Super Saturday 2012 @ Belmont Park - selections

Today is NYRA's Super Saturday, six graded stakes worth 3.4 million dollars make up the Belmont card in races 5th through 10th. We have sprinters, milers, distaff runners, older handicap foes and two route races on the weeds. These races will play an important role leading up to this year's Breeder's Cup at Santa Anita Park on November 2nd & 3rd. Today's card might be this biggest of the year at any NYRA racetrack.



We start in race #5 - the Beldame Invitational Handicap for filly & mare distaffers going a mile and a eighth. It's a rematch between Royal Delta and It's Tricky from the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, when both horses were defeated by Love and Pride. It comes down between the two favorites once again and I'm leaning toward Royal Delta slightly over It's Tricky. Go Unbridled & Cash for Clunkers are my exotic and multi-race plays. Numbers for the 5th race; 3/6 with 1/4/2.



The Kelso Stakes (6th) is a one turn mile on the dirt (formally contested on grass). Horses in this race will mostly likely be pointed for the Breeder's Cup Mile or possibly the Classic. Again, it comes down between the two favorites in the race; To Honor and Serve & Shackleford. My slight edge goes to To Honor and Serve coming off his Woodward Stakes victory. Shackleford will HOPEFULLY rebound off his dull effort in AG Vanderbilt going 6 furlongs in the mud at Saratoga. Horses to use underneath; Jersey Town & Tapizar. Numbers for race 6th : 5/6 with 3/4/8.



Sprinters go next in race #7 - the Vosburgh Invitational at six furlongs. In this wide open event, my top selection returns off a slight layoff and turns back in distance. The Lumber Guy was last seen in early May prepping for the Belmont Stakes in the Peter Pan Stakes here going a mile & an eighth. Today he returns to the races, turns back in distance and faces older foes for the first time. For second; Sean Avery is as a consistent sprinter as they come; even though he's had racing gaps throughout his career. Underneath these two runners, I'll be using; Royal Currier & Caixa Electronia. Numbers for race #7 : 1 with 7/8/5.



The first of two stake races on the weeds is for the ladies in the Flower Bowl Invitational (8th) a mile and a quarter on the inner turf course. Going with a runner that has some European flavor and a recent winner here stateside. I'm a Dreamer shipped in to Arlington and won the Beverly D. Handicap last time out and handles soft or yielding turf expected today. Zagora is my second selection and is a hard hitting mare that should have no problem with this marathon distance. Exotic & multi-race runners to include are; Hit It Rich & Hessonite. Numbers for race #8 : 4/7 with 3/2/1.



It's the boys turn on the weeds and going a quarter of the mile longer in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (9th). The Shug McGaughey runner; Point of Entry is my top pick & BEST BET in today's six stake races. Winner of four straight races (three stakes) he loves these marathon distances and the ONLY question here is whether he'll take to the "off" turf going. For second and the "horse to beat" is the speed of the race; Little Mike. Last time out in the Arlington Mile, for the first time in his career he won beyond the mile & an eighth distance: today he tries a mile and a half. A longshot to use with my two top picks; Finnegan's Wake, numbers for race #9 : 2/4 with 6.



The main event of today's race card is the Jockey Club Gold Cup (10th) at a mile and a quarter, a prep for the Breeder's Cup Classic. My top selection goes from the rail and gets the mile and a quarter distance he won at in the Santa Anita Handicap. Ron the Greek came from far back in the Whitney Handicap to gain 2nd, today he goes further and tries to win off a second place finish, which is a pattern he has done three times before (2nd then 1st). For second; Fast Falcon has been rallying in three out of four last races, including a fast closing 3rd at 32-1 in the Travers. Maybe today, he'll get victory for the "cold" Nick Zito barn! Underneath my top two picks will be; Hymn Book & Atigun. The numbers for 10th : 1/7 with 4/6/5.

Late season 3 yr. old rivalry @ PARX!

