JC / Railbird

Saratoga Archive

What You Want to See for $4.6M

– Over a good track and under a handride, Maimonides romped in his debut at Saratoga this afternoon, crossing the wire 11 1/2 lengths ahead of place horse Sam’s Passion. It was a super performance: Maimonides assumed the lead early, cruised easy into the stretch, then drew off with a shrug when jockey Rafael Bejarano shook him up at the 16th pole, seemingly just for fun. Final time was 1:04.41; Maimonides’ Beyer speed figure came back an 89. Trainer Bob Baffert couldn’t have been happier with the two-year-old Vindication colt’s victory, which was the conditioner’s first maiden win at the Spa. “This is real; racing on dirt, that’s me,” said Baffert. “He did it so easy, so effortlessly. I live for a horse like this” (Blood-Horse). Maimonides is one of the four two-year-olds owned by Ahmed Zayat shipped to Saratoga after the owner and Del Mar track president Joe Harper had a little disagreement over Polytrack last week (NY Daily News). Another is More Happy, an impressive debut winner at Del Mar being pointed to next week’s Adirondack Stakes.
– Maimonides’ final time was almost a second faster than than of Z Humor, another Zayat horse, debuting for hot trainer William Mott in the day’s other 5 1/2 furlong maiden special. While Z Humor’s win was impressive in its way, the colt was upstaged by a blur named Ready’s Echo, who came from more than 12 lengths back in a mad rush to capture second. “Whoa,” cried a surprised Tom Durkin, who had been wrapping up his call with Z Humor in front, Pick Off in second. “He came from another county!”
– John at Not to the Swift has sussed out a possible spot for everyone’s favorite $16 million colt. Indian Charlie says, “NYRA linemaker Eric Donovan has announced that the Green Monkey will be listed at 20-1 for his racing debut … unless trainer Todd Pletcher decides to enter him in NY-Bred Maiden/Claimer … where he will then open up at odds of 9-to-2.”
– A shout-out to the NYRA gate crew, who made it through the card without a single incident of the sort that’s plagued them lately (NY Post). Good work, gang!

Posted in Saratoga on August 8, 2007

Funny Cide Party Plans Set

Funny Cide’s retirement party is all set for next Friday at Saratoga: The Kentucky Derby winner turned stable pony will parade for fans on the racetrack one last time, an oversized card will be available for signing, and NYRA will give away copies of a limited edition PEB poster commemorating the occasion, which will be autographed by members of Sackatoga Stable and jockey Jose Santos (who announced his retirement earlier this week) outside the silks room. “It’s going to be a blast,” said Jack Knowlton, managing partner for Sackatoga (Times Union).

Posted in Horses, Saratoga on August 3, 2007

Thunder Chicken

– Rags to Riches settles in at the Spa, makes a new friend, deals with paparazzi (NTRA).
– Teuflesberg makes his turf debut in the Glow Stakes, Saturday’s third race at Saratoga. “He’s just doing so well and feeling so good that we wanted to find something to keep him on the level,” said trainer Jamie Sanders of the move (ThoroTimes). Nobiz Like Shobiz will try the same on Monday, when he starts in the G2 Hall of Fame Stakes for trainer Barclay Tagg.
– After nearly two years off, the bard made a triumphant return to the races on Thursday. Shakespeare’s one-mile allowance win was so easy, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is confidently looking ahead to a graded stakes start for the six-year-old horse. “He’s a grade one horse. Where we go from this we’ll have to see, but the Bernard Baruch is the first thing that jumps out August 25” (Blood-Horse).

Posted in Saratoga on August 3, 2007