JC / Railbird

Saratoga Archive

In the Second

… at Saratoga today, Spaniard makes his second start for trainer Bob Baffert. The 2-year-old Candy Ride colt, a half to certain Test Stakes favorite Indian Blessing, comes to the Spa off a sixth-place finish in a June maiden special at Hollywood that has yielded three next out winners (one at Hollywood, with a BSF of 80, two at Del Mar, with BSFs of 73 and 80), and gets leading rider John Velazquez. Sure to be sent to post at better odds, however, is Nowhere to Hide, a Vindication colt with a bullet work on July 12 debuting for trainer Nick Zito, who is 3-1-2-0 with juveniles at the meet so far, all at decent odds (5-1 on flashy winner Miss Ocean City, 4-1 and 3-1 on the others). Steve Asmussen sends out Coach Gravy, an unfortunately named Grand Slam colt out of G3 Meld winner Caiseal Ros, while former Pletcher assistant Seth Benzel, still seeking his stable’s first win, starts Orientate baby Viscount, bought for $350,000 at Keeneland and sporting an improved gate work on July 26.

Posted in Saratoga on August 2, 2008

Quite the Spectacle

Saratoga doyenne Marylou Whitney and soap star Susan Lucci enter Congress Park in a rickshaw …

Preceded by dragon dancers …

While a golden blow-up Buddha welcomes guests to the annual Whitney Gala at the Canfield Casino …

Posted in Saratoga on August 1, 2008

‘Note Possible for Travers?

Reports Ed Fountaine in the New York Post this morning:

Now, this is an interesting possibility. As much as I’d like to see a rematch between Music Note and Proud Spell in the historic Alabama (and agree with commenter Ed that it could well be the race that determines year-end 3YO filly honors), the Travers does have a $1 million purse, it gives the filly an additional week of rest off the CCAO, and the field, headed by Jim Dandy winner Macho Again, isn’t exactly shaping up as all that strong. [Thanks to Brooklyn Backstretch, not quite as enthusiastic about the idea, for the alert.]

Posted in Saratoga on August 1, 2008