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).
This race was originally scheduled to be run on turf at a mile and five-eighths. Instead, it was run in the slop at a mile and a quarter. The field was reduced to four, and Turco Bravo set the pace, and chalk Red Knight stalked from 2nd. The latter took the lead after a mile, but Highland Sky was breathing down his neck. Highland Sky took off in the stretch and was more than eight lengths in front at the end. Red Knight was 2nd and Turco Bravo was 3rd. Redicean never got involved and trailed throughout.
Riskaverse Stakes Recap (8-22-19) - Winner: Catch a Bid ($3.80)
The inner turf course was yielding and 20-1 longshot Dalika almost stole this one. She lead every step of the way under Jose Ortiz, except the one that counted. Catch a Bid stalked the pace in 4th, got closer in the stretch, and got her head down at the last possible moment under Irad Ortiz Jr. Xanthique raced in third place all the way around the track, and New and Improved was another nose back in 4th. Hotsy Totsy was 5th throughout and All Quality chased the pace and retreated to last place.
Fleet Indian Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Newly Minted ($4.30)
This was a one-horse race all the way. Maiden Beauty was the early leader but that would not last long. Strong favorite Newly Minted was all over her from the outset, and she went well clear once that one weakened. She rolled by nine lengths in this nine furlong contest. Kid Is Frosty was clearly second best and Elegant Zip was best of the rest in 3rd. Wait a Minute and Maiden Beauty were next, and Behind the Couch was pulled up and vanned off.
Yaddo Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Belle of the Spa ($64.00)
This was the upset of the day. Belle of the Spa did not have to work very hard to get to the lead, and she was absolutely crawling up front (25.08, 50.51, and 1:15.63). Race favorite Munchkin Money was sitting in 2nd, a length back for much of the running, and she got on even terms in the lane but could not go by in a neck defeat. Kressie was an even 3rd and was followed by Wegetsdamunnys and English Soul. Held Accountable was well behind the rest in last place.
Seeking the Ante Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Fierce Lady ($4.20)
Time Limit was pressured by My Italian Rabbi, and Fierce Lady sat off of them in 3rd. The latter poked her head in front in the lane but Time Limit would not go away. Fierce Lady was ultimately best by a neck and Time Limit was 5+ clear of My Italian Rabbi. Violent Point and Big Q were next, and it was a country mile back to Wharf Cat.
Funny Cide Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: City Man ($6.50)
The money showed on City Man, and he did not disappoint. He tracked inside speed Bull of Bayern, and after putting that one away, he opened up and won by more than four lengths for Joel Rosario and Christophe Clement. I went with late runner Cleon Jones as my top choice, and he took action as well. He was 8- morning line but went off at 3-1. He rallied for the place, and Listentoyourheart was along to complete the trifecta. Theitalianamerican went from last to 4th, and Bull of Bayern weakened to 5th. Opportunist, Mission Wrapitup, Sky of Hook, and No Lime trailed.
West Point Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Offering Plan ($6.40)
Everyonelovesjames had to go fast early to secure the early lead over a turf course labelled good. Mo Maverick chased that one and they opened up by many lengths for the first six furlongs. The lead was evaporating quickly and the whole complexion changed in the stretch. Therapist, Offering Plan, and Dot Matrix were the three big movers, and Offering Plan was traveling best late to prevail by a neck over Dot Matrix. Therapist got past a stubborn Everyonelovesjames in the battle for show honors. Hoboe was next, followed by Rapt and Mo Maverick.
Albany Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Funny Guy ($17.00)
Funny Guy got the first run, and that was the key to his head victory. The pace was honest with Not That Brady showing the way. Just Right, Blindwillie McTell, and Kazmania prompted the pace, and Funny Guy was right behind that group. The early leaders started to weaken and Funny Guy made the first run, opened up by a length in a half in the stretch, and just had enough left to hold off my late running top choice Bankit. Doups Point got going late and comfortably secured the show. Not That Brady weakened to 4th, and just behind him were Blindwillie McTell and Just Right. The trailers were Kazmania, Daddy Knows, and Dancers for Token (well behind the others).
Promises Fulfilled and Mitole dueled for a half-mile, and the former was done early. Mitole was full of run and opened up a commanding lead in the stretch. He coasted home by three lengths, and Firenze Fire outfinished Killybegs Captain for the place. Air Strike passed tired rivals and finished 4th. Bon Raison was next and Promises Fulfilled faded to last in a below par effort. He was down on the inside, and that was not the place to be on Travers Day.
Ballerina Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Come Dancing ($3.50)
Come Dancing looked good winning this. She had an uncomfortable start but Javier Castellano did not panic. She was wide and last early, but there were only five horses, and she moved up quickly, took over in the stretch, and was much the best by 3+ lengths. Dawn the Destroyer chased outside and was up for the place. Course specialist Special Relativity was best of the rest in 3rd. Separationofpowers dueled with Mia Mischief and they were separated by a neck at the back on the pack. The former took the worst of it. She bobbled at the start and ended up dueling inside. The trip and dead rail ruined her day, and she might be worth playing back next time.
