Super Saturday I ~ Turf Classic Day @ Belmont Park

The first of two "Super Saturdays" are being run today at Belmont Park. The road to this year's Breeder's Cup at Keeneland continues this week with Turf Classic Day that includes five stakes races. Of those five, only two are on turf with two other for the sprinters and one for the distaff fillies. All these fields are wide open with no clear cut favorites and many classy graded stakes winners. It will be Super-Box superfectas for my plays in each race, because of the evenly matched fields. The stakes wagering begins in the 5th (3:06) with the Beldame Stakes and then, four straight graded stakes that make up the $500,000 guaranteed all stakes late pick 4.

Six are entered in the mile & sixteenth - Beldame Stakes for older filly & mares. My top selection, is the ultra-consistent 6/5 morning line favorite; Wedding Toast (#2) who has only been out of the money once in 11 career starts. The superfecta box here is : 2 with 1/3/6.

The 7th race (4:16) begins the consecutive stakes action with the Gallant Bloom Handicap for older filly and mares sprinting six & half furlongs. Dame Dorothy (#1) was a huge disappointment as the favorite in the Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga in her last start going a bit longer. She makes amends today and may not be the favorite. The superfecta box here is : 1 with 2/3/5.

The most competitive race of the day is in the 8th (4:51) the Pilgrim Stakes for two year old males going a mile & sixteenth on the weeds. Wide open as they come, any of the ten entered have a shot with the short form they have as baby runners. I go from the rail with my selection; Ray's The Bar (#1) who only career start in England was a winning one sprinting at 20-1. Today this foreign bred goes first time for Chad Brown and gets lasix. Along with this 6-1 morning line, my superfecta box goes : 1 with 2/7/9.

Back to the dirt and sprinting for the 9th (5:26) the Vosburgh Stakes going six furlongs. My top choice is on the far outside, Rock Fall (#7) who has won six in row, ever since his second career start. This Todd Pletcher trainee has been rock solid and carefully placed in his starts. The superfecta box here is : 7 with 1/5/6.

The featured race on Turf Classic day is the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at a mile & a half on the Belmont Widener turf course. It's the usual suspects with no European flavor, which points out for runners who have done well at this marathon distance and course. Big Blue Kitten (#3) fits the mold here with five first or second placing in six starts over the Belmont turf course. His neck second place finish in the Arlington Million last start helps too! The superfecta box play in the feature race is : 3 with 1/4/5.

As an added bonus, here's my late pick 4 play also; 1/2 (7th) with 1/7 (8th) with 7 (9th) with 3 (10th). Next week, Belmont will have another Super Saturday Stakes day with six graded races. Two on turf, two for the young two year old runners and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which is the final N.Y. prep for the Breeder's Cup Classic.

All eyes are on PARX today ....... the last BIG three year old derby of the season

The road to this year's Breeder's Cup World Championships at Keeneland Racecourse starts this weekend at PARX Racecourse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania with their biggest day of racing today. Five stakes races are on tap and we'll be looking at four of them, including three featuring the sophomore class of 2015. The two feature races of the day may have an impact on three year old Eclipse award winners.

First in the all stakes pick four play, its for older males going a route distance - the Bayern Stakes (7th). This listed stakes race at a mile & a sixteenth is wide open. My top selection is the rail horse; Street Babe (#1) who woke up at the Spa dropping to optional claimer allowance race with a much needed class relief victory. I'll use three horses underneath Street Babe; Ground Transport (#4) making second start off long layoff, last wasn't pretty but has bullet work at Arlington Park for this race, Encryption (#7) another who last few weren't good, but was consistent before that and Classic Giacnroll (#8) 10 for 15 in the top two spots at PARX, horse for the course.

Three year old sprinters highlight the Gallant Bob Stakes (8th) going six furlongs. The outside horse; Bayerd (#8) is my top selection just missing in a 100k allowance race here, makes second start off layoff & had a good winter campagin at Oaklawn Park. For 2nd; Hebbronville (#6) who is a perfect three for three over the PARX strip, also wintered at Oaklawn. Underneath these two runners, I'll be using; Limousine Liberal (#3) - Catalina Red (#5) - Grand Bili (#7).

