Saratoga...Travers... History... REALITY!

Today is the "Mid Summer's Derby ", the Travers Stakes. One of the oldest races for three year old runners, which is at one of the oldest racetracks in America; Saratoga. A race that is deep with tradition and history. Every year, the third week in August, the thoroughbred world eyes are on Saratoga Springs , New York and this mile and a quarter event. The race is as big as ever, with four of the five local Albany market television stations hosting a Travers preview show, on Travers eve (last night). The "hype" surrounding this race locally is huge, especially with the success of the Saratoga meet the past 30 years or so. But, thoroughbred racing is at a crossroads in this country and especially in the state of New York . While racing is still good in New York and at Saratoga , the future could be quite interesting.

The saga of NYRA and New York State government has gone on for nearly 10 years. The "up and downs" have been documented in the media, with most times unfavorable light placed on NYRA. With the VLT's in place at Aqueduct, purses have risen the horseman and the state should be happy. But, yet a cloud hangs over the powers that run thoroughbred racing in this state. It's affected the Saratoga race meet in little ways this year. The state and NYRA have carded much more daily racing than ever. Through the first 30 days of the 2012 meet, there have been only two nine race cards. We have seen a large amount of beaten claimer races, especially for 20,000 (the lowest amount race) at the Spa.

With today's Travers Stakes, the sign of the times with the way thoroughbred horses train and race is more visible than ever. We have plenty of two year old races during the Saratoga . Most of the juvenile races that used to start in Mid-April are now starting later in June or even at Saratoga . The modern day trainers don't want to race the young horses much as two year olds. With that said, most horses going into the Triple Crown events the next year, have very little foundation. The Kentucky Derby in recent years has looked more like a non-winners of two allowance race. For the first time in recent years, we do not have a Triple Crown race winner in the Travers Stakes.

Both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners and runner-up has been retired (I'll Have Another & Bodemeister) also the Belmont Stakes winner and runner-up are not racing today (Union Rags 'retired' & Paynter 'injured') In the field of 11 Travers runners this year, only five have had Triple Crown - grade I experience. The only one that even hit the board was Atigun (3rd in the Belmont ) With large lackluster fields like in 1990 (Rhythm) 2000 (Unshaded) 2008 (Colonel John) and 2010 (Afleet Express) this year may top those races.

I see a group of three year old horses assembled that are very close to each other in talent. This makes for a great betting affair where the favorite should be no lower than 3-1. But, this is Saratoga "the crown jewel of racing" we should have had at least a one of the Triple Crown race winners. In past Travers, horseman pointed for this event. The importance of this race today, really doesn't bare much with the Fall stake races leading up to the Breeder's Cup. Also in the past, Saratoga 's rich tradition was upheld with 24 days of great racing and 9 race cards most of those 24 days. That has also changed. So, what I fell in love with 25 years ago, has evolved into something much more different. The buildings and history still remains during the race meet. But, the horses and tradition has changed. Too many races, race days and quality horses have gone to the wayside. But, like after one race is finished, there always a next one! Only it just doesn't have the same feeling......anymore.

Mark Hoffman's 2012 graded Travers Stakes selections

Street Life (#5) Lezcano / Brown (5-1)

My favorite three year old colt of 2012 won the restricted Curlin Stakes here on a sloppy, sealed track as a prep for this race, I always said that the longer he goes, the better chance he has for victory, unfortunately this race lacks speed.....he'll have to be on his "A" game to show his late closing kick.



Alpha (#6) Dominguez / McLaughlin (5-2)

Got an easy lead and wired the field in the Jim Dandy Stakes, he may get the same chance to do it again, the BIG difference today is that he'll be racing an eighth of a mile more, legitimate favorite.



Fast Falcon (#11) Alvarado / Zito (20-1)

No factor in the Jim Dandy Stakes, may have not cared for the sloppy racing surface, his two Belmont races show me that he has a good late kick, should have no problem getting the mile and a quarter distance, gets the Zito respect in this race....at a price!



Nonios (#10) Velazquez / Hollendorfer (4-1)

2nd best in the Swaps Stakes and Haskell with triple digit Beyer speed figures in both races, can set the perfect stalking trip, let's see if he takes to the Saratoga strip!



Neck n' Neck (#8) Goncalves / Wilkes (9-2)

Chased Alpha around the track in the Jim Dandy Stakes, his two previous races at Churchill Downs gave him big figures, gets the mid-pack trip.



Five Sixteen (#2) Napravnik / Schettino (15-1)

Was 2nd best behind Street Life in the Curlin Stakes, was a nice price to fill out my exacta there, Rosie stays aboard this runner.



Atigun (#7) Smith / McPeek (12-1)

No factor in the Jim Dandy Stakes, even 3rd in the Belmont Stakes and Mike Smith new in the irons today, chance to hit the board.



Golden Ticket (#3) Cohen / McPeek (20-1)

Late entrant to the race, 2nd best on the Derby day undercard in optional claimer, another who be close to the pace, gets the "acid" test today versus this group.



