Sunday Saratoga Report
Jockey Ramon Dominguez takes a second to sign a program.
– Commentator had the Whitney his way, getting clear at first jump and stealing the race gate-to-wire with a half in :47.73, a final time of 1:50.23, and a 4 3/4 length lead. The 7-year-old NY-bred gelding has now won the Whitney twice, the first horse since Kelso to do so, and earned a post in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Asked if Commentator might ship west this fall, owner Tracy Farmer replied, “That’s up to Nick. I’m not worried about getting the horse to Santa Anita — I’m worried about getting Nick to Santa Anita” (DRF). He’s probably not joking about that: Zito has been outspoken against synthetics, a topic he’ll get to expound on during a Tuesday forum on artificial surfaces (DOC).
– No breaks for 1-5 Ginger Punch in the Go for Wand. The 5-year-old mare broke smartly from the gate, then was boxed in by Moon Catcher in front and Copper State to the outside going into the clubhouse turn and kept covered through the first three quarters, which went by in a dull 1:14.04. What wasn’t dull in the least was the sight of brave Ginger Punch, refused room to run, barreling though her rivals to draw away to a 1 1/4 length win. “My filly showed me a big kick because she was a little mad, you know?“, said jockey Rafael Bejarano after (ThoroTimes). Final time was 1:53.43, final eighth :13.49; can’t knock Ginger Punch for either, not after such an impressive display of determination and heart, accomplished while giving away nine pounds or more on the rest.
– In the Diana, it was Kent Desormeaux who was mad, giving Dynaforce a frustrated smack of the whip right before the wire (which didn’t look good, but doesn’t seem to be technically against the rules) after late-runner Forever Together flew down the center of the track in :11.14 to win by 3/4 length over the filly. Desormeaux has been trying to get win #5000 since opening day, when he hit #4999. He’s 0-for-17 since; the rider has five mounts today.
– Shug McGaughey-trainee Baronial, mentioned here when he made his debut, broke his maiden in the third at decent odds of 4-1. I was side-tracked while wandering over to the track Saturday afternoon and just missed the race, which has pretty much been my story (in handicapping, betting, luck) since the meet began. Like Kent, I’m feeling a little aggravated, but I won’t be taking that out on any horses …
– Odds and ends: Big Brown breezed six furlongs in 1:10.86 on Saturday at Aqueduct for the Haskell, boilerplate raves followed … Agree, this is ludicrous … And this is funny.
