turf rocket
TRANSCRIPT
Year 16 • No. 21
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Thursday, August 18, 2016
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Saratoga’s Daily Newspaper on Thoroughbred Racing
Turf RocketCon Te Partiro blasts off with Bolton Landing
DISTAFF SPRINTERS BATTLE IN UNION AVENUE • IAN WILKES STABLE TOUR • ENTRIES & HANDICAPPING
3Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
here&there... at SaratogaBY THE NUMBERS 22,740: Unread emails in Kip Elser’s phone at the sale Monday.
130: Unread texts in Kip Elser’s phone.
1: Missed call in Kip Elser’s phone. Moral of the story, if you need Elser give him a call.
7: Consecutive wins in the Mister Diz Stakes sought by Ben’s Cat Saturday at Laurel Park (take a break from Saratoga or whatever it is you’re doing and watch the 10-year-old turf sprinter). A win would tie the North American record held by Leaping Plum, who won the Grasmick Handi-cap at Nebraska’s Fonner Park from 1995-2001 (and again in 2003).
.667: Batting average of trainer Ian Wilkes since he agreed to do a Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour with The Special.
1: Pair of cowboy boots on the top of a Prius in the parking lot at the races Thursday.
16: People posing for a photo outside Todd Pletcher’s barn Wednesday morning (two Hall of Famers).
LICENSE PLATES OF THE DAYNOBALONEY: New York (we might have too many letters, but this is what it meant).
I I I: New York.
DEFINTION OF THE DAYCast: Mentioned in today’s Stable Tour with Ian Wilkes (and probably elsewhere along the way), it’s a term used by horsepeople when a horse gets stuck in the stall – lying down, against a wall.
Connie BushCheesy Move. Jose Ortiz makes some fans’ day in the clubhouse.
Darley
THINK LONG AND THINKHARD
More than Curlin. The sameas Medaglia d’Oro andGiant’s Causeway. Behindonly $100k+ stallions.
SevenG1 winnerssince 2012.
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HARD SPUNSEVENTH HEAVEN
4 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
NAMES OF THE DAYFifth And Madison, seventh race. She made this last week, but she’s by Street Sense out of Unaffordable which is perfect for the neighborhoods between Fifth and Madison (in Manhattan or Saratoga Springs).
Slapstick, 10th race. The Merrylegs Farm homebred, a 3-year-old gelding, is by D’ Funnybone.
Thawed Out, 10th race. Another repeat on this list who didn’t get to run last week. The Bona Venture Stable homebred first-time starter is by Frost Giant out of Sunny Senorita.
WORTH REPEATING“That’s OK. I hope they don’t stop liking me.”
Trainer Ian Wilkes when it was suggested fellow trainers liked his horses after two were claimed so far at the meet
“I hope that lawyer’s office has a TV.”Owner, real-estate buyer and Olympic track fan Adam Newman, who was settling on a
house right about the same time as Wednesday’s men’s steeplechase final from Rio
“I can’t spell it.”Chappy Motion, after saying he spent Tuesday with the Velazquezes (or something like that)
“I’d have to take my hand off the yoke first.”Exercise rider Rodney Payne, aboard a tough one,
to the admonishment ‘Give him a pat’ from Bernie Dalton Wednesday morning
here&there... at Saratoga
The aratogaEditors/PublishersSean Clancy: (302) 545-7713. [email protected]
Joe Clancy: (302) 545-4424. [email protected]
Managing EditorTom Law: (859) 396-9407. [email protected]
Writers/Handicappers: Charles Bedard, Gaile Fitzgerald, Teresa Genaro, Annise Montplaisir, John Shapazian,
Michael Smith, Chad Summers, Shayna Tiller, Brandon Valvo.
Photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush.
Layout/Design: Linzay Marks.
Distribution: Jack Clancy, Gabe McGarry.
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NAME OF THE DAYBest Man, second race.
The 6-year-old gelding is by Pulpit out of Elope.
800-523-8143
“Fun. It’s the most valuable commodity in the world, not gold.”Trainer Eric Guillot, having fun
and dispensing wisdom, Wednesday morning
QUOTE OF THE DAY
albertus maximusAlbert the Great – Chasethewildwind, by Forty Niner
daaherAwesome Again – Irish Cherry, by Irish Open
2 0 1 6 S T A L L I O N S
Kent Barnes, Stallion Manager | 859-224-45854600 Ft. Springs Rd., Lexington, KY 40513
www.shadwellfarm.com
shadwellKent Barnes, Stallion Manager | 859-224-4585 | 4600 Ft. Springs Rd., Lexington, KY 40513 | www.shadwellfarm.com
albertus maximusAlbert the Great – Chasethewildwind, by Forty Niner
daaherAwesome Again – Irish Cherry, by Irish Open
2 0 1 6 S T A L L I O N S Building Speed for the Future...
5Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
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DCTP earnings are paid to owners with purse money and are considered part of the horse’s official earnings.Delaware Bred or Certified are preferred in all races, if condition eligible.
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6 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
WORTH REPEATING“He didn’t get half the care the current Thoroughbreds get, but I don’t remember ever having a vet bill.”
Owner Willie White, about a Chincoteague pony he rode as a kid
“Glory Days…Reflections…I Remember When…”Songs being sung as Richard DePass talked
about his riding days Wednesday morning
“The only guy who rode longer than I did was the outrider.”DePass, talking about riding with an injured leg that didn’t bend
“Under the radar.”Trainer Brian Lynch, denying a Stable Tour with The Special
“Is it voodoo?”Price Bell, after hearing about Garlic Rob’s spray
“He came up to get Roma’s.”Bystander, hearing trainer Todd Wyatt had shipped
Boogie Feeva to Saratoga twice without running
“I’d be honored.”Ann Heslop’s, Winston’s wife, when hearing
The Special was going to do a bobblebead of the affable agent
“The ever-changing Ian Wilkes intro.”The Special’s Tom Law, after Wilkes won two races
while Law was writing today’s Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour
here&there...at Saratoga
Joe ClancyPoodle Jumper. Webster Wilkes shows off his ball-catching skills at the barn Wednesday morning.
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“Take a horse for instance who you breeze in the morning, then you take them out that afternoon to graze and they’re feeling so sharp, bucking and kicking. You wonder, ‘how would he run if I had him in this afternoon?’ I always thought, and it doesn’t have to be right naturally, but say for instance, you over-train the horse and he doesn’t run well because you’ve over-trained him, but that’s still better than if a horse has a hard driving, hard-whipping race that’s not fit for it, I don’t think he’s going to recover from it. The horse that was over-trained, you can back off him and he’ll come to you. It’s hard to figure out, which is right, which is wrong, which proves to be right, which proves to be wrong.”
– Trainer Allen Jerkens 1929-2015
The Chief . . . Day 21Laugh Track.
(859) 224-2756www.thoroughbredaftercare.org
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of the day
Connie Bush
8 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
Ian Wilkes took a short break from his morning to talk about his string for the 2016 Saratoga Race Course meeting when he got to a filly with a minor case of second-itis he hoped to find a cure for in Wednesday’s third race.
“She’s a New York-bred, has had four starts and three seconds,” Wilkes said of Askfor Forgiveness, one of the barn’s three runners Wednesday. “We just keep running into one better than us. We’ll eventually get there.”
Askfor Forgiveness got there Wednesday, winning the 6-furlong state-bred maiden special weight to give the Wilkes barn its second win of the meet. He collected win No. 3 two races later when Stone broke his maiden for a $40,000 claiming tag.
Wilkes bedded 22 horses down in Barn 6 – one of the quietest spots on the grounds at the end of Clare Court with Nelson Avenue to the west and the Greentree property to the south – for the meet. He’s down to 19 after two horses were claimed and another was sent back to Kentucky.
Wilkes, who keeps a presence in New York for most of the year with assistant Caesar Morales running the string during the offseason in Sara-toga, also maintains sizable barns at
Skylight Training Center in Goshen, Kentucky, and at Churchill Downs most of the year.
Askfor Forgiveness’ victory fol-lowed Wilkes’ first of the meet with Bird Song on the first Saturday of the 40-day stand. A homebred for long-time Wilkes supporter Marylou Whit-ney Stables, Bird Song is slated to run back in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Aug. 27.
