Suffolk Notes
It was a good day at the Downs, with fine weather and two stakes races on the card. I had the great pleasure of hanging out with Bud from Thoroughbred Racing Fans of New England for the second half of the afternoon. Bud’s the photographer for the group, which meets at Suffolk occasionally and takes trips to Saratoga and such events as the Breeders’ Cup.
Bud told me that he didn’t handicap, but proved he knew horses — especially New England horses — when he spotted Spectacular Orage in the African Prince, a stakes race for state-breds, and struck up a conversation with the owner about Spectacular Orage’s grandsire, 1994 New England turf champion, Eternal Orage. Photos from today are already up — check out the nice shot of Winston Thompson winning the Old Ironsides on Miesque’s Approval.
In the African Prince, Reprized Strike was the even money favorite for obvious reasons. The three-year-old colt won the Norman Hall Stakes last fall and came back this year with a fourth in the Rise Jim. I picked 5-1 Stylish Sultana, who finished a respectable fourth against tough competition in the Isadorable Stakes last month. She made a late move in the stretch, coming from sixth to win by a neck on the outside. Reprized Strike finished third, Spectacular Orage second.
I didn’t do as well in the Old Ironsides, picking One Nice Cat, who finished fifth. Miesque’s Approval, a New York shipper trained by Bill Mott, won easily. Canyon’s Way ran second and Tom the River Rat third. This race was the high point of the day for me, for the simple reason that Bud and I stood at the rail on the turf course and watched the horses come by at the first turn and again at the finish. It was a beautiful sight — the horses so near, the turf so lush.
The Old Ironsides was a high point for jockey Winston Thompson as well: The race was his sixth win of the afternoon. It was Thompson’s first career six-win day; he is the seventh rider to accomplish the feat at Suffolk.
