Same old story......same old song & dance

It's hard to believe that the 2012 Saratoga thoroughbred race meet is less than three weeks away. It's seems in life, the older you get, the faster time flies by. Summer comes and goes so quickly here in the Great Northeast. This time of the year may be the biggest economic boom for our surrounding area. There's no two ways about it, things in the Great Northeast and our country in general aren't that good with jobs and prosperity. It's a fact of life, whether you want to believe it or not! That's why things like the Saratoga thoroughbred race meet (which is run by NYRA) is vital to the economic improvement to not only our area, but to the thoroughbred racing industry in this country. That's why every time I see the political games and government get involved in our sport (and most other things also) I cringe! So, we enter a "brave new world" in thoroughbred racing this summer at Saratoga . The New York Racing Association being partly run by the State of New York . As the legendary actress Bette Davis said so many year's ago; "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"

This roller coaster ride that New York State government and NYRA has been on has gone on way too long! We seen some good changes and some bad ones. We've seen people come and go and the rhetoric fired from both sides each time. With our state supporting the sport of thoroughbred racing, their "say" in things of how the sport should be run is paramount. Of course, the ugly word of "politics" is a key ingredient to the on going mess that has transpired the past ten years or so. So, it would be disappointing if everything would go smoothly leading up to this year's Saratoga meet......right????

Things started brewing when the state government got involved AGAIN with financial discrepancies done by NYRA. That triggered state officials to remove members of NYRA's board. This has gotten the governor back involved with how NYRA should be run. So, once AGAIN turmoil reigns weeks before the premier thoroughbred race meet. NYRA places new people in charge, the state does not approve of these people either. The annual Saratoga meet press conference which has always been the last Monday of June is cancelled and won't be presented this year. But the day of that press conference, the powers to be did announce the "giveaways" for the upcoming meet. I guess free "giveaways" are the most important thing during the Saratoga meet. A meet that has gained popularity leaps and bounds the past 30 years, by the knowledge of NYRA employees and their marketing teams has made summers in the Capital District region very profitable for locales and the state. Yet, we find ways of mixing things up each year just for the sake of doing so.

Am I being too critical, maybe? Am I really sick of the constant roller coaster lead up to the Saratoga meet each year, YES! You see, I've been part of the government "thing" as a county employee for as long as I've been interested in the sport of racing. I've dealt with "politics" during this time and sometimes the rhetoric is just only that; rhetoric! I believe in, if something isn't broke......no need to fix it and let it be if it works. Usually when "politics" gets involved, no good can come from it. Now don't get me wrong, there have been problems with NYRA is the past and unfortunately still. But, just ONCE I would LOVE the Saratoga meet to start off WITHOUT any controversy and everything go smoothly. Is that too much to ask????

Two for the "weeds" to remember!

With the Triple Crown season now wrapped up and Saratoga just one month away, we get ready for thoroughbred racing's second half of 2012. It's the time of the year where we begin to see the two year old runners, the best turf horses in the country and around the world show their ware and the three year old colts step up with older horses in the handicap division. This week we'll look at two very interesting grass runners, one here in the states and another one across the ocean. Hopefully these two will make a BIG bang later in the year for the Breeder's Cup races!



The past Saturday at Belmont Park , there was a three year old turf race which included possibly the best sophomore grass runner in the country and his name is Summer Front. Trained by the Frenchman; Christophe Clement, this son of War Front (who was a graded stakes sprint winner) and out of an unraced El Prado mare; Rose of Summer, is now 4 for 4 on grass and has also tested the dirt & synthetic surfaces. He was solid winning all three starts as a two year old, including an overnight stakes win at Gulfstream Park . His trainer this year tried graded stakes competition going a route in his two starts this year and was second on the polytrack and unplaced on dirt. Now back on grass on Saturday, he was the odds-on favorite versus nine foes and showed everyone that grass is his game. In an interesting trip going a mile, he rated kindly on the inside and was forced to maneuver to the outside when the opening on the inside closed. Near the sixteenth pole got to the outside and with a flourish stormed to the lead and victory. The horse reminds me of another pretty good Clement runner from a few year's ago named; Gio Ponti. A runner who excelled on the grass, he won the same race (Hill Prince Stakes) as Summer Front did and was 20 for 22 lifetime on the turf, and became a Eclipse Award winning horse later on in his career. From what I've seen from Summer Front so far this year, he could become a accomplished grass runner just like Gio Ponti. Remember his name!