Bird Song, out of Whitney’s Ken-tucky Oaks winner Bird Town, is one of about 12 Wilkes has in training at Saratoga for the city’s most famous citizen.
“They’re tremendous, Marylou and John (Hendrickson),” Wilkes said. “What can you say? It’s such an honor to be able to train for them.”
Another member of Wilkes’ Sara-toga string bound for a Grade 1 stakes is Dennis Farkas’ Fun, headed to the Spinaway Sept. 3 after placing second in the Grade 3 Schuylerville Opening Day.
Wilkes sat down for a few minutes with The Special’s Tom Law Wednes-day morning to discuss his Saratoga string.
Bird Song: Marylou Whitney Stables’ home-bred 3-year-old by Unbridled’s Song out of Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town won 6-fur-
long allowance the first Saturday of the meet and goes next in Grade 1 King’s Bishop Aug. 27. “Seriously talented horse. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. He trains like a good horse and he runs like a good horse.”
Adulation: Runner-up to Thirst For Victory in Saturday’s fifth, the last race before the card was canceled. Whitney 2-year-old homebred is by To Honor And Serve. “He’s done every-thing right, he’s got the attributes to be a nice horse. Talented horse and that wasn’t an easy thing for him, running in the mud the other day and he still ran well. He came out good and that’s the main thing. I’d like to run him back.”
Open Arms: Another rare debut winner for Wilkes, 3-year-old filly won June 19 at Chur-chill and is entered in today’s seventh, a 7-fur-long allowance on the main track. “She’s a Super Saver filly for Bob Lothenbach (Lothen-bach Stables). She’s one I did expect to win. Her work leading into the race was real, real good. I knew she was ready. For me to win first time out . . . but I knew she would. She’s a little behind the 8-ball, being a 3-year-old fil-ly that’s run just once. We’ll come back in an allowance, give her a chance. She’ll be better as we go on. I’m not sure about her, she won going seven-eighths first time out, which is no easy task, but I don’t know if she’ll be a filly that goes long or if she’s a one-turn horse. I haven’t gotten that far yet.”
Sweetgrass: Third behind Curalina and Carrumba in the Grade 3 Shuvee the first Sun-day of the meet. “Good race, it just shows you the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 3. She ran a real bang-up race but those Grade 1 horses are good and she’s a nice Grade 3 horse. We’ll come back in the Summer Col-
ony Monday with her. She’s already Grade 2, Grade 3 stakes-placed. If she can win a stakes she’s going to be worth a bit for the owners, she’ll have some asset value.”
Fun: Harlan’s Holiday filly won her debut June 24 at Churchill Downs and finished sec-ond in Grade 3 Schuylerville. “She’s fun isn’t she? She won first out and then came back and ran a real bang-up race in the Schuyler-ville. I’ll come back in the Spinaway with her. She’s a plain filly to look at but she just keeps improving, the further they go the better.”
Viva Majorca: Fourth in the Tale Of The Cat Aug. 12, the 5-year-old Tiago gelding is a stakes winner and the earner of $308,960 for owner/breeder Whitney. “I just haven’t got-ten him back to the form he showed last year when he was third in the Forego. I feel he’s on the verge of being there. Where I go next with him I’m not sure yet. He’s a horse who’s made like $300,000, he’s Grade 1-placed, he’s won a stakes. He’s a talented horse but I just haven’t gotten him back to where I thought he would be. I nominated him (to the Forego) but it would have to come up right.”
Albert Charles: A $115,000 buy at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings, he occupies stall No. 1, which Wil-kes says the late Allen Jerkens told him was the same stall Onion ran out of in 1973 when he upset Secretariat in the Whitney. “He had one start. We’ve got room for improvement because he didn’t beat a horse. But I gelded him and I like the way he’s done since then. He’s trained more forwardly. He’s a Pioneerof The Nile and he wants to go longer. I ran him 5 1/2 furlongs and it was too short. We’ll stretch him out and hopefully that will help him.”
with Ian Wilkes
Every day at Saratoga, The Special presents an exclusive Stable Tour
with a Saratoga trainer.
9Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
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Gorgeous Bird: Winner of the Don Bernhardt Stakes July 16 at Ellis Park, the 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song finished seventh in the Tale Of The Cat. “When he won at Ellis he showed tactical speed. Then it was a different kind of speed for him up here. It’s serious speed. I ac-tually liked his race because he didn’t quit on me. He dropped back to last on the turn but then came running down the lane. Another one I’m not sure where I’ll go next. I actually think this horse is improving as he’s getting older. He’s a 4-year-old now and he may be a little bit of a one-turn miler, sprinter type of horse. He’s get-ting better with age. He’s a big strong horse and can only get better.”
Island Town: Two-time Grade 3 winner for Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall finished fifth in the Alydar Aug. 7. “I’ve got to shorten him up to one turn. He was a little too strong for Javier (Castellano) that day. I might try him on the grass actually, I’ve never done that with him. He’s a Hard Spun out of a Distorted Humor mare so maybe I should try him on the turf. He was making money on the dirt, why change? Now I’m looking for an excuse.”
Tiz Town: Whitney Stable’s homebred 4-year-old by Tiznow is a half-brother to Bird Song. Fourth in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap May 21, he finished fifth in a 1 3/16-mile turf allowance July 30. “This horse wants to run a mile-and-a-half. That’s what he wants to run. Anything like that would be perfect. I’m strug-gling to get races at mile-and-a-half, mile-and-three-eighths. The further he goes the better he is. Grass or dirt, he’ll run either way. It’s hard to get a dirt race that far, so really I’ve got to run him on the turf.”
Proud Zip: Grosse Point Farm’s homebred 3-year-old by City Zip finished second in 9-fur-long maiden claimer July 31. “It came off the turf that day, he ran good. We’ll come back in another maiden 75 for him on the turf. He’s a City Zip and I’m trying to get him on the turf.”
Twilight Owl: Whitney Stables homebred 2-year-old daughter of Birdstone was entered for her debut Aug. 14 in 6 1/2-furlong maiden race. “I scratched her the other day, she got cast. Just had a little hiccup and we’ll come back later in the meet here. She’s ready to run, but those things happen.”
Stable Tour – Continued from page 8
thisishorseracing.com
10 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
BY LINZAY MARKSBob Ribaudo was half-joking, half-serious
when discussing the chances of Quezon in today’s $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes for older New York-bred fillies and mares.
“Not much else to talk about around here, had a couple of tough seconds so far, but she’s our one hope,” the trainer said of his meet and the 4-year-old Tiz Wonderful filly who takes on seven others in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes.
The hope looked pretty good a few weeks ago, especially with one heavyweight in the state-bred female sprint division out of the race and targeting Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo
Quezon seeks her fifth win in her eighth start for Marc Keller and trainer Bob Ribaudo.
No BreaksNY-bred Quezon faces Calif. shipper, Hot City Girl for 100K
UNION AVENUE STAKES RECAP
Continued On Page 12
12 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
bigger prizes.“It’s funny, we finally got rid
of Tom Morley’s filly (Haveyou-goneaway) because she graduated to tougher company and we get Jerry Hollendorfer sending one from Cali-fornia,” Ribaudo said of Dr. Fager’s Gal.
Marc Keller’s Quezon will meet Dr. Fager’s Gal, favored state-bred cham-pion Hot City Girl and others after finishing second behind Haveyou-goneaway last time out in the Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont Park July 3. Haveyougoneaway won the Grade 2 Honorable Miss in her next start, at Saratoga July 27.
“The good thing is she, (Haveyou-goneaway), came back and won the open race so that gives us confidence she’s a real horse,” Ribaudo said, reflecting on the quality his filly has faced. “We expect her to run well, Manny (Franco) does a good job on her. He’s doing very well right now. There’s enough speed in the race.
“Really, we’ve got no complaints. Hollendorfer’s filly’s been running against open company, not quite good enough there. This is something new for her. She just got here (and) it’s not easy to ship in. I’m confident.”
Quezon is lightly raced but con-sistent. She’s won four of seven with
a second and her two off-the-board efforts were fourths in the Grade 2 Demoiselle as a 2-year-old and the Critical Eye against state-breds May 30.