Rivalries are part of thoroughbred racing on many levels. When it comes to three year old runners, usually the Triple Crown series highlights them. We thought that we would have a good one after this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. I'll Have Another and Bodemeister ran one/two in those races and there was great anticipation for the "rubber game" rematch in the Belmont Stakes. But, Bodemeister skipped the race and I'll Have Another's Triple Crown bid was halted when he scratched the day before the race and disappointed millions. We know now, both horses have been retired and the possibly of a rivalry match up with any three year old horse at this point would be moot. Well, think again!



This year's Travers Stakes - the Mid-Summer Derby, lost a lot of luster with all of the major three year old Triple Crown runners either hurt or retired before the race. That left a evenly matched field of second string three year olds, new shooters and Alpha, the winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes. He had the most talent and "back class" of the group assembled. As far as the "new shooter" group, was one runner with very little Triple Crown racing experience. In the Travers, he was getting the "acid" test and was a longshot, spite his connections. This runner was Golden Ticket, trained by Ken McPeek and took six tries even before he broke his maiden. So, this unlikely matched up was never on the radar in the Travers Stakes as a future "rivalry" between three year olds.

But, after the "dead heat" finish after the mile and a quarter event, a new and interesting grouping had developed. In fact, right after the race there was the anticipated match up we have today in the running of the Pennsylvania Derby at PARX racetrack. The winning favorite of the Travers; Alpha with the winning longshot in the same race; Golden Ticket will knock heads again versus six others going a mile and an eighth in this grade II event for three year olds. We usually don't see such a high profile three year old race this late in the season, but with the show these put on at Saratoga, it may give hope to resurrect a group of sophomores who class looked doomed after the Belmont Stakes. But, will the rivalry bloom off the Travers or will another step forward in the class?

The rail horse; Stephanoatsee (#1) won an optional off-the-turf claimer at Delaware Park in his last start versus three foes coming off a January layoff. Well thought of early this year, he can move forward off that effort.....but will have to improve very much to beat the top two, he a longshot to use underneath in exotics. Casual Trick (#2) has come into his own since coming to PARX and winning both his races here, he faced "better" horses also earlier this year and is a must use too! Handsome Mike (#3) only shows a maiden victory and that was on turf, no shot here. Junebugred (#5) was a longshot in the Smarty Jones Stakes, a prep for today and was a no factor 4th, pass on him. Csaba (#7) is an interesting runner here who two starts back in the off-the-turf Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga , ran a sharp 2nd in the slop going this distance, consider here. Macho Macho (#8) recently won the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer and has been consisted in all of his seven lifetime starts. My selections for the Pennslyannia Derby are; Alpha (#4) Casual Trick (#2) Csaba (#7) and Macho Macho(#8), mix these four up in your superfecta plays and key the longer price runners "over" Alpha.

As many of you know, I always enjoy talking about I was introduced to this sport and the people who helped along the way. One of the first times I ever saw just what the OTB television network looked like was I was just a young boy. It was in my hometown in Fort Plain and every few weeks, I would see and hear horse racing on that blue & white TV screen at the local barber shop. My mom would bring me and my brother to Floyd's Barber Shop on Main Street . There, while getting my hair cut, Floyd would be listening to the race calls on the TV in his shop. Those were the days when the was only the race call and morning line odds on the screen. Floyd Salvagni passed away this week at the age of 95, he was just one part of how I was introduced to thoroughbred racing. It was just a little part, but one I remembered all these years!

Woodbine "Win and your in!" Sunday

We head a bit north this weekend, to Woodbine Race just outside of Toronto Canada for their Sunday stakes race card. Four stake races on their legendary turf course and polytrack racing surface. I had the opportunity a few years back to attend the races at their beautiful racing facility. It was on closing weekend in 2000, unfortunately the races came off the turf, but the course is unique because the main turf course is the first track outside the rail. Most racetracks, the turf courses are inside the dirt or polytrack courses. In the grandstand, the upper deck seating is like a balcony over hanging the E.P. Taylor turf course. It is one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world and tomorrow's races have a big impact on the upcoming Breeder's Cup at Santa Anita.

