3 races for the 3 year olds ...... the 2nd season has begun!

It was just seven weeks ago when the dreams of having a 12th Triple Crown winner in California Chrome were vanquished by Tonalist in the Belmont Stakes. It was the culmination of a somewhat fragmented Triple Crown trail where many of the top contenders either got hurt before the three major races or failed to live up to their expectations. It gave a clear path for California Chrome to climb a top of the three year old rankings. But after the "Test of the Champions" at Belmont Park, the horse from the west coast proved that he to was mortal. Now, we've reached the summertime and second season for the sophomore runners. After the next few weeks, these horses will be facing older foes in route to the Breeder's Cup Classic this Fall at Santa Anita. But until then, the three year olds will battle this week for their spot to attempt to over throw California Chrome as top dog.

We have three major prep races this weekend for the Mid Summer Derby ~ The Travers on August 23rd at Saratoga. The second tier runners battled in the Curlin Stakes yesterday going a two-turn route of a mile and an eighth. Kentucky Derby runner-up; Commanding Curve was crossed entered in that race and today's Jim Dandy Stakes at the same distance. He has to reproduce his effort the First Saturday in May to be a real threat in the Travers and any stake for contending top honors in his age group. Of the "new shooters" looking to make an impact against the "big boys"; Cousin Stephen, Joint Custody and Life in Shambles look to be the best contenders.

In the Jim Dandy Stakes today; the main prep race for the Travers, we have the return of the Belmont Stakes upset hero; Tonalist, along with Wicked Strong and the "hot horse" Kid Cruz. There are 17 horses entered between these two Travers preps with questions where the major contenders will go between the two races. But the "main speed" in the Jim Dandy will be Cousin Stephen, if he chooses this spot today. It's likely Commanding Curve goes in today's race and quite possibly that another contender; Kid Cruz races in the West Virginia Stakes next week. This leaves both Tonalist and Wicked Strong as the major plays at Saratoga for the Travers in a few weeks.

Meanwhile tomorrow at Monmouth Park in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes, nine three year olds will also try to make their claim for the Travers Stakes and with a twist. A three year old filly is included in the mix by the name of Untapable. She skipped the Coaching Club American Oaks last Sunday at Saratoga and is trying to follow the footsteps of another Steve Asmussen three year old filly of the past; Rachel Alexandra and beat the boys. One only knows if she wins tomorrow and sets her sites on either the Alabama Stakes (August 16th) or the Travers the following week. But there is a couple of other high class runners who were no strangers along this year's Triple Crown trail. The speedy Bob Baffert runner; Bayern, returns to a route after an explosive victory in the seven furlong; Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park. There is even more speed entered in the Haskell by the name of Social Inclusion and Wildcat Red. The latter, Wildcat Red was taken out of his element in the Kentucky Derby with a non-effort and returned with a wire to wire overnight stakes victory at Gulfstream Park a few weeks ago. With all this speed entered in the Haskell, logic would dictate that the race would set up for a closer. That closer just could be, Medal Count who rallied in the Belmont Stakes late for third. We got a lot of three year old superstars on stage this weekend, with one goal in mind. That's becoming the top three year old heading to the biggest race at Saratoga every year; the Travers Stakes!

Opening day at SARATOGA ........ it NEVER gets old!

Some things never grow old. When you were a kid, you couldn't wait for Christmas morning. As a teenager, you couldn't wait for the last day of school and summer vacation. When you were older, the times you spent with good friends at special events are everlasting memories. And the things you look forward to the most, are the things that will always be a special part of your life. Yesterday, even though I lived through it 15 years in a row, still holds a special place in my heart. Opening day at historic Saratoga Racecourse is not only the "Summer Place to Be", but one of my favorite places to be!