“She’s funny. She’s great. She’s tough to train, but you know, a good tough,” he said, pausing to demon-strate taking a hold of one before adding, “like most good horses.”
The white-faced chestnut, a $90,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton’s New York-bred sale here in 2013, al-most on cue alertly picked her head up over the webbing, revealing the bright white cotton balls in her ears.
“See, she’s got her cotton in her ears, it’ll come out when we’re done,” Ribaudo said. “On the track and go-ing to the paddock it helps her a little bit.”
Quezon trains first thing in the morning and subsequently Ribaudo got a chance to size up the California contender in the paddock early Tues-day.
“We’ve been bumping into Song-bird every morning, she’s been going out at 5:30,” Ribaudo said. “So this morning we are up in the paddock, and Songbird’s people are coming and I said, ‘Wait a minute, she just breezed yesterday.’ Then I didn’t see her little blaze, you know. It was the filly we are running against. She was at the paddock the same time we were this morning. A little introduction.”
Union Avenue – Continued from page 10
Continued On Page 13
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Dr. Fager’s Gal strolls the paddock Wednesday morning.
13Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
SHEETSSHEETSSunrise Stallion
NORM THE GIANT4YO Colt by Frost Giant
Thursday, Race 2Frank Giammarino & Edward DeLauro, Owners
Sunrise Stables, Breeder
Edward DeLauro, Trainer
Picks of the DayBIG BROWN • FROST GIANT • HEAVY BREATHING
Sunrise Stallions – Standing dual classic winner and champion Big Brown and Heavy Breathing at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, N.Y.; and Frost Giant at Keane Stud in Amenia, N.Y.
Eric Bishop | [email protected] | 516-606-9768
THAWED OUT3YO Colt by Frost Giant
Thursday, Race 10Bona Venture Stables, Owner
Bona Venture Stables & Sunset Stables, Breeders
Jeremiah Englehart, Trainer
Ribaudo joked with Christina Jelm, Hollendorfer’s assistant in Sara-toga, about the California shipper’s presence Tuesday morning.
“He’s funny, we saw Bob in the paddock yesterday and he said, ‘Man, you had to bring a New York-bred from California?’ ” Jelm said.
Jelm said Dr. Fager’s Gal took the cross-country journey in stride
“Now she’s finally getting her op-portunity to run in New York, so I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “She shipped in very well, very hap-py. She’s a sweetheart, really excited to be here, she can’t decide whether to walk fast and look at everything or eat the grass. Horses love it here. They thrive; it’s just the best place to train. Truly is the spa.
“Her first time in New York, she’s never run against her New York coun-terparts. She’s always had to run in open company, she’s just a real honest filly, always tries. So, we’ll see how she fares here. We’re just hoping that she likes the surface, but she’s happy
and she’s training right.”Dr. Fager’s Gal won the 6 1/2-fur-
long Beverly J. Lewis Stakes against open company at Los Alamitos Race Course in September 2015. The 4-year-old daughter of Wild Desert ran in six stakes in her next seven
starts, including the Grade 2 Great Lady M at Los Al and the Saylor-ville Stakes at Prairie Meadows. She finished second in the Saylorville and was fourth in the restricted C.E.R.F. Stakes at Del Mar July 20 in her last start.
Jelm is very familiar with Dr. Fager’s Gal, having purchased her as agent for Hollendorfer and JW Singer at the 2015 OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale.
“We were having a tough time buying at that sale, and she just stood out physically to us. We weren’t very familiar with the sire at the time, but we liked the Wild Again,” Jelm said of Wild Desert’s grandsire. “She looked like she had some speed, has a beauti-ful female family. Her second dam is a half to Unbridled. The fact that she was a New York-bred didn’t affect our decision on purchasing her.”
Quezon, at 3-1, and Dr. Fager’s Gal, at 7-2, are second and third choices behind Lady Sheila Stable’s Hot City Girl. Trained by Linda Rice, Hot City Girl earned champion New York-bred 3-year-old filly honors for her 2015 season that included vic-tories in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks and Safely Kept Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 La Brea.
Little Bear Cat, Non Finisce Mai, Court Dancer, Hot House Rose and Familyofroses complete the Union Avenue field.
Union Avenue – Continued from page 12
Maryland Jockey ClubHot City Girl is favored in the Union Avenue.
14 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
Thursday, August 18.
1ST (1:00PM). $56,000, CLM $32,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 3/8M (INNER TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 5, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Winter Springs (FR) ....... J. Velazquez ..................... R. Handal ..................... 2-12 ..... 2 ............Cotton Town ................... F. Geroux ......................... D. Lukas ..................... 15-13 ..... 3 ............Neoclassic ...................... J. Rosario ........................ A. Quartarolo ................ 8-14 ..... 4 ............Dream Man .................... J. Alvarado ...................... G. Contessa .................. 9-55 ..... 5 ............Artic North ..................... R. Santana, Jr. ................. D. Cannizzo .................. 4-16 ..... 6 ............Dendrite ......................... J. Torres .......................... C. Martin ...................... 9-2
2ND (1:33PM). $28,000, CLM $14,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 7FExacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 4, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Cee No More .................. V. Lebron ......................... J. Mazza ..................... 20-12 ..... 2 ............Ghareeb ......................... P. Lopez ........................... G. Weaver..................... 6-13 ..... 3 ............Best Man ........................ A. Arroyo ......................... R. Rodriguez .............. 12-14 ..... 4 ............Papa Tom ....................... J. Torres .......................... R. Ubillo ..................... 30-15 ..... 5 ............Norm the Giant ............... S. Camacho, Jr. ............... E. DeLauro ................. 12-16 ..... 6 ............Sound of Freedom ......... F. Arrieta .......................... O. Barrera, III ............. 30-17 ..... 7 ............Swivel ............................ E. Cancel .......................... D. Shivmangal ............ 10-18 ..... 8 ............Don’t Point ..................... J. Rosario ........................ R. Falcone, Jr. ............ 10-19 ..... 9 ............Il Fratello ........................ M. Franco ........................ J. Toscano, Jr. ............ 10-110..... 10 ..........Shadow Rider ................ I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ G. Contessa .................. 4-111..... 11 ..........Chubby Master ............... L. Saez ............................. J. Sharp ........................ 5-112..... 12 ..........Marble Falls .................... F. Geroux ......................... D. Jacobson ............... 10-113..... 13 ..........Grey Glory ...................... J. Ortiz ............................. D. Gargan ..................... 6-1
3RD (2:06PM). $83,000, MSW, 3 YO’S & UP, F & M , 6 1/2FExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... 4 ............Arabic Style .................... M. Franco ........................ K. McLaughlin .............. 3-11a .... 6 ............Felini .............................. J. Rosario ........................ K. McLaughlin .............. 3-12 ..... 1 ............Breaking Bread ............... S. Bridgmohan ................ A. Stall, Jr. .................... 9-23 ..... 2 ............Chase Motto ................... J. Castellano .................... C. Brown ...................... 8-54 ..... 3 ............Presumptuous ............... K. Carmouche .................. H. Bond ...................... 20-15 ..... 5 ............Zondaq ........................... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ R. Rodriguez .............. 12-16 ..... 7 ............Blenheim Palace ............. J. Ortiz ............................. C. McGaughey III ......... 5-2
4TH (2:40PM). $78,000, AOC $40,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8MExacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Battle of Evermore ......... J. Castellano .................... C. Brown ...................... 3-12 ..... 2 ............Becker’s Galaxy .............. R. Santana, Jr. ................. T. Amoss ...................... 8-13 ..... 3 ............Thirst for Glory .............. J. Rosario ........................ J. Kimmel ..................... 6-14 ..... 4 ............Bullheaded Boy .............. I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ D. Donk ...................... 10-15 ..... 5 ............One Sided ...................... J. Velazquez ..................... T. Pletcher .................... 4-16 ..... 6 ............Gridley Here ................... L. Saez ............................. K. McPeek .................... 9-27 ..... 7 ............Clifton Pleasure .............. M. Franco ........................ J. Englehart .................. 7-2