The first race comes in the 5th - the Canadian Stakes going a mile & a eighth on the turf. Nine are entered, with no clear cut favorite. My top selection is on the far outside post; Kapitale (#9). Her last start was at Arlington Park in the grade I - Beverly D. Stakes racing a mile & three sixteenths on the weeds. She rallied for 4th at 25-1 with a late charge shipping in from Europe . Today she meets an evenly match field and gets the call. For 2nd, All Star Heart (#5) has been holding her own with a fine record Southern California just missing in her last start at this distance for Hall of Fame trainer; Ron McAnally. Horse to use underneath in the exotics are; Laughing (#2) & Barefoot Lady (#4) .

Race #7 is the Ontario Derby for three year olds going a mile & an eighth on the polytrack surface. My exacta box pick here is a pretty well known duo from this year's Triple Crown trail here in the states. Prospective (#6) and Steelcase (#7) both saw action during this year and Prospective is a perfect 3 for 3 over the Woodbine surface. Steelcase is the uncoupled entry with Prospective and came out of the grade I - Travers Stakes in his last start. Horses to use underneath my top two picks are; River Rush (#2) & Any Given Royal (#9).

The next two stake races are both on the rich Woodbine turf, first up is the mile & a half Northern Dancer Turf Stakes race #8. Top pick here is Wigmore Hall (#7) who recently race again here stateside in the Arlington Million and was no factor. He won this race a year ago as the favorite. For 2nd, the local 10 year old gelding; Musketier (#6) who loves this marathon distance. Exotic & multi-race runners to use underneath; Scalo (#4) and old reliable; Al Khali (#4).

The feature race of Sunday's Woodbine Stakes card is the one mile turf test, the Woodbine Mile. A major prep race for this year's Breeder's Cup Mile on the grass. The prohibited favorite and my top selection is Wise Dan (#3) who was brilliant in the Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga by five lengths on a yielding course going this distance. For 2nd place, European invader; Cityscape (#7) gets the call and possibly at a price from his off- form overseas efforts. Horses to use in your exactas, triples and superfecta plays are; Hollinger (#8) and Big Band Sound (#5).

That's a wrap on Saratoga 2012!

Another Saratoga racing meet in the books! We had 40 days of 417 races, which were a record of any past Saratoga race meet. That's 20 more races than in 2011, which in turn made the overall handle rise than the pervious year. The was no doubt that the upstate Saratoga weather was the best in recent years. Not too hot and with little bad weather that effect the grass racing. Sometimes although, NYRA did jump the gun with taking races off-the-turf when there was just a little rain felt (August 17th - Friday, 10th race finale). There was plenty of "cheaper" races this year, lots of "beaten" claimer races usually for 20k. I guess you'll see plenty of these races when, 37 of the 40 days have 10+ races each day.



I have never seen so many nine-plus race cards in the 26 years that I've been going to Saratoga . Way too many races, in my opinion! With advent of VLT money for the NYRA races, purses have ballooned to an all time high. Unfortunately, bigger purse mean cheaper horses running with more opportunities. Great for the small-time horseman on the NYRA circuit, especially during the long Aqueduct Inner-track meet. But, when it comes to Saratoga and the "best" thoroughbred racing in the world, this causes a problem.



When I started following thoroughbred racing in the mid 80's, the Saratoga meet was the "August, place to be". But with life, things change throughout the years. I've seen the historic Saratoga meet bloom from 24 days to 40. From nine races a day, to ten or more. From the "lowest" claiming level from 35k to 20k and even lower in recent years, BEFORE the added VLT monies. Thank god that the Recorder is a morning newspaper and that NYRA post entries early. If not, my job handicapping would be even tougher!



The trend of "more" racing at Saratoga is a disturbing one. It seems that the "powers to be" are more concern with the money wagered, than the quality and traditional races that made Saratoga the premier thoroughbred racing meet in the world. Is this because, NYRA has it's back to the wall with the state of New York and it's governor? These are questions I've been asking myself, since the change in regime in the New York Racing Association earlier this year. If the "state" decides to conduct Saratoga thoroughbred racing from July 4th to Labor Day next year, six days a week like Saratoga has been for years, here would be the schedule; racing would start on a Thursday in 2013. The total amount of days between then and Labor Day on a six day week would be; 53 racing days. If NYRA went to a five day race meet (like Aqueduct & Belmont) it would be 45 days. That would be a bit easier to digest, but 10.4 races a day (in 2012 for 40 days) would be 468 races for the meet or 51 more races! Really, is this what the "state" wants Saratoga racing to become?