Stealcase (#4) Bridgmohan / Casse (15-1)

No factor in the Haskell at Monmouth Park finishing a well beaten 3rd, hard to tell what running style he'll have today, last two showed no early foot & three starts back was much closer to the pace, big longshot.



Liaison (#9) Bejarano / Baffert (8-1)

The last Baffert three year old runners standing....... he was well thought of as a juvenile, but really never panned out, I would be SHOCKED if he gets Baffert a win today over his stablemates who are NOT here; Bodemeister & Paynter.



Speightcity (#1) Ortiz / Contessa (30-1)

Hasn't been seen since the Withers Stakes......in February! returning off that long layoff and had the distinction to win a mile & an eighth route race here as a two year old last year, very tough spot for return!

The Alabama Stakes...... just as big as The Travers!

Considered by some racing historians as the most revered and tradition rich stake race for fillies, the Alabama Stakes run today is just as popular to the male counterpart next weekend; The Travers Stakes. The second oldest continually run race for females (The Ladies Handicap is the oldest - 1868) the Alabama was first contested in 1872, when August Belmont 's Woodbine, won the first running. A staple on the Saratoga stakes schedule, during World War II is was relocated to Belmont Park . The race was originally named after William Cottrell of Mobile , Alabama . Cottrell was to modest to have a race named after him, so it was re-named after the state he was from; Alabama . I tried to find out more information on Mr. Cottrell, but none was found, expect he was a big thoroughbred horse racing fan.

The Alabama had many famous fillies win this race throughout it's long history. Many of these winners also have had races named after them; Gamely, Tempted, Busanda, Vagrancy, Top Flight, Maskette and Beldame. This three year old race for fillies has become the third and final leg of the American Triple Tiara, with the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks the first two legs. The mile and a quarter distance has been the mainstay distance for this event for most of it's 144 runnings.

The 1987 edition of the Alabama Stakes was the first grade I event that I witness in person at Saratoga, 25 years ago. That year, Up the Apalachee was the upset winner. She paid $15.80 and defeated the D.Wayne Lukas entry of Without Feather & Fiesta Gal who went off at 2-5. Also in the field that year was Kentucky Oaks winner; Buryyourbelief who was owned by local connections, Dana Bray Jr. Trainer Shug McGaughey has won this race four times (Classy Cathy, Versailles Treaty, Heavenly Prize & Pine Island ) and I was in attendance for Pine Island 's impressive victory and last Alabama Stake I saw in person. Hall of Fame trainer; H. Allen Jerkens won back-to-back editions in 1992 & 1993 with Sky Beauty and November Snow and again in 2004 with Society Selection. Jockey's Mike Smith and Jerry Bailey won three straight Alabama Stakes, with a grand total of five wins for Bailey and four for Smith in it's history.

But, the most memorable Alabama Stakes that I witness was in 1999, when the great filly; Silverbulletday won by nine lengths on a drizzly Saturday afternoon. It was quite a sight to see her demolish the field and go on that year to win top honors as the best three year old filly with a Eclipse Award. It was also one of the best days I had handicapping with six winners out of ten races. This year's Alabama Stakes attracts a field of seven three year old fillies: the Black Eyed Susan winner; In Lingerie; who recently finished third in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Uptown Bertie; the Iowa Oaks winner at Prairie Meadows, Zo Impressive; winner of the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, Questioning; who won the Coaching Club American Oaks here on opening weekend & Grace Hall; won the Delaware Oaks in her last start and was third in the Kentucky Oaks. But my top selection is from a trainer who was already mention as a top conditioner in this race. Sea Island; trained by Shug McGaughey recently won a optional claimer here going a mile and a eighth at 15-1. Today, in her toughest race to date, she stretches out a eight of a mile more and comes into the race with a bullet work at the Saratoga training track. My second selection is the "horse to beat" and class of the field; Grace Hall. Her 105 Beyer speed figure is the best in this field.

REDBOARD the race @ Saratoga........ why not with the 10 a day!

Very rarely do I make analysis of a typical everyday race after it is run. The term "redboard" is used when describing what went on during the race and why the winner was victorious. We go over the major races and stake races, but seldom do I look at a everyday race, after it's run. With coming up for ideas in writing my weekly column, sometimes it's tough. This time of the year, I'm really busy with handicapping the daily races at Saratoga . With my column once a week, I talk about the upcoming stakes for the weekend or the past week's races. This weekend, the major stakes races are quiet and the past week at Saratoga kind of uneventful. So, we'll review a race ran this past week at Saratoga and my opinion on the outcome results. Hope you enjoy my "redboard" analysis.

On Thursday afternoon in the feature race, with had New York bred three year old fillies racing in the Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series at one mile on the Saratoga Inner-Turf course. Restricted to N.Y. breds who sires stand in New York , a field of nine were entered with two scratches. The first scratch drew in Stock Fund, a maiden and the other scratch was I Bet Toni Knows, who was the favorite as they went to post. In my analysis of the race; my top selection was Manero, who set the pace in her last start at Belmont Park in a similar restricted NY bred race sprinting seven furlongs on the Inner-Turf course downstate. With the expectation of one start as a three year old, she shown speed in all her turf races. Last year, before she broke her maiden, she lacked any early speed on the weeds.