5TH (3:14PM). $73,000, MSW, 2 YO, F , 5 1/2F (TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 6, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Impazible Angela ............ A. Arroyo ......................... A. Adsit ...................... 10-12 ..... 2 ............My Mission .................... J. Velazquez ..................... M. Dilger ...................... 6-13 ..... 3 ............My First Gal .................... F. Geroux ......................... M. Hennig .................. 12-14 ..... 4 ............You Promise .................. M. Luzzi ........................... B. Brown .................... 10-15 ..... 5 ............Very Fashionable ............ J. Ortiz ............................. M. Hushion .................. 9-26 ..... 6 ............Divine Cause .................. P. Lopez ........................... G. Weaver..................... 3-17 ..... 7 ............Reconsider It .................. S. Camacho, Jr. ............... J. Hertler .................... 15-18 ..... 8 ............Sharp Lacey ................... R. Santana, Jr. ................. G. Contessa .................. 5-19 ..... 9 ............Emiliana’s Hope .............. M. Franco ........................ D. Donk ...................... 10-110..... 10 ..........Anna Liffey ..................... J. Torres .......................... C. O’Brien ................... 20-111..... AE..........Unbridledadventure ........ L. Saez ............................. P. Serpe ...................... 15-112..... AE..........Miss Horoscope ............. J. Torres .......................... A. Adsit ...................... 12-113..... AE..........Summer Sweet .............. M. Franco ........................ C. Clement.................... 8-514..... AE..........Bonita Springs ............... F. Geroux ......................... T. Bush ....................... 12-115..... MTO ......Song for the Soul ........... J. Rosario ........................ W. Ward ....................... 2-116..... MTO ......Tainted Angel ................. L. Saez ............................. A. Adsit ........................ 5-2
6TH (3:48PM). $73,000, MSW, 2 YO, 6FExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Chatter Pattern ............... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ R. Rodriguez .............. 12-12 ..... 2 ............Pimm’s Cup.................... D. Davis ........................... K. McPeek .................. 20-13 ..... 3 ............Ethan Hunt ..................... J. Castellano .................... T. Pletcher .................... 9-54 ..... 4 ............Dab ................................ R. Santana, Jr. ................. J. Terranova, II ........... 10-15 ..... 5 ............Bodie Ramsey ................ J. Rosario ........................ M. Maker .................... 15-16 ..... 6 ............Shipthegrip .................... A. Arroyo ......................... M. Montoya ................ 20-17 ..... 7 ............Honor and Pleasure ....... M. Franco ........................ T. Albertrani ................ 12-18 ..... 8 ............Mirai ............................... J. Ortiz ............................. C. Brown ...................... 2-19 ..... 9 ............Barnacle Bill ................... S. Bridgmohan ................ M. Dilger .................... 10-110..... 10 ..........Blame the Thief .............. P. Lopez ........................... T. Hills .......................... 8-1
7TH (4:24PM). $85,000, ALW, 3 YO’S & UP, F & M , 7FExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 4, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Lady Constance .............. L. Saez ............................. D. Romans ................... 8-12 ..... 2 ............Not Taken ....................... R. Santana, Jr. ................. J. Terranova, II ........... 12-13 ..... 3 ............Fifth and Madison .......... J. Velazquez ..................... T. Pletcher .................... 3-14 ..... 4 ............Inheritance ..................... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ S. Asmussen ................ 9-25 ..... 5 ............Open Arms ..................... J. Castellano .................... I. Wilkes ....................... 4-16 ..... 6 ............Kelsocait ........................ K. Carmouche .................. G. Contessa .................. 8-17 ..... 7 ............Malibu Stacy .................. M. Franco ........................ G. Weaver..................... 5-2
8TH (5:02PM). $93,000, AOC $80,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 5 1/2F (TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Saratoga Dreamer .......... J. Castellano .................... C. Clement.................... 5-22 ..... 2 ............Dowse’s Beach ............... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ C. Clement.................... 9-23 ..... 3 ............Angry Moon ................... K. Carmouche .................. C. Englehart ................ 12-14 ..... 4 ............Mosler ............................ J. Rosario ........................ W. Mott ........................ 9-55 ..... MTO ......Mewannarose ................. I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ D. Jacobson ................. 3-16 ..... 6 ............Flashaway ...................... J. Lezcano ....................... M. Casse .................... 10-17 ..... 7 ............Night Officer ................... J. Ortiz ............................. B. Brown ...................... 5-18 ..... 8 ............Sandy’z Slew .................. J. Velazquez ..................... R. Schosberg ............. 12-19 ..... 9 ............Spartiatis ........................ J. Alvarado ...................... L. Blusiewicz .............. 20-1
9TH (5:40PM). $100,000, STK - THE UNION AVENUE, 3 YO’S & UP, F & M , 6 1/2FExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Little Bear Cat ................. F. Geroux ......................... D. Cannizzo ................ 20-12 ..... 2 ............Non Finisce Mai ............. A. Arroyo ......................... G. Gullo ...................... 20-13 ..... 3 ............Quezon ........................... M. Franco ........................ R. Ribaudo ................... 3-14 ..... 4 ............Court Dancer .................. R. Santana, Jr. ................. D. Cannizzo .................. 6-15 ..... 5 ............Hot House Rose ............. J. Castellano .................... T. Hills ........................ 10-16 ..... 6 ............Dr. Fager’s Gal ................ J. Rosario ........................ J. Hollendorfer ............. 7-27 ..... 7 ............Hot City Girl ................... J. Ortiz ............................. L. Rice .......................... 2-18 ..... 8 ............Familyofroses ................. J. Velazquez ..................... N. Terracciano ............ 10-1
10TH (6:17PM). $45,000, MCL $40,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 5 1/2F (TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta1 ..... 1 ............Catapult Jack .................. J. Rosario ........................ D. Cannizzo ................ 10-11a .... MTO ......Cold Revenge ................. R. Santana, Jr. ................. D. Cannizzo ................ 10-12 ..... 2 ............Enchanted Forest ........... J. Davis ............................ K. LeBlanc .................. 30-13 ..... 3 ............Slapstick ........................ M. Franco ........................ T. Morley ...................... 5-24 ..... 4 ............Irish Hope ...................... S. Camacho, Jr. ............... R. Metivier .................... 6-15 ..... 5 ............Peculiar Sensation ......... J. Ortiz ............................. N. Esler ........................ 4-16 ..... 6 ............Schout Bay ..................... A. Arroyo ......................... G. DiPrima .................. 20-17 ..... 7 ............Priest N the Rabbi .......... R. Santana, Jr. ................. S. Asmussen ................ 9-28 ..... 8 ............Thawed Out .................... E. Cancel .......................... J. Englehart .................. 8-19 ..... 9 ............A Chip and a Chair ......... J. Castellano .................... G. Contessa ................ 20-110..... 10 ..........Walk Proud .................... L. Saez ............................. C. Fisher ..................... 12-111..... AE..........Hopper Dropper ............. J. Torres .......................... R. Ubillo ..................... 15-112..... AE..........Leatherhead Lurie .......... A. Arroyo ......................... G. DiPrima .................. 20-113..... MTO ......Secret Scholar ................ J. Torres .......................... R. Ubillo ....................... 8-1
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THURSDAY SARATOGA ENTRIES
15Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
grid
the Power
Race #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
910
Winter SpringsDream ManArtic North
Shadow RiderGhareeb
Grey GloryChase Motto
McLaughlin entryBlenheim Palace
One SidedClifton Pleasure
Battle Of EvermoreSummer SweetDivine Cause
Very FashionableMirai
Ethan HuntBlame The Thief
Malibu StacyFifth And Madison
Open ArmsMosler
Saratoga DreamerNight OfficerHot City Girl
QuezonDr. Fager’s Gal
SlapstickPeculiar SensationPriest N The Rabbi
Dream ManArtic North
Winter SpringsShadow Rider
Norm The GiantGhareeb
Chase MottoBreaking Bread
McLaughlin entryClifton Pleasure
Gridley HereBecker’s GalaxyTainted Angel
Summer SweetDivine Cause
MiraiEthan Hunt
DabMalibu StacyOpen ArmsInheritance
MoslerMewannaroseNight Officer
Dr. Fager’s GalQuezon
FamilyofrosesSlapstick
Peculiar SensationPriest N The Rabbi
Dream ManWinter Springs
DendriteGhareeb
Don’t PointGrey Glory
Blenheim PalaceBreaking BreadChase MottoOne Sided
Clifton PleasureBattle Of Evermore
Summer SweetDivine Cause
Very FashionableEthan Hunt
MiraiDab
Malibu StacyOpen ArmsInheritance
MoslerDowse’s BeachNight Officer
Dr. Fager’s GalHot City Girl
QuezonPriest N The Rabbi
Catapult JackSlapstick
DendriteDream ManArtic North
Shadow RiderGhareeb
Don’t PointBreaking BreadChase Motto
PresumptuousBattle Of Evermore
One SidedThirst For Glory
Divine CauseSharp Lacey
Emiliana’s HopeMirai
Ethan HuntPimm’s CupInheritance
Malibu StacyOpen Arms
MoslerSaratoga Dreamer
FlashawayQuezon
Non Finisce MaiHot House Rose
Priest N The RabbiWalk Proud
Catapult Jack
Dream ManNeoclassic
Winter SpringsGrey Glory
Norm The GiantMarble Falls
Breaking BreadBlenheim Palace
Chase MottoBattle Of Evermore
Thirst For GloryClifton Pleasure
Song For The SoulVery Fashionable
UnbridledadventureEthan Hunt
Blame The ThiefMirai
Open ArmsMalibu Stacy
KelsocaitMosler
Saratoga DreamerMewannaroseHot City Girl
QuezonDr. Fager’s GalSecret Scholar
SlapstickA Chip And A Chair
2016 Records 71/214 67/214 61/214 48/214 52/214
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Chad Summers
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16 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
From start to finish...30 years running!From start to finish...30 years running!
