JC / Railbird

Saratoga

Last Word (This Year)

NYRA’s Martin Panza on why he’s not having conversations about changing the Triple Crown schedule by moving the Belmont Stakes into July:

“Right now if you look at the Triple Crown, a month or three weeks before the Derby is when the preps end and there’s really not another big 3 year-old race until a month after the Belmont.

“I’m not sure the rest of the tracks in America would be willing to give us a 4-month break with no big 3-year-old races and that’s what you would be asking for. I just don’t see how that could happen.

“It’s a much more complex situation than just those three races …

“And anything I do at Belmont, I’m also very conscious of not wanting to affect Saratoga. I’m trying to complement Saratoga, not hurt Saratoga.”

Posted in Racing on July 17, 2014 / Tagged Belmont Stakes, Martin Panza, NYRA, Racing Calendar, Saratoga, The Glamour Division, Triple Crown

Conditional

About the $1.2+ million topper of the Saratoga select yearling sale:

“It’s hard to get into those pedigrees,” Hogan said. “[She’s from] an old Phipps family and has a great pedigree. If she works out to be a good race filly, you’ve got the residual [value]. She’s a half sister to a really good horse and with that kind of pedigree she could be a good hen.”

Buying, the real gamble. Not that Optimizer’s little half-sister by Dynaformer is going to sink anyone in this deal if she doesn’t perform. “When you have one billionaire (Brad Kelley) selling to another billionaire (Goncalo Torreabla) you know it is a good time to be in biz,” observed Byron Rogers.

Posted in Sales/Auctions on August 6, 2013 / Tagged Dynaformer, Fasig-Tipton, Indy Pick, Optimizer, Sale Topper, Saratoga, Yearlings

In the Fractions

Handicapper Brad Thomas critiques the 2013 Whitney Handicap results:

“Nothing illustrates the weakness and over-the-hill nature of the handicap div like the unaggressive way speed horses have been ridden in …

“races like the Foster and Sat’s Whitney. No one had the guts to test Fort Larned in the former and Cross Traffic got away with a cheap …

“first quarter in the latter-effectively turning the 9F Whitney into a sprint with a galloping run-up. This decaying div is wide open …

“to any developing 3YO still ambulatory late in the year and to Royal Delta …“

Watching Cross Traffic and every other contender but Successful Dan drift, list, and stagger across the wire (replay), it’s hard to argue otherwise.

The DRF Formulator Whitney fractions:

Cross Traffic was given a Beyer speed figure of 108 for his Whitney win.

(Thomas tweets via @superterrific.)

Posted in Racing on August 4, 2013 / Tagged Beyer Speed Figures, Cross Traffic, Pace, Saratoga, Successful Dan, Whitney Handicap

Odds and Ends

Mr. Hot Stuff, cover gelding (PDF). The lazy looker won the A. P. Smithwick at Saratoga on Thursday. “He’s taken to the jumps because he doesn’t have to work that hard,” said trainer Jack Fisher of Colonel John’s brother, who never showed a similar flair for the flat. “Seriously. It’s not as tough; he’s not going down there in :23. It’s just a nice easy gallop for him. Sometimes, doing this, if it’s easy enough, they’ll try again. He’s a beautiful horse.”

The Isadorable Stakes for Massachusetts-breds is Saturday’s feature race at Suffolk Downs. Lynne Snierson has the preview. Southoftheborder, now 10, returns to defend her title; Tammi Piermarini is on Navy Nurse, making her second start of the year and coming off an allowance win on July 15. Even though seeing her atop the standings has become the norm, it’s still hard not to be a little awed by Piermarini’s stats — she’s won 44 races through the meet’s first eight weeks, 19 more than the second leading rider by wins, Gary Wales. She’s up almost $200,000 over the second by earnings, Jackie Davis.

Promo: Breeders’ Cup Fantasy ‘Capping begins with the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday. Beat Ray. Join Pete. Or create your own league and play against your friends. Free past performances from the Daily Racing Form and horse bios by Hello Race Fans will help you make your picks.

Posted in Racing on August 2, 2013 / Tagged A. P. Smithwick Stakes, Fantasy 'Capping, Mr. Hot Stuff, Saratoga, Steeplechase, Suffolk Downs