It's something that has never gotten old, even though the face of Saratoga, NYRA has gone through many changes in this time period. What once started in August, now begins six weeks before Labor Day. Some people think it's earlier every year. But it's still 40 racing days, enough in my book! To live only 40 miles and less than an hour, from the Mecca of thoroughbred racing is a dream come true for the lover of the ponies. The funny part of this is, I was in my mid twenties before I truly appreciated it. My first trip when I was sixteen years old in 1980, I could have cared less! But, that all changed when I became an adult, met others who loved the sport and most importantly, had a job that could give me money to wager with.

The experience even grew more in the 90's, when the novice bettor started to follow the sport each day and became an expert. Knowledge is power and the more knowledge you have and learn about the sport, the better chance you have to improve and even make a little money. But, my "big break" was in 1998, when I started writing for The Recorder and was a public handicapper in print. I can remember that first opening day at the Spa, I was excited like a kid on Christmas morning. It was a feeling that I really never had before. I could say up to that point in my life, there wasn't anything that I felt passionate about as a hobby or special interest more than horse racing. I look back and sometimes wonder, why thoroughbred racing would be so interesting to me.

I guess the passion isn't out of the ordinary. When I find something interesting and enjoyable, I stick with it. Maybe that's why my years of work with the county, coincide with the same amount of years I've followed the sport. I met a lot of wonderful people throughout the years and made a lot of good friends. Seen I lot of exciting races and great thoroughbreds. Been a part of history on many occasions at Saratoga. Had the thrill of cashing that "big ticket" and the excitement of being in the winners circle with a horse I've part owned. It's been a lot of long nights handicapping the races, tough wagering beats in photo finishes and even sad moments of horses getting hurt while doing what they love.

Opening day at Saratoga is the pinnacle of all this for myself. It's something that will always have a special part in my heart. I'll always remember the memories of the track on Union Ave. It's been a big part of my fifty years on this earth. Saratoga, it's truly MY favorite place to me!

For the next 40 days, my selections for Saratoga Race Course will be here in The Recorder each racing day and my "Play of the Day" will broadcast on 1490 WCSS Amsterdam each week day morning (expect Tuesday) at 8:05am. This year, the daily selection will be on the feature race of the day.

The 3 year old ladies in the spotlight ....... what's new?

Just a few short years ago, the thoroughbred world was mesmerized by two wonderful and talented gals. These two ladies were the talk of the racing world with their performances on the track. In a two year span just five years ago, no male could accomplish the impact these fillies had on the sport. They captured the hearts of every racing fan and are still talked about to this day. Their names were; Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra and they were at the top of our sport.

It seems that the opposite sex in thoroughbred racing tends to gather more popularity each and every year. When a filly or mare is talented, their efforts on track sometimes outshine their male counterparts. The Breeder's Cup Distaff in recent years proves that. This year, those talented ladies have returned to the track and two very talented three year old girls are making their mark too. It could be a very interesting Saratoga meet, if these two gals attempt to steal the spotlight from their male counterparts and challenge them in the biggest race of the summer.

Untapable ~ the three year daughter of Tapit, trained by Steve Asmussen has electrified her racing ranks with two eye-opening victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont last time out. Undefeated this year as a three year old, she may take on the boys next in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park the end of this month. She has proved to be the most consistent three year old thoroughbred in training at this time. She gets a track that speed tends to be kind to in New Jersey if she decides to go there. With the Monmouth meet only racing three days a week this summer, the usual suspects from the Triple Crown trail may be using the Haskell as a prep for the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August. I think, if Untapable wins the Haskell quite easily, her trainer may take a shot a second time versus the boys in the Mid-Summer Derby at the Spa. Other than California Chrome and Tonalist, the men's side of the three year old ranks has been thinned by injured horses and lesser talent. Why not take a shot if she wins the Haskell and a longshot wins the Jim Dandy. It's worth a look, because right now Untapable is the best three year old in North America.