Saturday, October 8, 2016Post Time 7:05 PM
Featuring the
West Virginia Breeders ClassicAnd the Breeders Classics Races
West Virginia Breeders Classics, [email protected] • www.wvbc.com
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SAM HUFF - CHAIRMAN EMERITUSTV Coverage on Fox Sports Network, Comcast Mid-Atlantic & TVG2
BY TOM LAWGeoff Blanck decided not to let this opportunity
slip.A partner in the Hat Creek Racing group that
owns Con Te Partiro, Blanck squeezed a cou-ple hours into an already busy day to make the 45-minute drive south to Saratoga Springs to watch the Scat Daddy filly compete Wednesday in the $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes.
“I try to get down several times a summer, but I usually come for the day,” said Blanck, who owns Forest Lake Camp on the border of Warrens- Tod Marks
Con Te Partiro draws off to win Wednesday’s Bolton Landing for trainer Wesley Ward.
WhoooshWard-trained sprinterCon Te Partiro roars home late in feature
BOLTON LANDING STAKES RECAP
Continued On Page 17
17Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
Larry Dodd Wheeler (American, b. 1942)
“Saratoga Lane (Oklahoma)” by Larry Dodd Wheeler, Oil on Canvas, 18” x 24”
Featured Artists:Christine M. Cancelli, Heather St. Clair Davis, Kathleen Friedenberg, Booth Malone, Leland Neff, Peter Smith, Andrea Steiner, Roman Szolkowski, Larry Dodd Wheeler
Christine M. CancelliEquestrian & Sporting Art Exhibition at the Hampton Inn & Suites
August 1st - August 28th • Open Daily: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm25 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs • Saratoga A & B Rooms • (732) 503 -7944
burg and Chestertown with his wife Shalagh. “I literally wasn’t able to come today but I said, ‘I’m coming for this race. I have to do it.’ ”
Blanck, his wife and two daugh-ters, Emma, 13, and Annecy, 11, along with some friends, arrived in the paddock with just enough time to spare to watch Con Te Partiro get tacked up. They chatted with jock-ey John Velazquez and watched her walk out of the walking ring to warm up for the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint.
“I literally picked them up at whitewater rafting and they changed in the car,” Blanck said. “We ran into the paddock, got into the paddock to say hi to the horse and then ran out here and that was that. Exciting.”
The adrenaline of the Blancks’ Ad-irondack sojourn paled in compari-son to what unfolded on the Mellon Turf Course in the Bolton Landing as Con Te Partiro avoided potential di-saster to draw off to a convincing 5 3/4-length victory over longshot Jazz Lady.
“We walked in 20 minutes before the race and now we have to head
back,” Blanck said from the first floor of the clubhouse after the winner’s presentation. “But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t come for the 45-min-ute window I had and the horse did well. I’ve just dreamed about getting into a winner’s circle so that was pret-ty awesome.”
Making her third start, Con Te Partiro did a pretty awesome job get-ting her self-described “very small owner” into the winner’s circle. Sent off as the 9-1 fourth choice in the field of eight, Con Te Partiro broke well but couldn’t match the runoff speed of Big City Dreamin in the opening furlong.
Velazquez was content to let her track behind Big City Dreamin, Heartspoke and Jazz Lady while cov-ered up by 3-2 favorite Lull up the backstretch into the turn. He stayed on the inside around the turn and started to move in tandem with China Grove and Jose Ortiz, just behind the advancing Lull and Manny Franco past the midpoint of the turn.
Heartspoke drifted out slightly, Lull clipped heels and she and Fran-co went down in a heap. Lull landed hard and slid several yards. Velazquez narrowly avoided the faller, but Con
Bolton Landing – Continued from page 16
Tod MarksJohn Velazquez guides Con Te Partiro back to the winner’s circle.
Continued On Page 18
18 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
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Te Partiro never changed stride and picked off rivals quickly in the stretch.
“They came out running, I didn’t have enough speed to be there, got squeezed at the half-mile pole and I sat there thinking, ‘Make one run with her,’ ” Velazquez said. “When that horse fell in front of me I kind of squeezed back to the inside and came out at the eighth pole.”
Con Te Partiro passed the tir-ing Heartspoke and Jazz Lady at the eighth pole and took aim at the leg-weary Big City Dreamin outside the sixteenth pole, blew past and drew off under two taps of Velazquez’s left-handed whip in deep stretch. Jazz Lady held second, 1 ½ lengths clear of Heartspoke. China Grove, who wasn’t as fortunate as the winner around the turn, finished fourth after swerving slightly to avoid the fallen Lull.
“I was right in behind it but a little to the inside of him,” Velazquez said of Franco, who got to his feet quickly after the spill. “When he slid out to
the outside, I went back to the inside. I was kind of inching to come out of there and my horse, she wanted to get out of there but at the same time I wanted to hold her inside for as long as I could to make the turn and when I saw that horse clip heels and fall I went back to the inside.”
Lull ran loose as the field finished the race and for a few minutes while the field came back to get unsaddled. The daughter of War Front was even-tually caught by outriders and walked
back to the barn area. The eerily silent crowd finally broke into applause as Franco emerged from the ambulance. Christophe Clement, who trains Lull for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, met Franco on the track and walked up the stretch to watch his filly walk back.
Franco walked back to the jock’s room and rode the finale, finishing sixth aboard Master Magician.
“When we got to the turn, the quarter pole, the horse in front of me
was getting out,” Franco said, “but I don’t know, I come riding and they just clipped heels.”
Wesley Ward trains Con Te Partiro for Hat Creek Racing, a partnership of 50 ownership shares in the filly purchased for $130,000 at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale.
A half-sister to stakes winner Don-worth out of the Street Cry mare Temple Street, Con Te Partiro broke her maiden in her debut going 4 1/2 furlongs April 13 at Keeneland. Con Te Partiro faced males in her second start and finished fourth behind sta-blemate Silvertoni in the Kentucky Ju-venile two days before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Blanck didn’t make any of those races. Nor did he make it to Red Lodge’s victory in the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park Aug. 6.
He made it Wednesday, no matter what.
“That was the first time we’ve ever been a part of that, so I’m very excited,” Blanck said as he watched the replay with his family. “We own a couple others, but I haven’t been able to be there in person when they won. And it’s the first time I’ve seen this horse.”
Bolton Landing – Continued from page 17
Tod MarksGeoff Blanck (center) and family accept the Bolton Landing trophy.
19Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
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Saratoga was trying to tell George Mahoney something.