Let off at solid 4-1 odds, even after the late scratch of the favorite; Manero was far back in the early running. Actually, 24 lengths off the lead at the three quarter mark of the race, only beating one horse. Then she put a furious late charge, fanned five wide as she entered the stretch. At the wire, she got beaten by a nose in a head shaking effort in my opinion. When I did my analysis in my daily selections, I looked at all her starts as a three year old, especially her last two. She shown speed on the front end, near the pace speed and ideally would be the "one to catch" in my opinion. But, in the running for some reason, jockey Jose Lezcano had her way, way off the pace. Actually, she ran like my 2nd selection; I Bet Toni Knows who was a late scratch. The winner; My Jopia had the perfect stalking trip as the slight 2nd choice and wasn't the "post time" choice over the actual one; Why Take a Chance. This cause trouble for some who used the 29-1 longshot in the finale; Warrior Up in late pick 4 plays.

But I couldn't figure out for the life of me, why Manero was not on or near the lead. It was clear that the horse was well meant with her furious close and nearly got up in victory. But, did the jockey or her connections try another plan after the late scratch of the favorite? It was very frustrating as a bettor and handicapper how the race unfolded for her. Sometimes in races when the speed needed horse, stumbles at the start and doesn't break cleanly, the trouble gets the runner a excuse for not doing well. But this time around, I couldn't have called the running by Manero today by any cost! Next time out, she'll likely be the favorite in the same or similar state bred condition. But, today was the day I need the "speedy" Manero to be victorious. Instead, I got a closing effort that EVERYONE will be betting next time out!

The 2012 edition of the WHITNEY STAKES

Today is one of the staple races at beautiful and historic Saratoga; the Whitney Stakes. Through the years, this mile and an eighth test has been the biggest summer race for the older colt handicap division. Named after the family who was so influential with American thoroughbred racing and especially at Saratoga , Eclipse winning horses of this race which started in 1928 are; War Admiral, Tom Fool, Kelso and Dr. Fager. I was very fortunate to see the great Personal Ensign defeat the boys and remain undefeated in her career back in the 1988 edition of this race. A year later, another Phipps / McGaughey flag bearer won this event and was the last three year old colt to do so. In 1989, New York 's own; Easy Goer used his Whitney Handicap victory as a prep race and stepping stone for his Travers Stakes victory later on in the meet.

Criminal Type won this race in 1990 and was named "Horse of the Year" later on in the season. Famous Belmont Stakes winners won this race the following year like; Colonial Affair, Victory Gallop, Lemon Drop Kid and Medaglia d'Oro. Horses that used the Whitney along the way as a prep for atheir Breeder's Cup Classic victory were; Awesome Again, Invasor and Blame. Even New York bred runners have done quite well in this race. The great gelding; Commentator won this race as a four year old in 2005 and again as a seven year old in 2008. I was fortunate to see this old warrior break his maiden at Saratoga and could have been one of the best horses I saw in person win his first career race!

Today's edition, nine horse entered coming from all across the country. The nine runners are coming in from five different venues for today's prestige race ( Monmouth Park , Belmont Park , Churchill Downs , Woodbine & Prairie Meadows) . We have four horses who have won a graded stake in their last start (Rule, Hunter's Bay, Ron the Greek & Fort Larned) . My top selection in this race is a runner who is going to try achieving a "hat trick" of older handicap race victories. Ron the Greek, trained by Bill Mott has become a different horse since switching to his barn (4 wins and 3 second place finishes). Most recently, he won the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs going this same, mile and an eight distance and two starts back won the San Anita Handicap at a mile and a quarter. Both of these races are the premier older horse race at those venues.

For second, I'm going with the Shug McGaughey trainee; Hymn Book. Since this trainer has been one of biggest money makers for me this year, I'll include this closer. He won the biggest older handicap race at Gulfstream Park this winter; the Donn Handicap going the same distance. Horses to use underneath Ron the Greek & Hymn Book are; Rule, Caixa Eletronia and Flat Out (who also now trained by Bill Mott).

The first 12 days of this year's 2012 Saratoga meet have really improved for myself the past week. The McGaughey trainee; Sea Island scored at 15-1 in last Thursday's 2nd race stretching back out to a route distance. This was a tremendous overlay in my opinion. In the 2nd race on Saturday; Charming Kitten lived up to her grass billing in victory, but it was the runner-up; Fire Guard at 30-1 who keyed the $115 exacta payout! Finally, in the overnight stake on Sunday (Nani Rose) trainer Bill Mott celebrated his birthday again with a victory by Alaura Michele at 6-1 and my 2nd place horse; Sweet and Lovely keyed a $153 exacta "cold". I know a very prominent Amsterdam resident who did quite well with my selections in that race!