In Europe this past Tuesday morning (our time) the best horse across the Atlantic and maybe in the world stretched his career streak to 11 for 11. Frankel, named for the legendary late Hall of Fame trainer; Bobby Frankel continued his undefeated streak and domination of thoroughbred racing in Europe . This four year old son of Galileo , trained by Sir Henry Cecil has won seven straight group I races at a mile and his effort in the Queen Anne Stakes was a superb winning by 11 lengths. He earned one of the best European Time Form figures with that victory. In his previous start, he was never asked during the running of the race. On Tuesday, his acceleration coming down the one mile straightway was visually stunning. No horse in Europe has been more dominate than Frankel and it is hoped that he'll ship to the states later on in the year for the Breeder's Cup races. He is the best miler on grass in Europe , so it's conceivable that he MAY try the Breeder's Cup Classic on dirt. Either way, these two horses I've mention this week are the best on grass going a mile.

My Belmont Stakes experience

The "show must go on" and that it did one week ago at Belmont Park . After the events of the day before, the trip I made to see my 1st Belmont Stakes ended up a very enjoyable day. After writing my replacement column last Friday afternoon, the events of I'll Have Another weighed very heavily on my mind. I have to admit that I wasn't looking forward to the trip and if I haven't pre-paid for it, I would have stayed home on the Sand Flats and watched the race on NBC. But after a long day of agony, bright and early Saturday morning I thought to make the best of it and go.

All the people who made the trip down on Wade Tours, were excited for a fabulous day of racing spite the news of there being no longer a Triple Crown threat. We got to Belmont Park around 10am and the facility was already beginning to get crowded. Since I had no reserved seat, I took my trusty Saratoga giveaway chair and found a spot right near the finish line. I had a little early success with the first five races and the crowd started to build as the under card stakes began.

The first stake of the day was the Easy Goer overnight stake at a mile and a sixteenth for three year old colts. Teeth of the Dog was the winner after last racing in the Preakness Stakes in his last start. Rank outsider, Fast Falcon finished 2nd at 27-1 for Nick Zito and gives him his first real shot at the three year old races this year.

Next up in the True North Handicap, we saw one of my favorite moments on the Belmont Stakes day card. The ever gutsy seven year old horse; Caixa Eletronica showed once again how versatile he is coming from dead last to win this six furlong test. He has won going route races and sprinting this year and was the claim of the decade for Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable. On a sad note out of this race, the N.Y. bred Horse of the Year; Giant Ryan broke down during the running and was euthanized this past Thursday.



In the Just the Game Stakes for filly and mares at a mile on the weeds, Tapitsfly from the rail wired the field with the two other co-choices finishing second and third. Impressive effort #2 for me was in the Woody Stephens Stakes for three year old colts going seven furlongs. I was very tough on the connections of Trinniberg for racing in this year's Kentucky Derby and thought that his effort in that race would be this horse's undoing next time out. Well, I always admit when I'm wrong and I was wrong about Trinniberg. This running fool wired a tough field and proved his Kentucky Derby DIDN'T take anything out of him. The time between the races was starting to spread out and the crowd was beginning to build. There was a blanket finish in the Manhattan Handicap with Desert Blanc winning in a photo for trainer Chad Brown. But, most of the attention was in the paddock area where a special horse was making his appearance.




The Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero; I'll Have Another made a last appearance in the paddock backyard to the roar of the Belmont Stakes crowd. He and his owners with handlers circled the paddock several times and I got to see the horse most people there came to see. It was great to see this horse and it was a very honorable thing that his connections did for the crowd that came to see his Triple Crown bid. This was a great lead into the race everyone came to see, the Belmont Stakes.




Now, I had to make my way back to the track and my spot near the finish line. I was fortunate to get very close to the fence among the crowd of 85,000 people and the race result did not disappoint me. Union Rags ran down the speedy Paynter just before the wire and redeemed himself for his Kentucky Derby effort. He did it from the inside and the question marks about him getting the mile and a half distance were answered. Once again, my Kentucky Derby selection is BACK in the three year old picture and nice to see. It was a long day and very crowded, but NYRA got great results and Belmont Stakes 144 was a success even though the Triple Crown bid went by the wayside the day before. I was glad I decided to go to Belmont Park this year and even though I was really disappointed the day before, in the end all things turned out great!