The long-time steeplechase owner had his first runner here in 2014, and watched Wantan finish fifth of five finishers in one race and pull up while hopelessly beaten in another. Last year, he had two runners and one managed to finish third – in a race with three finishers. This year wasn’t going much better as his first runner was rained out of a start Aug. 10 and his second, Dino Mite, refused to start the following day. Tod Marks
Detroit Blues (Sean McDermott) flies a fence early in his allowance hurdle win Wednesday.
Bad Listener
Detroit Blues gives Mahoney first Spa win
WEDNESDAY RACING RECAP
Continued On Page 21
21Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
Winners are made in the morning.
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© Bona Venture Stables 2016 Photo: © Adam Mooshian 2016
Wednesday, Mahoney got a chance to talk as his Rosbrian Farm silks graced the Saratoga winner’s circle for the first time after a $65,000 al-lowance hurdle won by Detroit Blues – the horse whose race was rained out a week earlier.
“Euphoric and terribly, terribly de-lighted,” Mahoney responded when asked what it felt like. “It’s something everybody wants to do. This is the epicenter of racing, this is where it all is. It’s great, a real thrill to win a race here. We’ve had bad luck for a year, for a year, and now maybe we broke the ice.”
Bred in England and raced there by trainer Jamie Snowden through this spring, Detroit Blues was imported by Mahoney and trainer Ricky Hendriks with Saratoga in mind. The 6-year-old chestnut fit the bill – as a maiden hurdle winner last spring whose form had tailed off over his last three starts – lopsided defeats including a pull-up going 3 miles over chase fences at Ludlow in May.
Wednesday, he met seven others led by mercurial favorite Unsinkable who was bet down to 3-5 despite being scratched at the start of a race here July 27. The gray Irish-bred froze briefly in the paddock and was unruly warming up, but made it away from the flag OK. The rest was a mess as the favorite jumped poorly and battled an unsettled Personal Start up front for most of the early going.
Sean McDermott placed Detroit Blues, second to Unsinkable in a flat prep at Parx July 10, in fifth early as the field got strung out over the first lap. Things got much tighter on the fi-nal run up the backstretch, as Detroit Blues established position between the tiring leaders going to the last fence. He entered the turn with a slim lead and was soon joined by Hardrock Eleven, who went up by a neck to the outside. Detroit Blues went back to the front exiting the turn, built a quick 2-length advantage and won by 2 1/4 lengths at 13-1. Hardrock Elev-en (16-1) stayed for second with Blue Atlantic (10-1) third. The $2 trifecta paid $1,688 and the $2 superfecta paid $10,139 as the top two choices – Unsinkable and Duke Of Medina – finished far back.
“If there wasn’t going to be a lot of pace on, I was going to jump off and make it,” McDermott said of his pre-race thinking. “There was so much pace on, that’s where I had to sit. It’s the first time jumping those hurdles, mid-race he started jumping really well, he stayed all the way to the line. He’s a lovely, honest horse.”
Mahoney and Hendriks bought Detroit Blues, a son of Irish-bred stal-lion Tobougg, without ever seeing him.
“We bought him sight unseen,” said Hendriks. “I loved him when he showed up. He’s a great type, about 16 hands, not too big, just a nice-looking horse, well made.”
The win halted a Saratoga drought for Hendriks, too, whose last win at the Spa came in 2004 (estimated).
“Oh man . . . I don’t know, it’s been awhile,” he said when asked about his most recent win here. “Hudson Bay? He won twice up here one year. Tres Touche won here. He might have been the last.”
Hudson Bay did indeed win at Saratoga, twice at the 1996 meet and once in 1998, for Hendriks. Tres Tou-che won the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup in 2004.
And Detroit Blues got it done in 2016.
– Joe Clancy
• Trainer Carlos Martin sad-dled his fifth winner at the meet in Wednesday’s last race as Greyjoy won a 6-furlong maiden claimer on the main track, but the victory didn’t come without its share of adversity. Martin was forced to find a rider to take the place of programmed jockey Jackie Davis after a medical issue this morning. Leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.’s mount, Lubsen, scratched earlier in the day, leaving him available.
“I feel bad for Jackie. She put a lot of time into this horse,” Martin said after the race. “She had a little faint spell today, but hopefully she’ll be back and we’ll get her on some more horses.”
Davis rode Greyjoy to a second in the gray son of Rockport Harbor’s prior start, a maiden claimer at Bel-mont June 23.
“It’s a little bit bittersweet because she’s done a lot of work in the morn-ings the last six, seven months,” Mar-tin said. “She’s been a big part of the
Wednesday – Continued from page 20
Tod MarksStone and Jose Lezcano return after winning Wednesday’s fifth race.
Continued On Page 22
22 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
program. That’s the only thing I’m a little bit sad about that she didn’t get to ride the horse, but we’ll get some more good horses for her, hopefully soon.”
Martin didn’t hesitate when he saw the meet’s leading jockey open in the finale.
“But it just worked out when I saw Irad Ortiz was open, he’s a dy-namite jockey,” Martin continued. “I called (agent) Steve Rushing and said I might have a little bit of an issue, I’d love for you to ride my horse I think he’s got a good chance and he said I’d love to ride the horse and it worked out great.”
Greyjoy broke a step slowly and came away 10th in the 12-horse field. Ortiz guided Greyjoy from his outer post position to the rail entering the turn as 73-1 shot Black Doblin led the field through a :22.68 opening quarter. He passed three rivals along the wood before angling out at the midway point of the turn. Greyjoy rocketed up, passing a few more hors-es. Although the 4-year-old started 7 lengths behind, he trailed by only 2 1/2 lengths angling into the stretch.
Black Doblin faded through a :46.27 half-mile and Tree Top Lov-er took the lead in the stretch, shift-ing to the rail as Greyjoy charged up three deep. While under right-handed encouragement from Joe Bravo, Tree Top Lover bore out, bumping Greyjoy as the geldings drew on even terms.
Greyjoy shifted out in response, but kept his head forward. He ran on un-waveringly, pulling away to win by 1 ½ lengths.
“We were coming by so quickly, I saw that horse come out, I wasn’t worried,” Martin said. “I know that horse bumped us pretty hard or else we probably would’ve won by 5. I wasn’t really too concerned about that, just waiting to get in the win-ner’s circle picture.”
Although Martin went 3-for-39 at the Belmont spring/summer meet, he’s now 5-for-15 at Saratoga. He’s en-joyed another two seconds and thirds.
“It’s been a special meet,” he said. “We’ve had some good owners that
let us bring the horses along slowly. It just seemed like we had a little bit of a rough Belmont, and things are just clicking. This is the way the game is. Sometimes you get on a good roll and right now we’re on a good roll and the horses are running well.”
Brandon Valvo
• Ian Wilkes smiled wide.“It’s been a long time between
drinks,” the trainer said. “Saratoga can do that to you. This is the best racing in the country so it’s tough. The downs are pretty down and the ups are up. Just how the game goes.”
Wilkes was certainly up Wednesday, winning two races from three starters.
Lothenbach Stable’s Askfor For-giveness and jockey Jose Lezcano started Wilkes’ day off right, darting 6 furlongs on the dirt to win the third. The Mineshaft filly spent nine months on the sidelines, returning in June to finish second in a maiden at Belmont June 18 and finish second again at Saratoga July 24.
“I found somebody I could beat,” joked Wilkes. “No, she ran good. She was very relaxed today. She saddled very calm today, which was good. She was a little nervous last time, so I was very pleased the way she handled it today, and she showed it out there on the track.”
Wilkes returned to the winner’s circle after the fifth, this time joining Marylou Whitney Stables’ John Hen-drickson and homebred Stone for the victory shot.
Hendrickson descended the club-house stairs just ahead of Wilkes, his buttercup-colored suit gleaming near-ly as bright as the smile on his face.
“We won a claiming race,” Hen-drickson said with fabricated enthu-siasm, but the grin on his face alluded to more excitement than the words could express. “A win’s a win. It’s a homebred. It’s out of (Stone Legacy) that was second in the Kentucky Oaks to Rachel Alexandra, 88 lengths back, but still second in the Kentucky Oaks, so we’re very thrilled that a homebred can win, even if it’s a claiming race. Any race that you win at Saratoga feels like a Derby.”