Speaking of three year old fillies versus their male counterparts in stake races, a talented Canadian bred who won her biggest race versus her own sex and came right back this past Sunday and beat the boys in Canada's version of the Kentucky Derby. Lexie Lou ~ a daughter of Sligo Bay and trained by Mark Casse became the 35th filly to win the Queen's Plate Stakes and only the sixth to sweep both three year old championship races for Canadian bred sophomores. Having run all her races on Woodbine's synthetic polytrack, it's less likely she will race at Saratoga in the Alabama. But this proves once again that the fillies are much more sharper at three than the boys are. With the trend of trainers sitting on their talented two year olds and lightly racing them until mid Kentucky Derby trail, maybe more trainers with highly talented three year old fillies will take that chance versus the boys in their major races. Rachel Alexandra did it three times in 2009 versus her own age group and older late in the summer. I see no reason that Untapable couldn't do the same if she has a explosive Haskell victory. That could make a interesting Travers Stakes, with a filly in it! Sometimes it's good to mix things up.

Stars & Stripes Festival ....... with a little European flavor!

The future of thoroughbred racing is trending toward big race days with multiple stake races carded. With the advent of the Breeder's Cup and special days with prep races grouped together, we now have holiday racing with several stake races included. This is the future of getting more people to the sport, attracting them to these type days and seeing the finest thoroughbreds in the country. We had one such day at Belmont a month ago, now we return this 4th of July weekend with such another super day of racing.

The Stars and Stripes Festival showcases five stake races with two of them now becoming invitational races. Not only are the finest North America horses here, but several European runners have come stateside to race in these stakes. NYRA has reorganized their stakes racing schedule to create these days where top thoroughbreds race and gather points for the Breeder's Cup this Fall. For many years this weekend has been light on major race action, until now. There are three stake races exclusively for the sophomore runners, plus two stakes for older runners sprinting and going the classic route distance.

The Belmont (4th) the mile and a sixteenth - Dwyer Stakes is a possible prep for our Travers Stakes prep ; the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. My top selection here is the winner of the Easy Goer Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard at the same distance; Kid Cruz (#1). He came off the pace to victory and has improved the most of any three year old colt this spring. For second, I'll go with Churchill Downs shipper; Ulanbator (#3) who rallied for 2nd last time out in his graded stakes debut going this distance also. Selections for the (4th) : 1-3-4

The Belmont (6th) the seven furlong - Belmont Sprint Championship (formally know as James Marvin Stakes) has nine evenly matched runners entered. Central Banker (#2) who was supposed to race in the grade I - Metropolitan Mile on the Belmont Stakes undercard, but had to scratch because of a medication violation is my top pick here. The "horse to beat" is my 2nd choice; Palace (#9) who has been razor sharp since claimed last summer. Selections for the (6th) : 2-9-3-7

The Belmont (7th) is the first of two new invitational races, this one for the boys - The Belmont Derby (formally know as the Jamaica Handicap) at a mile and a quarter on the turf. European flavor is the way here and I'm going against the prohibited favorite; Bobby's Kitten. Adelaide (#4) ships in for Aidan O'Brien and gets lasix for his debut, he is my top selection here. Gailo Chop (#7) rides a four race win streak coming in from France and gets my runner-up spot. Selections for the (7th) : 4-7-3-9

The Belmont (8th) the traditional 4th of July feature race - the Suburban Handicap returns this year to the classic distance of a mile and a quarter. Last Gunfighter (#5) who was second in this race a year ago, gets the call today. His only two blemishes the past year in half, were in grade I races and no worst than 2nd in any others. Romansh (#6) rallied in the Met Mile last time out at 19-1 and should enjoy this addition distance. Selections for the (8th) : 5-6-4-10

The Belmont (9th) it's the fillies turn on the weeds in the Belmont Oaks (formally the Garden City Stakes) in a wide open event. I'm taking a shot with the rail horse, Goldy Espony (#1) who runs first time for Chad Brown coming stateside and gets lasix. Xcellence (#7) ships in from France after running 3rd in her last two races in group I company, she's my second pick. Selections for the (9th) : 1-7-11-5