JC / Railbird

Saratoga Archive

Proud Day

It was something to see trainer Larry Jones, waiting for Proud Spell to gallop out, with a quiver in his jaw, blinking back tears threatening to break. Photographers pressed and congratulations flowed; he paced in the Saratoga dirt and tried to smile. He couldn’t stand still, he couldn’t speak, his filly had won the Alabama and done so tenaciously, digging in to get to the wire first by a head over favored Music Note.

“If Eight Belles were here,” said a reporter leaning against the rail, his back to the returning field, “this would have been her race. She was better than either of those fillies.” Those fillies, so talented and fast, settling a championship over the track, still not enough to fill a gap in the division.

Jones strode toward Proud Spell, signaled to the groom to enter the winner’s circle. Pictures taken, trophy bestowed, the filly unsaddled and led away, question time began. Jones could talk again, and he had praise for the beaten rival, for rider Gabriel Saez, and especially for the game Proud Spell.

“She shows up every time,” he said. “This filly has been here all year. She was the first horse to beat Indian Blessing, who was the champion. She showed up for the Kentucky Oaks, she’s still around for the Alabama … in my mind, there’s no doubt she’s the best 3-year-old filly in the country.”

What’s next is uncertain. “We’ll try to enjoy this win a little more than the Kentucky Oaks,” Jones said, then paused, stumbled. “Because that got short-tailed … we’ll plan something for her later.”

Proud Spell wins for two.

Posted in Saratoga on August 16, 2008

Saturday Notes

– Nice way to start a career: Former Dale Romans assistant Elizabeth Gray earned her first win as a trainer in race two this afternoon with 7-1 Obsequious, her second starter to date. The 2-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus filly making her debut was most admirable, snatching the lead early and dueling down the stretch with second-place finisher Abundantia. Final time for the 5 1/2 furlong MSW was 1:05.78.
– Honorable Miss winner Any Limit is out of next Sunday’s Ballerina, due to a flare-up of an old injury. Trainer Allen Jerkens said the mare might be start next in the Gallant Bloom at Belmont.
– Random crack of thunder from one foreboding cloud. The Saratoga forecast does call for possibility of isolated storms this afternoon …
– Champs Elysees and Red Rocks are scratched from the Sword Dancer, leaving Manhattan winner Dancing Forever the likely favorite and last year’s victor, Grand Couturier, the wiseguy pick. But upset United Nations winner Presious Passion looks the sole speed in this paceless marathon and he should like the good (possibly soft) going, so I’ll dub him today’s longshot flyer (at 10-1 and up). [Results: The wiseguys were right, Grand Couturier repeats. And, said trainer Robert Ribaudo, “We’re going to come back next year.” Presious Passion set the pace, finished fourth.]
– Macho Again is macho. Or possibly, just crazy.

Posted in Saratoga on August 16, 2008

Catching Up

– Bit of an omnibus post this morning as I attempt to catch up on recent Saratoga racing, to which I have been paying much attention, but about which I have written woefully little. I blame the Spa. As I was saying to someone the other day, Saratoga takes you back 100 years in more ways than one. Internet what? But where actually being at the racetrack and lacking wireless access inhibits, technology finds a way: I’m sending out Spa updates daily via Twitter. (The news that Curlin was going to the Woodward and that last Friday’s card was canceled was broken via tweet, and who else is dispensing this kind of handicapping advice?) You can follow along, by phone and web or by RSS.

– It’s a cloudy morning, but no rain yet, and there was only one light shower that passed through on Friday (and that was shortly before the eighth, which was run under a rainbow that arched over the grandstand and appeared to end at the tote board). Races might actually be on the turf this afternoon. [9:00 a.m. update: With rain forecast, races will be off the turf, except for the Lake Placid.]

– Music Note is entered in the Alabama, but still possible for the Travers, and the decision to keep the filly in or scratch her on Saturday might not come until the afternoon. Assistant trainer Rick Mettee said Godolphin was waiting to consider the weather and post draw before committing to either race. Trainer Larry Jones, meanwhile, is hoping for a rematch between the Mother Goose winner and Proud Spell, who finished second in that race, but is respectfully challenging. “We want another shot at Music Note since that Belmont [race] turned out so bad, but believe me, I’m not saying, ‘Bring her on,’” Jones told Sherry Ross. And just to clarify an earlier uncertainty, should Music Note win the Alabama, she will not win the Filly Triple Crown, despite what was reported in this Post Star article.

– In the ninth, trainer Bill Mott debuts Evolutionist, a half-brother to Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior. The El Prado colt (coupled with stablemate Herr Mozart and MTO-only Stormalory) shows a record of steady works, but Mott remains winless with first-time starters at Saratoga, so Evolutionist may be one for the watch list or exotics, not a straight win. Todd Pletcher sends out Hype, a More than Ready colt out of 2-year-old stakes winner Western Woman. I’d post updated stats for both these guys, but Web Formulator isn’t working for me today …

– “I had a great trip,” said Robby Albarado, explaining how he won the Special with buzz horse Run Away and Hide. Can’t quibble with the rider, who settled his colt behind a wicked fast early pace of :21.66 and :44.80, saved ground along the rail, then drew away mid-stretch to a 1 1/2 length win (final time of 1:15.67, BSF of 93). Run Away and Hide is now 3-for-3 and boasts two graded stakes scores. “He’s the pro tem Juvenile Champ, isn’t he?”, said one delighted connection in the winner’s circle. “I mean, who else has accomplished that?” Well, let’s not get ahead of things … the Breeders’ Cup is still nearly three months away.

– On Wednesday, 8-1 Mani Bhavan upset the Adirondack with a wire-to-wire run. The race, the same distance as the Special, returned a Beyer figure of 100 for a final time of 1:18.09. That’s the best BSF assigned a juvenile at the meet so far. “She’s a real horse,” said trainer Steve Klesaris.

– I wish I had written this. Brilliant, Foolish Pleasure! Or this (DRF+). Thanks for pointing out what Jackson got wrong about synthetics, Brad Free.

Posted in Saratoga on August 15, 2008