Stone made his first start with Wil-kes at Churchill Downs May 22, after previously training with Nick Zito, finishing eighth in a 1 1/8-mile maid-en special on the dirt. Wilkes changed everything for Wednesday’s race but the name on the program – switching the surface to dirt, shortening to 7 furlongs, putting the reins in Jose Lez-cano’s hands and returning Stone to the gate as a first time gelding.
“I think gelding him really helped him,” said Wilkes. “When I ran him last time I ran him long and he was just too rank and I wanted to shorten him up and just get him to relax and get him finishing. I do think he’ll run long. He’s not the most correct horse, just a big heavy horse. So I thought it would be a good spot, good time to geld him. John and Marylou were quite happy to do it, no problems.”
With the double, Wilkes has now
Wednesday – Continued from page 21
Tod MarksAskfor Forgiveness (4) holds off John’s Catnip to win the third.
Tod MarksAll In Fun (1) leads a strong field toward the wire in Wednesday’s fourth. Continued On Page 23
23Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
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won three races at the meet. He celebrated his first win with Marylou Whitney Stable’s Bird Song in a first-level allowance July 24.
– Shayna Tiller
• All In Fun took Wednesday’s fourth, a 1 1/8-mile three-other-than allowance optional on the turf that could have passed for a stakes race. All five runners in the field showed stakes lines in their past performances, including even-money favorite Akatea. The Irish-bred raced 17 1/4 lengths behind
Tepin two starts back in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland. Industrial Policy came in from the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine July 3, where she ran behind Canada’s 2014 Horse of the Year Lexie Lou.
All In Fun, fourth in the Dahlia Stakes at Laurel three starts back, came in off a second and a nose victory in allowance optional claimers at Belmont Park.
She broke from the rail as the 9-5 second choice and tracked pacesetter Darling Sky to Industrial Policy’s inside. Darling Sky led through fractions of :24.50, :50.09 and 1:14.19 as All In Fun loped along 1 1/2 lengths behind under a strong hold by Javier Castellano.
All In Fun angled three wide as the field straight-ened for the stretch. The chestnut filly felt a few taps on her right shoulder as Castellano shook up his mount, the cherry sleeves of Stuart Janney, III’s colors shooting back and forth. All In Fun engulfed the pacesetters, but needed to hold off late-charging My Cara Mia in the final furlong. All In Fun main-tained a half-length advantage to the winning post, stopping the clock in 1:50.57.
All In Fun earned her fourth win from 13 starts and boosted her earnings to $249,630. The Tapit daughter purchased for $200,000 from the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale gave trainer Shug McGaughey his third win of the meet.
– Brandon Valvo
Wednesday – Continued from page 22
24 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
Wednesday August 17.
FIRST $65,000, ALLOWANCE, 4 YO’S & UP, 2 1/16M9 Detroit Blues (GB) S. McDermott $28.00 $9.10 $5.601 Hardrock Eleven B. Crowley $12.20 $7.105 Blue Atlantic P. Young $6.60Ch Gelding 2010, by Tobougg (IRE) - Blue Missy by Swain (IRE)Owner: Rosbrian Farm. Trainer: Richard Hendriks. Breeder: R. W. Huggins (GB). Late Scratches: Boogie FeevaTime: 3:51.35. Exacta (9-1), $321.50; Superfecta (9-1-5-6), $10,139.00; Trifecta (9-1-5), $1,688.00
SECOND $32,000, CLAIMING $16,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M5 Lutheran Miss J. Ortiz $3.20 $2.20 $2.104 Spa Town Parade F. Arrieta $9.90 $3.902 Broadway Music Gal J. Torres $2.90Dk B/Br M 2011, by Thewayyouare - Wittenberg Miss by Smart StrikeOwner: Delehanty Stock Farm. Trainer: Jason Servis. Breeder: Delehanty Stock Farm (NY).Late Scratches: Shakesperian DreamClaimed: Jademarie claimed by Sciacca, Gary for $16,000Time: 1:52.17Daily Double (9-5), $45.80; Exacta (5-4), $40.40; Quinella (4-5), $26.20; Superfecta (5-4-2-1), $200.00; Trifecta (5-4-2), $128.00
THIRD $73,000, NY-BRED MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3 & UP, 6F4 Askfor Forgiveness J. Lezcano $7.50 $3.80 $3.102 John’s Catnip I. Ortiz, Jr. $7.60 $4.106 Palladian Bridge S. Bridgmohan $5.90B Filly 2013, by Mineshaft - Be a Quiet Honey by Quiet AmericanOwner: Lothenbach Stables, Inc.. Trainer: Ian Wilkes. Breeder: Thomas/Burleson (NY). Time: 1:11.72Daily Double (5-4), $14.20; Exacta (4-2), $58.00; Superfecta (4-2-6-5), $1,228.00; Trifecta (4-2-6), $476.50; Pic 3 (9-5-4), $113.00
FOURTH $93,000, AOC $80,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M1 All in Fun J. Castellano $5.80 $3.80 $2.703 My Cara Mia P. Lopez $6.00 $3.605 Industrial Policy F. Geroux $2.90Ch Filly 2012, by Tapit - Devils Humor by Distorted HumorOwner: Janney, III, Stuart, S.. Trainer: Claude McGaughey III. Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). Time: 1:50.57Daily Double (4-1), $24.60; Exacta (1-3), $23.00; Quinella (1-3), $14.20; Superfecta (1-3-5-2), $89.40; Trifecta (1-3-5), $64.50; Pic 3 (5-4-1), $40.20
FIFTH $45,000, MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 7F7 Stone J. Lezcano $28.60 $11.00 $7.104 Enduring Warrior S. Bridgmohan $8.30 $6.302 Will Did It L. Saez $5.30B Gelding 2013, by Quality Road - Stone Legacy by BirdstoneOwner: Marylou Whitney Stables LLC. Trainer: Ian Wilkes. Breeder: Marylou Whitney Stables LLC (KY).Claimed: Will Did It claimed by Jacobson, David for $40,000, Sugar Trip claimed by Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. for $40,000Time: 1:23.12Daily Double (1-7), $118.50; Exacta (7-4), $220.50; Superfecta (7-4-2-8), $14,775.00; Trifecta (7-4-2), $1,133.00; Pic 3 (4-1-7), $412.50
SIXTH $83,000, MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/16M8 Llanita (GB) F. Geroux $8.10 $4.70 $3.804 Crystal Wave J. Castellano $10.00 $6.001 Above the Mark L. Saez $8.00B Filly 2013, by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) - Chill (FR) by Verglas (IRE)Owner: Schwartz, Martin, S.. Trainer: Chad Brown. Breeder: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny (GB).Late Scratches: Spicy Temper, OpinedTime: 1:44.88Daily Double (7-8), $145.50; Exacta (8-4), $78.00; Superfecta (8-4-1-3), $1,642.00; Trifecta (8-4-1), $541.00; Pic 3 (1-7-8), $538.00; Pic 4 (4-1-7-8), $1,611.00; Pic 5 (5/6-4-1-7-8), $3,336.00
SEVENTH $85,000, ALLOWANCE, 3 YO’S & UP, 5 1/2F6 Cort J. Velazquez $5.50 $3.30 $2.504 Lord of Love J. Alvarado $3.60 $2.4010 Dr. Dorr J. Rosario $3.40Dk B/ Br Gelding 2012, by Horse Greeley - Bema by PulpitOwner: Schera, Matthew. Trainer: George Weaver. Breeder: Respite Farm (KY).Late Scratches: Magna Light, Evolution, Global PositioningTime: 1:03.13Daily Double (8-6), $28.60; Exacta (6-4), $17.60; Superfecta (6-4-10-3), $160.40; Trifecta (6-4-10), $64.00; Pic 3 (7-8-6), $276.00
EIGHTH $56,000, CLAIMING $32,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M1A Indycott J. Bravo $8.20 $3.90 $3.204 Don Dulce I. Ortiz, Jr. $3.10 $2.502 Praetereo M. Franco $5.50Dk B/ Br G 2010, by A.P. Indy - Seeking the Heart by Seeking the GoldOwner: Bruce Golden Racing and Jacobson, David. Trainer: David Jacobson. Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere (KY).Late Scratches: Transparent, Tarpy’s SurpriseClaimed: Indycott claimed by Ivery Sisters Racing for $32,000Time: 1:50.06Daily Double (6-1), $23.00; Exacta (1-4), $21.20; Superfecta (1-4-2-5), $464.00; Trifecta (1-4-2), $150.00; Consolation Double (6-7), $6.30; Pic 3 (8-6-1), $56.00; (8-6-7), $21.60
NINTH $100,000, STAKES - BOLTON LANDING S., 2 YO, 5 1/2F2 Con Te Partiro J. Velazquez $20.80 $10.00 $6.006 Jazz Lady L. Saez $16.80 $10.408 Heartspoke E. Baird $9.10Dk B/ Br Filly 2014, by Scat Daddy - Temple Street by Street Cry (IRE)Owner: Hat Creek Racing. Trainer: Wesley Ward. Breeder: K.C. Garrett Farm LLC (KY).Late Scratches: Inspired Flight, Made Me Shiver. Time: 1:03.95Daily Double (1-2), $97.00; Exacta (2-6), $233.50; Superfecta (2-6-8-9), $8,735.00; Trifecta (2-6-8), $1,539.00; Pic 3 (6-1-2), $218.00; (6-7-2), $61.50; Place Pix Nine (1/4/8-1/4/6/7/9/10-1/2/4/7-2), $118.50
TENTH $37,000 MDN. CLM. ($20,000) 3&UP, 6F9 Greyjoy I. Ortiz Jr. 13.80 5.70 4.104 Chomsky J. Castellano 4.30 2.903 Tree Top Lover (GB) J. Bravo 4.40Gr. g. 4, Lockport Harbor-Grand Consequence, Grand Slam.Owner: WGG Racing Stable. Trainer: Carlos Martin.Breeder: Mike Abraham (KY). Time: 1:11.10.Exacta $46.60. Trifecta $352.50. Superfecta $3,320. Double $169.50. Pick 3 $1,100. Pick 4 $2,625. Pick 6 (5 Correct) $786. Carryover $40,095.