Mark Hoffman's 2012 Belmont Stakes selections

Street Life (#1) Lezcano / Brown (12-1)

It was a Sunday afternoon last winter, when I saw this son of Kentucky Derby winner; Street Sense break his maiden on the Aqueduct Inner-track closing from far back.... in his last start, he closed for 3rd with blinkers on in the Peter Pan Stakes a prep race for this event......today, he is a longshot that will have no problem getting this marathon distance.......the hometown boy from Mechanicville NY (Chad Brown) upsets today, at a price!

Union Rags (#3) Velazquez / Matz (6-1)

The colt I was touting all last year and leading up to this year's Kentucky Derby......lost all chance at the start and today gets a key jockey switch......would be no surprise to see a improvement today by skipping the Preakness & returning back where he had his best winning effort to date.

Paynter (#9) Smith / Baffert (8-1)

Considered by his trainer, as equal or even better than Bodemeister.......he could be the "main" speed to run down in this race.......gets the route "acid" test today.

Dullahan (#5) Castellano / Romans (5-1)

was a fast closing 3rd in the Kentucky Derby.......skipped the Preakness & pointed to this race......had a quick workout over the Belmont strip for today.......but, STILL winless on "real" dirt........ I'll pass at a short price in the win spot, but may figure in the exotics.

Unstoppable U (#2) Alvarado / Romans (30-1)

makes 3rd career start today and 1st stakes appearance.......the other speed in the race and may be a "rabbit" for his stablemate; Dullahan........may make history as the first horse winning a grade I race in his 1st turn two attempt.

Optimizer (#10) Nakatani / Lukas (20-1)

The ONLY horse to race in all three Triple Crown races...... has yet to win since his debut at Saratoga on the weeds.......worth a throw in for third or fourth in the exotics, at best.

My Adonis (#12) Dominguez / Breen (20-1)

Late entry to the race, from the connections who won this race last year with Ruler On Ice........ failed as the odds-on favorite in a five horse field at Pimlico on Derby day.......could add pace, to the race????

Atigun (#4) Leparoux / McPeek (30-1)

Won an optional claimer at Churchill Downs in the mud on Derby day..........no factor in three stakes appearances.

Five Sixteen (#7) Napravnik / Schettino (50-1)

broke maiden two starts back.......third behind Street Life two starts back.......NEVER under 5-1 in six lifetime starts.

GuyanaStar Dweej (#8) Desormeaux / Shivmangal (50-1)

broke maiden two starts back........distant 2nd behind Unstoppable U last time out in a five horse field........once ran for a 35k maiden tag.

Ravelo's Boy (#6) Solis / Azpurua (50-1)

much like the six above listed runners, hopelessly over-matched in this Belmont Stakes........ the Belmont Stakes NOW becomes a four horse superfecta "box" of 1/3/5/9

The "Highs" & "Lows" of the sport I love..... thoroughbred racing

Well, it's been fourteen years and one month since I started writing this column for the Amsterdam Recorder. It's been twenty six years since I selected Danzig Connection in the 1986 Belmont Stakes, the first Belmont Stakes that I wagered and won on. But, it's been thirty four years (1978) since we had a Triple Crown winner in the sport I love; thoroughbred racing. That's a lot of years and memories along the way are fresh in my mind. I have a knack of remembering dates and times of events in my life. People I know are always impressed that I can recall those dates and remember where I was, when it happened. I guess the reason is that when something I enjoyed made a impact on my life, I can remember each detail. Today, should be no different.

I will be attending my first Triple Crown race today. I've been to Belmont Park for each of the Breeder's Cup events throughout the years (90', 95', 01' 05') and the last time was 2008 when Dee Tee Stable's Aldebutante made her racing debut on September that year. Of the five trips to Elmont N.Y. that last trip was the warmest weather wise. That day there was MAYBE 5,000 people at the huge Belmont facility. Today, there will be over a hundred thousand plus to possibly witness history. To say I'm excited to be in attendance is a understatement.