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Mind Control ($22.80)
Shancealot was the strong favorite and controlling speed from the rail. He may have lost this race at the draw. He was able to secure the early lead but was not racing on the best part of the track. He was clear by a length through a half-mile, and was 2+ clear in the stretch, but outside stalker Mind Control was gaining, along with late runner Hog Creek Hustle. The wire was rapidly approaching and three noses were together on the line. In the end, Mind Control got the nod over Hog Creek Hustle, and Shancealot was 3rd. Rowayton was another neck back in 4th. Nitrous went from last to 5th, and was followed by Call Paul, Borracho, The Big S, and Twelfth Labour.
Ballston Spa (G2) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Significant Form ($16.60)
Chad Brown entered three in this spot, and his longest priced runner emerged victorious. Conquest Hardcandy and Scottish Jig carved out honest splits, and Significant Form followed those two, moved up in the stretch, and held off Indian Blessing to win by a neck. Starship Jubilee edged Chad Brown trainee Fifty Five for the show, and Conquest Hardcandy was the fifth neck on the line. Hogans Holiday and Scottish Jig were next, and the two favorites Secret Message and Mascha never got involved.
This was the race of the day! Coach Rocks and She’s a Julie were the top two early, and the pace was honest. Elate was just behind them in 3rd, and the strong favorite was getting a perfect trip. She moved to the leaders under Jose Ortiz and briefly spurted away, but Midnight Bisou was gathering momentum from the back of the pack and the match race was on. The two favorites were inseparable down the lane and the bob of the nose went to Midnight Bisou. Elate lost nothing in defeat, and they were 8+ clear of show finisher She’s a Julie. Wow Cat rode the dead rail and ended up 4th, and Coach Rocks weakened to 5th. Golden Award faltered and was pulled up and walked off.
Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Annals of Time ($7.10)
Chad Brown had three in here. I thought he going to use his 60-1 outsider Proven Reserves as a rabbit, but that one never got involved. Instead, his recent import Ya Primo seemed intent on the lead under Jose Ortiz, and he battled with Channel Maker for at least a mile and a quarter. They were not flying, but the pace was honest and contested for the marathon distance. Channel Cat stole the Bowling Green (G2), and he was lurking behind the leaders this time. He made his move and took a short lead in the stretch, but he could hear footsteps. Annals and Time was the slight favorite for Chad Brown, and he was moving sightly better than Sadler’s Joy and beat that one by a neck. Channel Cat was 3rd and Channel Maker was 4th. Noble Thought, Pillar Mountain, Proven Reserves, Tiz Morning, and Ya Primo completed the order of finish.
Mucho Gusto and Tacitus set this up for a closer. When two very good horses are battling on the lead at a mile and a quarter, you just know another quality horse will pick them off. Tax from post 12 also pushed the pace, and Code of Honor’s pilot John Velazquez had to be loving the race shape. He was patiently ridden from 9th, and he started to move up with a quarter of a mile remaining. He raced wide throughout and swung out even wider in the stretch, and rumbled down the middle to prevail by about three lengths. Tacitus fought with Mucho Gusto throughout and gamely finished a 1/2 length in front of that one for 2nd. The top three ran quality races and Tacitus settled for the runner-up spot once again (also 2nd in G1 Belmont and G2 Jim Dandy). The blinkers definitely got him in the race earlier, and he lost nothing in defeat. He will win one of these big races at some point. Mucho Gusto tried to steal it and probably would have if Tacitus did not get the equipment change. Hats off to Shug McGaughey for having Code of Honor in peak form for the mid-summer Derby. Endorsed rallied from 12th to complete the superfecta. Owendale was a bit more forwardly placed than expected from the rail, and he ended up an even 5th. Highest Honors sort of ran in place throughout and was right behind that one in 6th, and Tax gradually weakened to 7th. Chess Chief, Laughing Fox, and Scars Are Cool were next, and it was a big gap back to Looking At Bikinis (stumbled at start) and Everfast.
Better Talk Now Stakes Recap (8-25-19) - Winner: Front Run the Fed ($4.90)
They key to this race was Bulletin. He was obviously a talented turf sprinter with speed, but could he go one mile? He went to the front as expected, and was chased by Swamp Rat, Regally Irish, and Our Braintrust. At 2-1 odds, he was a bad proposition, and ended up weakening to 3rd in the stretch. The two late runners dominated in the lane. Bourbon War and Front Run the Fed were in full flight to the wire, and the latter was moving best and prevailed by a 1/2 length. The margin of victory was deceiving. He was confidently handled late under Jose Lezcano. Bourbon War was clearly second best in a promising turf bow. Bulletin was best of the rest in 3rd. The strung-out field also included Swamp Rat, Our Braintrust, and Regally Irish.
