JC / Railbird

In the Books

Curlin returns to the winner's circle after the Woodward
Curlin entering the winner’s circle following the Woodward.
– Onward to the fall championship meet at Belmont, opening Friday, and the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, but first a farewell to the 2008 Saratoga season, which passed too quickly. This was the first summer I stayed the meet without working in the barns, which was a pleasant change (even if I did still begin each day before dawn). The six weeks passed with a feeling of dreamy sojourn, hard to shake even now back in real world Brooklyn. I’ve already forgotten the rain that dominated the first three weeks; what sticks out days after returning is the Alabama, Proud Spell and Music Note dueling down the stretch, Larry Jones exultant and teary in the winner’s circle; the Travers finish, the hush as the crowd waited for the photo, then the roar, and Colonel John’s owner-breeder Susan Casner trembling in excitement, taking in the results; and Ginger Punch in the Go For Wand, so determined to get through in the stretch after she was boxed in and blocked through most of the race. What I remember of Curlin is not the Woodward, an ordinary win in hindsight, for which he had to work too hard, but seeing the glowing chestnut gallop effortlessly in the pearly early morning light.
– Congratulations to Alan Garcia, leading jockey with 39 wins in only his second year on the New York circuit, and to Kiaran McLaughlin, leading Spa trainer for the first time in his career with 17 wins.
Jeremy Plonk lists the top 20 performances by 2-year-olds. I’d add Mani Bhavan, winner of the Adirondack (for which she was given a 100 BSF, the best of any baby at the meet) and the Spinaway (in which she was reminiscent of Indian Blessing as a juvenile), and Miss Ocean City, a debut winner for trainer Nick Zito during the first week. The Mineshaft filly beat a bunch of unknown quality over a sloppy track, but she did it in front-running fashion, opening up in the final yards, and she has an interesting pedigree, being 3×3 to Mr. Prospector and Seattle Slew, and out of an unraced Kingmambo mare named Madam Lagonza.
– In comparison, I’m dashing out the door on Saratoga, but then, while I have an appreciation for the long goodbye, I’ve never had the knack.