JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Suffolk Closes Up

Good news from a resurgent Suffolk Downs: The track closed out its 100-day meet on Saturday, the first under owner Richard Fields, reporting big gains for the first time in several years. Average daily attendance was up 22 percent, on-track handle up 14 percent. “By every standard, it’s been a spectacular year for Suffolk Downs,” said Fields (Boston Herald). One of the meet’s high points was the MassCap, brought back after two-year hiatus and won by Brass Hat in front of a cheering crowd of more than 19,000. Meet titles went to perennial leading trainer John Rigattieri and rider Tammi Piermarini, who won the first Suffolk riding title of her career, although she’s often been near the top of the jockey standings in her 20 years riding at the track.

At Aqueduct: Todd Pletcher’s Big A mini-slump ended Sunday when 1-2 favorite Spanky Fischbein caught Piquante Cat in the final yards of the New York Stallion Great White Way, winning by half a length. The trainer had been 0-for-15 at the meet.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on November 12, 2007

Brass Hat Wins MassCap

You could feel the excitement as post time approached. “It’s been too long,” Larry Collmus told the crowd as the field for the first Massachusetts Handicap since 2004 was loaded in the gate for the 1 1/8 mile race.

The bell rang and a cheer went up from the 19,191 fans packing the grandstand. Fairbanks, the 3-5 favorite, bobbled at the break and longshot Fire Striker went to the front, setting slow fractions of :24.45 and :49.37 through the first half. Stalking Fairbanks took the lead at the six furlong mark; Brass Hat, never far behind, moved into contention at the top of the stretch, eventually drawing away to a 3/4 length win and returning $10.20 to his backers. Dr. Pleasure was third, Evening Attire fourth. The final time for the race was 1:49.72. “I love this game!” cried Brass Hat’s groom as he ran towards the track to lead his charge into the winner’s circle.

Owner Fred Bradley couldn’t have been happier with the win: “The horse ran a hell of a race,” he said. “We’ll be back next year, if the horse is sound.”

Brass Hat, unsaddled, heads to the test barn.

Winning jockey Willie Martinez being interviewed after the MassCap.

Watch the replay:

More: “Brass Hat shines in MassCap” (BRIS), “There’s no quit in Brass Hat” (Boston Herald). Brass Hat earned a Beyer speed figure of 98 for the win.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on September 22, 2007 / Tagged 2007 MassCap

MassCap Day Notes

Jockey Richard Migliore talks with TVG’s Christina Olivares.

Asked after winning the Moseley Handicap aboard Afrashad ($2.40) if he’d learned anything about the track that would help him ride Fairbanks in the MassCap, jockey Richard Migliore replied, “The track’s very honest. Today, it seems like you can come in from any path, any position.” Fairbanks, starting from post position four, is the 6-5 favorite 25 minutes to post. There was a minus show pool of $40,386 on Afrashad and entry-mate Council Member, who ran second.

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Bridgejumpers are out in force on the Godolphin entry of Afrashad and Council Member for race nine, the Moseley Handicap, which is also returning to Suffolk after a two-year hiatus today. Approximately three minutes to post and the show pool on #1 is $89,036, dwarfing every other on the board. The win pool is $19,459; the place $8978. [The show pool on the entry attracted $153,929 in wagers from a total pool of $163,630 (Boston Herald).]

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Talk about an upset: 55-1 Massachusetts-bred Reprized Strike, scoreless since June 2006 when he won the Rise Jim Stakes over a muddy Suffolk track, jumped up to win race eight, the Waquoit Stakes, by approximately three lengths [3 1/2 lengths, officially], paying $112.60. The exacta with favored De Roode paid $716. It was the second win of the day for rider Clifford Dooley, who brought home longshot Shell Creek ($43) in race three.

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The all stakes pick four kicked off in race seven, the Collegian Stakes, which was won by 8-5 favorite On the Vineyard ($5.20). Southern Rainbow was second, Bootleggin Gent third. “He was the best horse today,” said jockey Willie Martinez of On the Vineyard. “My grandmother could have ridden him … on the turn it was only a question of how far I thought I could win by.” Martinez rides Brass Hat in the MassCap.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on September 22, 2007 / Tagged 2007 MassCap