The three year old fillies are featured in the mile and a sixteenth - Cotillion Stakes (#9) where the top two finishers of this year's Alabama Stakes are featured. This race will play a big part in who may be top sophomore filly of 2015 since it will be one of the last restricted races for these fillies. I think, I'm a Chatterbox (#8) turns the tables on Embellish the Lace (#3) today and these are my top two selections. Underneath these two probable favorites, I'll use; Take Charge Brandi (#5) second start off layoff - Peace and War (#7) with two runner up finishes after a trainer change, Eskenformoney (#10) who was 2nd best as the lukewarm in the Monmouth Oaks.

The marquee race of the day is for the three year old males, the rich Pennsylvania Derby (#10). There's no American Pharoah to worry about today, but a few Travers Stakes runners decided to take their chance for the million dollar purse. I'm looking for consistent form here and a price, not the usual suspects. While Bob Baffert isn't represented by his Triple Crown winner, he has Gimme Da Lute (#6) who's won three in a row on the west coast, will be a square price here facing tougher competition and stretching out. He'll be my top pick with Island Town (#2) who is my second choice having a sharp victory over the track in the Smarty Jones Stakes, which was a prep race for today. At 5-1 & 10-1 these are the two "price" horses I like on top! Underneath them, I'll include; Frosted (#3) the horse that pushed American Pharoah to the limit in the Travers - Madefromlucky (#5) the West Virginia Derby winner who wanted no part of American Pharoah last time out & Upstart (#9) who originally was pointing to this race, but decided to chase American Pharoah at Saratoga instead. The pick 4 play in these four stakes races is : 1 with 6/8 with 3/8 with 2/6 ($4.00 for a 50 cent play).

The "Cheers & Jeers" of Saratoga 2015 ...... in my opinion!

We wrap up the 2015 edition of the Saratoga Race Course meet with my version of "Cheers & Jeers". I'll give my opinion of three things that were very good at this year's meet and three that weren't so good in my opinion. You probably know where I going with the negatives, that's easy to find lately since New York State controls NYRA. The positives speak for themselves, they'll be on the racetrack. Because after all, that's what our sport is all about, what happens on the track!

"Cheer #1" : owner Amad Zayat and trainer; Bob Baffert - everyone who loves thoroughbred racing and especially at Saratoga, owes these two men a debt of gratitude! If it wasn't the sporting attitude of Mr. Zayat in wanting to race his Triple Crown Champion; American Pharoah to race at the greatest racetrack in the world and convincing his trainer to do it, we would have not seen one of the most exciting horses to come along in recent years. Even though he was gallant in defeat, the thrill of all those in attendance for this year's Travers was an exciting memory we will soon not forget!

"Jeer #1" : the commercialization of Saratoga Race Course - I've been beating this drum all summer long. It's great to advertise this wonderful and historic racing facility. But, there is a "price" involved in more ways than one. The betting dollar was stretched this year with many increased prices on track. Although wagering was up and attendance good, the affordability of spending at least one day at Saratoga 2015 was highly increased. Things may have worked out for this year, but this might not be the case in the future. Someday, the "Golden Goose" of Saratoga may get cooked. NYRA and the state depend on it too much.

"Cheer #2" : the fantastic weather during the 40 day meet - I can't remember a single racing season at the Spa in the last 30 years where the weather was almost perfect! With the expectation of maybe three days, the weather was rain free with very little races taken off the turf course. Tempertures were steady in the eighties with relative low humidity. Overall, perfect weather to spend the day at the track.

"Jeer #2" : the number of after race inquiries and jockey objections causing disqualifications. It seems that every little bump and every little movement as horses came down the stretch, whether is was on the main track or dirt was put under a microscope for the first part of the meet. I was on the end of some of these calls, so it may be "sour grapes" on my part. But, the disqualification of Juba and then, I'm a Chatterbox in the Coaching Club American Oaks were both border line calls in my opinion.