The past week, I've been thinking back about what great sporting events I was lucky to see in person. Even though I am big huge New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I have never seen a championship game in there storied championship years. I'm a big professional wrestling fan (not sports entertainment, like today) and saw the first pay-per-view event live in our area in 1992 when the then WWF had it's Royal Rumble at the (then) Knickerbocker Arena. I saw my all-time favorite wrestler; Rowdy Roddy Piper win his ONLY singles championship in the organization at that event. But, in the sport of thoroughbred racing there were many great races I had the privilege to witness live.

I saw the Saratoga legend; Fourstardave race as a two year old in 1987, saw the undefeated great mare; Personal Ensign defeat the boys in the 1988 Whitney Handicap (the afternoon before the Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses concert at SPAC) saw one of my favorite horses of all-time; Easy Goer also defeat his older rivals in the 1989 Whitney Handicap before winning the Travers Stakes that year. These races are still clear in my mind nearly 25 years ago. In Breeder's Cup events; was unfortunately there to witness the sad and fatal breakdown of Go For Wand in the 1990 Breeder's Cup Distaff. Five year's later was privileged to see the greatest horse of the 90's; Cigar finish a wonderful season with a victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic of '95. I felt sights and sounds of the first major sporting event in the New York area after September 11, 2001 when the Breeder's Cup was held at Belmont Park . Traveling to the event, I remember crossing the Hudson River and seeing the smoke from the Twin Towers still rising nearly three weeks later. All these memories were from great thoroughbred events. But, today is a whole another page in racing history.

A three year old colt has only one opportunity to win a Triple Crown. For everyone outside the sport, these three races get world wide attention. Only 11 horses have accomplished this feat and as we know 11 have failed since Affirmed in 1978. I could be part of history this day and could see something that few horse racing fans have the chance to see. I guess I'm lucky and blessed to be there in person. If it happens, I'll be part of history. But, if it doesn't.....all the people who know me, will know that I will remember the time I had witnessing it. That's just the impact things I love have on me!



Life is always full of disappointments and in the sport of thoroughbred racing, it happens often. Once again, it happened at a crucial time in our sport. I was so looking forward to the Belmont Stakes today. It was the first time that I would be in attendance for a Triple Crown race. I've followed this race for over 25 years and unlike other sports; if it's star doesn't appear, the feat can't be done. I was about to leave work early yesterday, when a horse racing friend of mine sent me the text that I'll Have Another was scratched from today's Belmont Stakes and for a 34th year in a row, we would not have a possible, Triple Crown champion. To say I was very disappointed is a understatement. The feeling I felt the this past week was like when I first got interested in the sport so many years ago. I have to admit, I felt like a child at Christmas by having the chance to see a possible Triple Crown winner. But, like life itself, things can change in an instant.

The events of yesterday, brought me back to the morning of the 1992 Kentucky Derby over twenty years ago. That morning, the second choice on the morning line and horse that I thought could defeat the "wonder horse" and odds-on favorite; Azari came up sick, scratched and would not run in the Derby . That horse's named was; AP Indy. The race would go on, just like all races do and the 4-5 favorite Arazi was "up the track" and the colt that was scratched; AP Indy would live to fight another day. In fact, he would win the Belmont Stakes five weeks later and cap off a sensational season in winning the Breeder's Cup Classic and become the 1992 Horse of the Year. AP Indy had the chance to redeem himself, because his injury was not career ending. Unfortunately for I'll Have Another, it won't be the same happy ending.

I watched the press conference and saw the disappointment in his owner and trainer Doug O'Neill. Those two weren't the only disappointed folks. Thoroughbred racing has had a tumultuous past six months in 2012. Skaving articles from the New York Times about our sport and the trails & tribulations of NYRA and state of New York have put thoroughbred racing in a bad light once again. Now this, a horse going for the Triple Crown being scratched the day before the race. Not something that racing needed and again some in the public will cast a dark shadow on the sport I love.

