Saratoga Race Course 2019 Summer Meet Rewind By Dr. Atlas

Saratoga 2019 Recap

As the Summer days begin to tick away, we say goodbye to Saratoga for 2019.  Before we move on to the Championship fall meet at Belmont, let’s recap the highlights from the SPA:

• Overall wagering for the meet increased by 7% and totaled $705,343,949 for the 40-day meet.
• Chad Brown took his second straight Saratoga trainers title with 41 wins (178-41-40-31).
• Jose Ortiz won his third riding title with 60 wins (280-60-46-37).
• Klaravich Stables had 19 starters to repeat their title from 2018.
• Guarana took down the Gr. I CCA Oaks to mark her third straight victory and second Gr. I of her career.
• Code of Honor won the Gr. I Travers thus solidifying himself as one of the best 3yr old’s in the country.
• Midnight Bisou solidified her mark on the older female division as she won the Gr. I Personal Ensign, making it six-for-six in 2019.
  

Belmont will begin their 37-day meet on September 6th and run through October 6th.  At which point the meet will move to the Aqueduct (“Belmont at the Big A”) with racing from October 11th to October 27th.  The Championship meet will include 45 stakes races, eight of them being “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup races.  Saturday September 7th will be highlighted by $300,000 Jockey Club Invitational Stakes for four-year olds and upward, the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational for three-year old fillies, and the $1,000,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational for three-year old males.

About Josh:

Originally from Upstate New York,  Josh (also referred to as Dr. Atlas in racing circles) has been a long time follower and supporter of the "Sport of Kings".

Mr. Chicorelli worked for Horse Racing Nation and DerbyWars from 2011-2013 and has been a local at the Saratoga  Race Course for over a decade. In his spare time, Josh writes handicapping articles and has worked part-time for the NYRA Bets Squad over the past two years.  

Josh received his BS in New Media Marketing from RIT in 2011 and recently completed his Masters in Business Administration from RPI (May 2018).

Fab 5 Fillies Update: Alabama Stakes Winner Dunbar Road New #1

The Alabama Stakes (G1) was run on Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course and Dunbar Road finished strong to capture the ten furlong stamina test for sophomore fillies. She is lightly raced and on the improve for Chad Brown, and he also has Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Acorn (G1) winner Guarana. 

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Dunbar Road capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest. 


Later that same day at Del Mar, Fighting Mad was too fleet for her rivals in the Torrey Pines (G3). The Bob Baffert trainee won by eight lengths but might not want to travel longer distances against top company. 


Alabama Stakes (G1) Recap (8-17-19): Winner: Dunbar Road ($5.50)


The track was sloppy in this mile and a quarter stamina test for 3-year-old fillies. Speed did not hold in this race. Champagne Anyone, Ulele, and Lady Apple were all right there early and nowhere late. Point of Honor made a nice outside move under Javier Castellano, and it looked for a brief moment that she might spurt clear, but Street Band went with that one and would not go away. Meanwhile, Dunbar Road was patiently ridden and always traveling well under Jose Ortiz, and she had all of the momentum in the stretch and pulled clear to win by a bit less than three lengths. Point of Honor won the place battle by a nose over Street Band, and the top three were 5+ clear of Off Topic and Afleet Destiny. The three aforementioned early runners completed the order of finish. 


Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) Recap (8-17-19) - Winner: Fighting Mad ($6.60)


This race was settled right out of the gate. Fighting Mad stretched out for Baffert, made a clear early lead though very reasonable splits, and scampered away in the lane to win by eight lengths. Hollywood Hills rallied from last to land the place as the longest shot on the board. Into Chocolate stalked and tried to make a run at the winner, and she lost 2nd late. Kim K was 4th, followed by High Regard, Sneaking Out, and Classic Fit.


Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Sophomore Fillies (8-27-19) 


#1 - DUNBAR ROAD - Mother Goose (G2) winner easily handled 10f in Alabama (G1). 


#2 - GUARANA - Acorn (G1) & CCAO (G1) winner is 3-for-3. Sept. 21 Cotillion (G1) at Parx is next. 


#3 - POINT OF HONOR - Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner finished 2nd in CCAO (G1) and Alabama (G1). 


#4 - SERENGETI EMPRESS - Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner 2nd in Acorn (G1) and 2nd in Test (G1). 


#5 - BELLAFINA -  6-time graded winner has worked twice at Del Mar since distant 3rd in Test (G1).  

Fab 5 Fillies: Coaching Club American Oaks 2019 Recap

It is time to update the 3-year-old filly top five list. Guarana, my top ranked filly heading into last weekend's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), stretched out in that event and ran her record to a perfect 3-for-3, but she was not nearly as impressive around two turns. Does she retain the #1 spot? 

Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) Recap (7-21-19) - Winner: Guarana ($2.50)

Guarana could not have been more impressive in her first two wins around one turn, including the Acorn (G1) at Belmont. This nine furlong affair was her longest test to date, and she was the controlling speed. The Chad Brown trainee was never headed and got the job done by a length, but she did not dominate this event. She was never seriously threatened but it appears as though she has distance limitations. Point of Honor ran a big race to land the place. She was wide from the outside post and rallied from last in the compact 5-horse field. This race served its purpose as a prep for the Alabama (G1), and she figures to love ten furlongs. Off Topic was best of the rest in 3rd, and Champagne Anyone pressed the pace and weakened to 4th in her first start since the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Boxwood trailed.

Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Sophomore Fillies (7-27-19)


#1 - POINT OF HONOR - Exits strong 2nd in CCAO (G1). She is the one to beat in Aug 17 Alabama (G1).


#2 - DUNBAR ROAD - Mother Goose (G2) winner breezed 5f at Saratoga July 27. Goes next in Alabama.


#3 - GUARANA - Acorn (G1) & CCAO (G1) winner is 3-for-3. Might have distance limitations.


#4 - BELLAFINA -  6-time graded stakes winner goes next in Saratoga's Test (G1) Aug 3.


#5 - SERENGETI EMPRESS - Triple graded winner 2nd in Acorn (G1). Test is next target. 

Article by Jarrod Horak
​
You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Fab 5 Fillies page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Sales page.