"Cheer #3" : the great performances we saw on track, both equine and human - First, the effort we saw from Honor Code in the Whitney Stakes, coming from the clouds to get a nose on the wire for victory. Both the off spring of the great Rachel Alexandra (Rachel Valentina & Jess's Dream) winning their debut races here at the Spa. The best older horse in the country; Liam's Map, who was gallant in defeat just getting beat in the Whitney, but came back and won the Woodward Stakes in record time on the front end. Jockey Javier Castellano, who won all the major graded races at Saratoga this year. No other jockey has EVER won the Whitney, Alabama, Travers, Woodward and Hopeful Stakes in one racing season. Truly, my highlight of this meet.

"Jeer #3" : my wagers on the losing end of photos and the constant problem of not structuring my exotic plays the right way. On opening day, in back to back race my exotic plays couldn't hold 2nd place in one race and couldn't reach the wire 1st in the next race. This cost me dearly and would have clearly put me in the "black" for the remainder of the meet if things turn out different. On closing week, it was not making my exotic plays the right, winning way. This is an on going beef with myself, using the right horses and not scoring on a ticket because they weren't structured the right way. Oh well, I've got 365 day to get it right before next year!

The Pharaoh is but a mere mortal ....... the masses are let down ...... life does go on though.

You could have heard a pin drop ........ that was the sound after Keen Ice went past Triple Crown winner; American Pharoah at the wire in the Travers Stakes one week ago. The air was let out of the balloon, as many of the media pundits stated. The built up excitement of having a Triple Crown champion race at Saratoga, lived up to the hype. But, the result had the masses a bit upset.

Indeed, the crowd reaction and television coverage after the race, was a little bit to be desired. It was clearly put out there that, American Pharoah wasn't going to lose this race. I myself, anointed him Travers champion in this column last week. I also stated in my graded selections that, Keen Ice would "shock me" in he won. Well guess what, we all were wrong!

The "graveyard of favorites" was now being dubbed; "the graveyard of champions". American Pharoah was finally tested by Frosted and it was enough to put a chink in his armor. We've seen this before though. The greatest thoroughbred of all time; Secretariat tasted defeat in the Whitney Stakes (against older horses) to Onion. Affirmed crossed the wire first in the 1978 edition of the Travers, only to be disqualified. So, the last two Triple Crown winners, both lost at Saratoga. These two became all time greats in their career. American Pharoah, as I said before is a great three year old runner. But, the jury is still out whether he'll be an all time great like the other Triple Crown winners.

As I thought, the reaction from the people in attendance was unhappy and rightful so. After all, they wanted to see their Triple Crown hero win. But, you would have thought he did, with the coverage NBC had shortly after the race. Instead of focusing on the winner; Keen Ice, all the attention was on American Pharoah, his jock and trainer. Plain and simple, American Pharoah got beat. He was tested by Frosted and shrugged him off. But, just didn't have enough to hold off the late closing Keen Ice. It was surprising that in their previous races together, American Pharoah had dusted Keen Ice. But thoroughbreds are not machines and American Pharoah had finally met his match. Gallant in defeat, American Pharoah ran a good race. It was just not good enough today.

Lost in the shuffle, was the winning jockey aboard Keen Ice; Javier Castellano. It was his fifth career Travers Stakes victory (an all time record for this race) and he has won at this meet; the Whitney Stakes, Alabama Stakes and now the Travers. A feat that made history and only got in focus after Saturday evening's results. We always here about the "great" jockeys that have race at the Spa; Angel Cordero Jr. , Jerry Bailey and John Velazquez. None of them accomplished what Javier has done this meet! He's my pick for top jockey of 2015 and now can he added to that list of great riders of Saratoga.

It was announced Saturday morning that local media great; Ed Lewi had past away at the age of 81. He was the creator of Ed Lewi Associates, a public relations firm who was key with many events in this area for years. From media director of the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, to lead agency for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Saratoga Race Course. That's where I met Ed back in 1998 when I started covering Saratoga for the Recorder. All the new press people got a first hand look at Saratoga by Mr. Lewi. He took the new reporters under his wing and showed them the in's and out's of the track and guided us around the facility. He was a face at the track and coordinated all the events that NYRA had at Saratoga. Ed had a saying; "If it's not fun, don't do it". Well, Ed made working during the meet, fun and if I needed information during the 40 days, I got it from Ed Lewi Associates. He'll be dearly missed on the Saratoga scene.