The 2019 Travers Stakes (G1) is a bit more than a week away, and all the major preps have been run. There are a dozen horses seriously considering the mid-summer Derby at this stage. It promises to be the biggest horse racing event of the summer.
Check out my Travers video below! This week's video looks at the possible pace scenario for the mid-summer Derby.
Laughing Fox photo above courtesy of Josh Chicorelli
You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Triple Crown 2019 page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Salespage.
The 2019 Travers Stakes (G1) is still two weeks away, but all of the major preps have been run, and there are ten horses seriously considering the mid-summer Derby at this stage. It promises to be the biggest horse racing event of the summer, and it might have major implications on the 3-year-old title.
Check out my Travers video below! This week's video looks at the key prep races for the mid-summer Derby.
Saratoga Race Course photo above courtesy of Josh Chicorelli
You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Triple Crown 2019 page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Salespage.
The 2019 Travers Stakes (G1) is still three weeks away, but all of the major preps have been run, and there are eleven horses seriously considering the mid-summer Derby at this stage. It promises to be the biggest horse racing event of the summer, and it might have major implications on the 3-year-old title.
Check out my Travers video below!
Tacitus photo above courtesy of Josh Chicorelli
You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Triple Crown 2019 page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Salespage.
It all started with the Belmont Stakes (G1).Tacituswas supposed to win the final leg of the Triple Crown. He looked like a slam dunk on paper, but a funny thing happened. He drew the outside post and raced wide throughout. That would not have been a deal breaker, except for the fact that the rail was golden, and upset winner Sir Winston was riding the good inside.
Fast forward to the Jim Dandy, and Tacitus found a way to lose again. This time, he stumbles badly at the start and almost tosses jockey Jose Ortiz. He miraculously recovers and almost beats Tax.See my full Jim Dandy recap below.
My Kentucky Derby (G1) top choiceGame Winnerfinally made it back to the races on July 13, and he easily disposed of three overmatched rivals in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3). This was nothing more than a public workout, and the 2-year-old champ did his best work in late stretch. That race should set him up perfectly for the Travers (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on August 24.
Also on July 13,Mr. Moneycaptured his third straight grade three race in the Indiana Derby. He has obviously never been better, and his tactical speed is a big weapon. The Travers is being considered, but he is more likely to go in the West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 3. The latter race just makes more sense. He most likely wants nothing to do with grade one foes at a mile and a quarter.
Maximum Securitygot back on the beam in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 20. He got his revenge on King for a Day, and he gamely turned away Baffert trainee Mucho Gusto. The top two were well clear of show finisher Spun to Run. Everfast was 4th, followed by King for a Day and Bethlehem Road. The Travers might be next for the winner, but his steady numbers are not getting any better, and he sure did not look like he would thrive at ten furlongs. Mucho Gusto is consistent and improving, but he seems to have distance limitations. There was not much depth to this race.
Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Recap (7-27-19) - Winner: Tax ($11.00)
Let’s just get this out of the way right now. No disrespect to Tax, but Tacitus was best in this race, and I am not saying that because he was my top pick. Actually, Tacitus was also best in his prior start in the Belmont Stakes (G1). In the Test of Champions, he was hung out to dry from the outside post while the winner was perched on the golden rail. In the Jim Dandy, he had a terrible stumble and lost all chance at the start. Tax was the early leader but War of Will surged to the front and showed the way for much of the opening six furlongs. The Preakness (G1) champ threw in the towel in short order and Tax took over in the lane and looked home free, but Tacitus emerged along the inside and made a race of it in deep stretch. Tax was traveling slightly better and prevailed by a bit less than a length. Tacitus ran a monster race to finish a clear 2nd, and Global Campaign was an okay 3rd. Laughing Fox edged War of Will for 4th, and Mihos trailed. One horse I absolutely did not like in this race was War of Will. He just has not improved from a numbers standpoint since January.
Jarrod Horak’s Top 5 Three-Year-Old Males (7-28-19)
#1 - OMAHA BEACH - Rebel/Arkansas Derby hero returned to work tab at Del Mar July 23.
#2 - GAME WINNER - Nice effort in Los Al Derby (G3). Had first Travers work July 27.
#3 - TACITUS - Belmont/Jim Dandy runner-up needs racing luck in Travers.
#4 - MAXIMUM SECURITY - Bounced back in Haskell (G1). Possible for Travers.
#5 - CODE OF HONOR - Dwyer (G3) return was outstanding. Travers is next.
Article by Jarrod Horak Photo by Josh Chicorelli You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Triple Crown 2019 page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Salespage.