Don't get me wrong, the Saratoga thoroughbred race meet, means the world to me. I've looked forward to when the races comes north from Belmont each year since 1986. But, if racing becomes like Aqueduct during the winter months with the extension from July 4th until Labor Day, this guy will sit on the sidelines for most of the meet!

My Saratoga final totals for the 2012 racing meet are as follows; 102 winners out of 416 races with a ROI of $623 on a $2.00 wager of "top" selection winners. My "Horse to Beat" Play of the Day had 8 winners, 8 places and 4 show winners out of 38 races.

The 2012 TRAVERS - who would have thought????

It's the home stretch week of the 2012 Saratoga meet; we've had good weather, LOTS of races to bet and saw some unique things during the past 40 days. Well, not quite 40 yet,! But with the 10+ race days the whole meet, it's seem like two months worth of racing! I know that I sound like a "broken record" but, more isn't better and the true fans of the sport would see quality instead of quantity. Never the less, NYRA got the 13 race Travers Day card done in good time last Saturday. The stakes races were of high quality and both the King's Bishop & Travers were good paying out results. Along with that, this year's Travers had a flair of history at the finish. Something if you told me the result, I wouldn't have believed you!

The "wide open" Travers field this year had the Jim Dandy winner; Alpha as it's lukewarm favorite. There was only one other horse that would have paid under a $10 mutual (Nonios 3-1) but almost half the field of 11 - (5 runners) were over 20-1 longshot "bombers". This show just how wide open of a Travers it was, much like I thought it would be. The "speed" in the race came for two of these longshots, Speightcity and Golden Ticket. The latter had very little graded stakes experience, but got the ideal trip. The same could be said for the "lukewarm" favorite; Alpha. He rarely runs a bad race and is usually on or near the lead. This was true in the off-track Jim Dandy Stakes victory and last week, he got the "garden" trip again. But, he likes to "loaf" around when he gets the lead. Some say he gets lazy and it could cost him the race. But, we all saw what was going to happen next.

Who would have thought, a longshot Nick Zito runner by the name of Fast Falcon, would be flying late and get Alpha to re-engage in the running and get his nose on the wire first. That would be TWO noses on the wire first. Because, the lightly experienced; Golden Ticket dug in deep and just missed being the outright owner of that Travers trophy and the infield canoe painted in his stable colors. It's was truly a site to see when the dead heat red bar on the tote board, came on. A Travers Stakes moment in thoroughbred history, the 1st DEAD HEAT in this race. With such a crazy three year old season, with almost all of the major winners of stake races either hurt or retired, we get this bizarre result.

As far as the three year old championship picture though, the outcome of this year's Travers Stakes most likely will not have any bearing when the voting comes around. Alpha is a nice three year old runner, but a "dead heat" doesn't move him into even one of the top five best sophomore runners of this year. Golden Ticket came into his own with his finish. But, he could become another; Afleet Express or one of the recent Kentucky Derby winners; Mine That Bird, Super Saver or Animal Kingdom and have their ONLY claim, one big grade I race victory. The "leader" and most likely champion will be I'll Have Another with his duel Triple Crown race victories. But, those by today's standards do not even put him in the same class as Smarty Jones or even Big Brown.....in my opinion.

One thing I give kudos to NYRA for doing this past Saturday for the Travers Stakes card was moving the 13 race card along at a good pace. The hour and a half earlier start was key (11:35am). Getting all those races done at a decent time (6:30) and having the Travers run in the 5:30 to 6:00 hour is how it should be done ALL the time! It's important to have thoroughbred racing televised, I know. But, the networks could try to get in the "traditional" 5 to 6 time slot for east coast racing......just saying!