Bill and Magna heir Melinda Stronach).



Newsday: Clinton attracks (Oh, attracks, ha ha, get it!) attention at Saratoga Race Course

Don't Believe the Hype

Godolphin's Bernardini looked awfully good Saturday in the Jim Dandy but talk of him as champion 3-year old or even horse of the year is nonsense. Let's withhold judgment through at least the Travers. The Preakness and Jim Dandy both appear to be very weak, suspect fields. Bernardini's brilliance may simply derive from his placement next to some pretty dim competition. Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint put in grueling three-year old campaigns prior to the Preakness. And we'll never know what Barbaro could have done. There was nothing in the Jim Dandy field except second-place finisher Minister's Bid, who was running the third race of his career (and has impressed each time). Bernadini missed each key first-half test for 3-year olds apart from the Preakness.The road to the 3-year old championship should run along the Derby trail and through the Triple Crown, especially Louisville. Bernadini started late and missed the Derby because he didn't have the earnings. He won the Preakness and Godolphin then decided the skip the Belmont. This should not work to his advantage at the end of year. The light schedule gives Bernadini a huge edge in the second half against other 3-year olds who have endured a full campaign. Anything short of a Breeders' Cup Classic victory should deny him champion horse honors.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Day Three

Race 4: We'll take the plunge on Tim Hills and #7 Freakazoid and hope he sets off a bomb in a race of 2-yr old state-bred maidens. #1 Crosstown Traffic for Kimmel and #3 Megan's World round out the tri.

Race 7:  #4 Owns the Place, trained by Scott Blasi (sitting in for the banned Steven Asmussen for the next 180 days), will wire this field. Scott Lake's #5 Cottage at 12/1 (with the nation's leading rider Julien Leparoux) Suffolk shipper #2 Be Cool Fool (8/1) make the exacta worth something.

This Just In...

Evening Attire is not dead! Funny Cide and Evening Attire should run a match race at Saratoga each year. Funny Cide would jet out to a 10-length lead and we'd see if the old gray could try to run him down in the stretch.



Owner Joe Grant reported that 8-year-old Evening Attire is not retired and will be back to the races in the fall.

Owned in partnership with retired 87-year-old trainer Tommy "T.J." Kelly and trained by Kelly's son, Pat, Evening Attire, winner of the 2002 and 2004 Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap, was sent to nearby Mill Creek Farm in the spring and has enjoyed a leisurely summer so far.

"I know a lot of people thought he was retied (sic) , but he's not," Grant said. "He really doesn't like Belmont all that much, even though he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup there (2002). That was really a matter of him liking it one day on the right day. He's doing very well here and when `T.J.' saw him, he said, `Look at him. He looks like a two-year-old.'

Thursday, July 27, 2006

The Umbrella Was Declared a Non-starter (or Ran for Purse Money Only)



Summer Fun at Ellis Park:


"Jockeys and their mounts escaped injury Thursday afternoon when a large umbrella, apparently from the trackside picnic area at Ellis Park, blew onto the main track as the field charged down the stretch in fifth race on the program.

Blue Bay, under Jesus Castanon, was in front by two lengths approaching the final sixteenth of the seven-furlong event when the umbrella, apparently lifted from a picnic table by a strong wind, blew onto the track. Jockeys of the two horses behind Blue Bay, Orlando Mojica aboard Adriatic Lady and Randall Toups aboard New Rochelle, had to duck as the umbrella flew over their heads and into the infield."


Bloodhorse: Jockeys, Horses OK After Picnic Umbrella Blows Onto Track

Day Two Postmortem

Mary's Prayer Race 2 comment line just about sums up my meet so far.

Mary's Prayer: reluctant to load,off slowly, very greenly, tired




Day 2 Charts

Early Day 2 Plays

Race 2: #9 Mary's Prayer. Bred for sprints and sire wins early. Should
be a price.
Race 3: #3 Tiverton. Two decent starts this year and should be ready to win.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Tough Day at the SPAAAAA...



Chalk take four of the first five races and then some decent prices start rolling in. The day is capped by a late double combo of J.R.-Pletcher/Prado-Frankel that pays a very generous $247.50. A seemingly hittable Pick-4 pays $27,636. 35 more days to go.

Opening Day!




Weather looks like a go at Big Sandy. Congrats to NYRA on a good opening day Saratoga card.

Race 1. #11 Noah H. Kimmel appears to be back after a strong downstate showing so far in 2006. Kimmel turf runners will be an automatic play at the meet. Noah H. is fast enough has the form and is a juicy 10-1 on the morning line. Box over #3. Massoud and #9. Forget the Judge.

Race 2. 3/5 Rondo is beatable. I'll bet that The Chief has #2 Ready Read ready to fire. #3 Calculated Risk (Shug/and the other Velazaquez), #5 Forty Crowns (J.Jerkens), #6 Vision of Sunshine for Tom Bush are also very playable if the Godolphin entry goes off at odds on.

Race 3. #1 Schosberg entry, Benlaya in particular, over Tagg/Mig's #3 I'm a Yankee (who I suspect will be much lower than the 2/1 ML). #6 Woodmere and/or #9 Sly Diamond Jim round out the Tri.

Race 4. #9 Silver Timber looks very tough for Rice and will hopefully outrun #1 Wave the Baton (Clement/J.R.). Rene Araya horses have been very live since his return and #8 Macklennin should get a piece.

Race 5. Complete crapshoot with maiden babies. #12 Philomatt is worth a flyer in the win spot if he goes off at 20/1 ML or higher. #1 Dutrow enrty: the Magician has some expensive well-bred babies and could also be a value play at 12-1. Box 1 and 12 over Shug's #9 Consecration.

Race 6. #8 Political Force as the Chief puts over the second winner of the day. Frankel's #2 Saint Anddan #2B South of Broad should both be ready off the layoff. #3 Star Dabbler also worth a looksie if he drifts above 4-1.

Race 7. #2 I'm the Tiger. Short-priced Frankel favorites won't make you rich quick but I have a feeling the G1 winner will be cranked and should destroy this field. #1 Awesome Twist and #4 Spooky Mulder (HFC with two previous wins at Saratoga) will drift in behind.

Race 8. #3 Judy Soda. #1 Great Lady. #6 Samsincharge. #2 Paige Nicole. I think the likely favorite #2 Sweet Sweet is vulnerable after a walk over much weaker crop at Finger Lakes on July 4.

Race 9. #1 Chief Officer. Loved the way she destroyed the field with ease at Belmont in last in June 30. Hope she stays healthier than her dad and would love to ride her all the way to BC Juvenile Fillies. #4 Angel Island. Scott Blasi, now running suspended Assmussen's string, is worth a look, especially in 2 yr old races (Assmussen's specialty last year). #1 and #4 over #5 #6 #8 in Tris and Supers.

Race 10. #6 Pulpiteer for Albertrani at a price (10-1). over #2 #1