On-track Handle: $2,676,685. Inter-state Handle: $8,232,154.
Copyright 2016 EQUIBASE Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
SARATOGA RESULTS
www.thisishorseracing.com
Saratoga LeadersTRAINERS ..........................1STChad Brown ..................................24Todd Pletcher ................................17Kiaran McLaughlin ..........................9Rudy Rodriguez ..............................8Mike Maker .....................................8David Jacobson ...............................7Jason Servis ...................................7Bill Mott ..........................................6Charlton Baker ................................6George Weaver................................6Jeremiah Englehart .........................6Carlos Martin ..................................5Steve Asmussen .............................5Gary Contessa .................................5Tom Proctor ....................................5
JOCKEYS ...........................1STIrad Ortiz Jr. ..................................32Jose Ortiz ......................................28John Velazquez .............................27Javier Castellano ...........................26Joel Rosario ..................................17Luis Saez .......................................17Manny Franco ...............................13Jose Lezcano ................................12Ricardo Santana Jr. .........................9Junior Alvarado ...............................7Julien Leparoux ...............................6Eric Cancel ......................................5Florent Geroux ................................5Through Wednesday
25Thursday, augusT 18, 2016 The saraToga special
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Detroit Blues (GB) wins the 1st Llanita (GB) wins the 6th
26 Thursday, augusT 18, 2016The saraToga special
Nobody could write it better than Joe Hirsch covering the beat at Monmouth Park for the Daily Racing Form in 1972.
Johnny Mallano had this buddy who made good money walking hots at Aq-ueduct for Gene Jacobs. The money was the lure for a 16-year-old boy from The Bronx, and so one fall morning two years ago, Mallano accompanied his friend to the Big A and found a career.
That career comes to a close Nov. 30 when John Mallano, the longest tenured valet in the room, retires. Shaved head, a stud in his left ear, looking as fit as when Hirsch was writing about him in the 1970s, Mallano told me he was retiring a few days ago, my next question came out so wrong.
“How long you been in?”Like he had been in prison, Mallano laughed
when he heard the question, actually we laughed together, two racetrackers laughing at the lunacy of our chosen professions.
“I was 15 1/2 years old, a friend of mine said ‘you’re kind of small, come to the track with me.’ I’m from The Bronx, it took us 4 1/2 hours on the train,” Mallano said, outside the jocks’ room Wednesday morning. “Lefty didn’t need anybody so a man named Eugene Jacobs put me to work. It was November, there wasn’t any winter racing, I had to get permission to go to Hialeah with them for the winter. I dropped out of school, my mother signed the papers.”
Mallano didn’t walk horses for long, graduating to the stable pony and then Thoroughbreds, but Ja-cobs’ main owner, Wall Street financier Herbert Al-len didn’t like apprentices so Mallano signed a con-tract with Caesar Kimmel (trainer John Kimmel’s father) and trainer Tommy Heard. Mallano won 103 races as an apprentice, topping the earnings list
while Larry Melancon led all apprentices in wins. Then the struggle began.
Still on the New York circuit, Mallano galloped horses in the morning but had lost his business while battling his weight. He hadn’t ridden a race for about a year when John Tammaro threw him a raft.
“What are you doing?” Tammaro asked.“Nothing,” Mallano said. “Do you want to get back to riding?” Tammaro
asked.“I’m a little heavy,” Mallano said.
“Do you want to go to Maryland?” Tamma-ro asked. “Let me know when you get your weight down and I’ll put you on a few horses and we’ll get you started.”
Mallano relocated to Maryland, got his weight
under control and began to win races again. “I did very good in Maryland,” Mallano said,
paging through win pictures for trainers named Small, Tammaro, Blusiewicz, Forbes, Dutrow…from Bowie, Timonium and all the Maryland tracks.
In 1975, over a 41-day meet at Timonium, Mal-lano won 61 races, lapping the likes of Bill Pass-more, David Dennis, Ben Feliciano, Bobby Fitzger-ald and Danny Wright.
But weight always wins. “I rode for a few more months but my weight
was bad, I said I can’t handle the reducing any-more,” Mallano said. “I went home, galloped hors-es for a few years, then a job opened here in 1979.”
Mallano has worn the NYRA valet shirt ever since, securing some of the best and classiest jock-eys to grace Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct. Matthew Vigliotti was his first jockey, then Alex So-lis when he had the bug, riding for Pancho Martin.
Eddie Maple, Robbie Davis, Craig Perret, Richard Migliore, Ramon Dominguez and Javier Castellano followed, a long list of hard-working, talented gen-tlemen.
Jockeys and valets are business partners, confi-dants, friends, brothers in arms – probably not in that order. The valet knows when the jockey’s hurt-ing, he knows when his weight is winning, he knows when he’s pressing, he knows when home life is off kilter.
At Saratoga, jockeys and valets spend eight hours a day, six days a week together. The jocks’ room is a light-hearted, upbeat place until it isn’t, every jock-ey gets hurt, every valet retrieves the remnants of a fall, grass-stained britches, cracked helmet, saddles with broken trees. It’s a delicate place.
Mallano was there the day Mike Venezia was killed. He was there the day Ramon Dominguez went down and never rode again. He was there for Migliore’s checkered career of falls, comebacks, falls, comebacks and ultimate fall.
“I worked for Richie for 25 years, I’m the god-father to his daughter, I’ve worked for great rid-ers, great people,” Mallano said, rattling off a list of valets and jockeys, photographs and memories. “Snooks was my valet. Billy Gilbert, he played the guitar. Timmy. Blackie. Mr. Murphy. Bollicky, they just spread his ashes. Joe Rienzi. A lot of good guys. When I first came around, I sat on the bench with Jorge Velasquez, Pincay, Bob Ussery, Jean Cruguet, Ron Turcotte, Braulio Baeza, Jacinto, I could go down the line, it’s incredible the guys.”
After 37 years in the room, with three grown children and 42 years of marriage to Josephine (they met on the racetrack), it’s time for Mallano to walk away.
“I’ve thought about it for a while, I made up my mind about two years ago, so that’s what I’m going to do,” Mallano said. “It was a great job, a great life on the racetrack, but it’s time.”
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