I tell myself that things will improve and thoroughbred racing once again will be the "Sport of Kings". But, then this happens and I even doubt myself. Four year's ago in 2008, after Big Brown (who I was NOT a fan of) was pulled up before the finish of the Belmont Stakes, I said to my horse racing fans on E-Street in Fort Plain; " there WON'T be another Triple Crown champion in my lifetime". Well, after yesterday around noontime......the same thing returned to my head. I DIDN'T choose I'll Have Another to win the Belmont Stakes in my selections, because in my head I didn't want to jinx him. But, if he could accomplish this feat, I would have been elated to see it in person. Now, it will be just another day at Belmont Park for me today. I'll enjoy the races, just like I do at Saratoga during the summer. The same feeling won't be there and I'll keep telling myself that things will get better. You got to have faith that they will, just sometimes it's real hard. I've been disappointed before in my forty eight years on this earth, such is life I'm sure it will happen again.

11 have tried in 34 years........I'll Have Another makes it a even dozen!

As I mention last week, this will be the 12th attempt since the last time there was a Triple Crown champion. It's been 34 years (1978) since the epic battle between Alydar and the Triple Crown champion; Affirmed. The year after (1979) the only time there was back-to-back consecutive Triple Crown champions (Seattle Slew 1977 & Affirmed 1978) one of the greatest horses; Spectacular Bid couldn't get the job done in attempting to be a Triple Crown - triple winner. The next year, he would be the last "walk over" winner in a major American graded stake race (faced no opponents). Some say; that if the great "Bid" couldn't accomplish this feat, no three year old horse would ever to it. Two years later in 1981, Pleasant Colony would come up short and the era of top thoroughbred horses from 1973 to 1981 would come to a close. These two attempts were before I followed the sport and I always felt that I missed out thoroughbred racing's best time of champions. So, this time will be the 10th opportunity for me to see a three year old runner to achieve the sport's Holy Grail.

Since 1987, four horses in a row that had a chance to do this feat were based in California. Alysheba came into the Belmont Stakes in 1987 without the benefit of racing with the anti-bleeding drug; Lasix. At the time, this medication was not allowed at NYRA tracks and played a major part why he couldn't accomplish this feat. Two year's later (1989) a "Affirmed / Alydar" like battle ensued between Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Sunday Silence, trained by the legendary Charlie Whittingham got the best of his foe in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. But when Easy Goer was at his home track in New York; "Big Sandy" Belmont Park, he defeated the California based runner by many lengths. It would be eight years until another west coast runner would try for greatness.

Silver Charm was the first two legs winner in 1997 versus some tough competition like; Captain Bodgit, Free House and Touch Gold. With the same three horses finishing in the money in the first two legs, it would be the fourth place finisher in the Preakness that turned the tables on Silver Charm in the Belmont Stakes; Touch Gold. The next year was the closet we've seen in this rare feat being accomplished of a Triple Crown champion. In 1998, Real Quiet looked home free coming down the Belmont stretch. But, his nemesis Victory Gallop ran him down at the wire and the thirty year drought of no crown would continue.

The next five horses attempting this feat have been a mixed bag of horses that were; a former claimer, a speedy type, a gutsy gelding, a undefeated runner and a "wonder" horse. In 1999, Charismatic was the longshot winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. In the Belmont, his attempt was gutsy even when he was injured late in the race coming up short at the finish. Bob Baffert returned in 2002 with the speedy War Emblem winning the first two legs. But, a bad start in the Belmont Stakes proved his undoing and eliminated him early in his Triple Crown bid try. The next two horses were easy to root for in their attempts to win the crown. Funny Cide, the gutsy NY bred gelding was superb in winning the first two legs. But, a well rested Empire Maker defeated him on a sloppy Belmont surface in 2003. The next year 2004, a undefeated Philadelphia based runner; Smarty Jones won the hearts of the racing world. But, those dreams would be shattered when his jockey; Stewart Elliott got outsmarted by his fellow jockeys and was passed by Birdstone late. He would no longer be undefeated and also would never race again.

But, with ALL the above horses mention, the last horse to try this in 2008, Big Brown was most disappointing and also (in my opinion) most overrated. That was a particular weak group of three year old runners and he stood out among this weak group. When it came to getting the job done in the Belmont Stakes, he never had the chance when his jockey; Kent Desormeaux pulled him up at the top of the stretch and was out of the race. This last attempt at the Triple Crown left a "bad taste" in my mouth and I vowed (at the time) that I would not see another horse win the Triple Crown. Next week, I'll reveal whether I have change my mind......or not.