Saratoga Turf

Selections for Sun., Aug. 3rd-

2008-08-03T08:55:00.004-04:00

Double- races 1&2: $2DD #1-Diverse, #2-Impressionism, #8-Song Of Love//#4-Wickedly Spicy, #6-Miss Bodine

Dog- race 5: $6W/P #8-Righteous Tiger

Dare- race 6: $2TRI #6-Dancingcolors//#4-Dark Sky, #7-Phi Beta Mom, #9-Kewland//#4, #7, #9

Selections for Sat., Aug. 2nd-

2008-08-02T08:48:00.004-04:00

Double- races 1 &2: $2DD 1,8,11//4,6 ($12)

Dog- race 8: $6W/P #7-Citifiesta ($12)

Dare- (MTO) race 5: $2TRI 11/9,12,13/9,12,13 ($12)

Results: Race 5 stayed on the grass. Otherwise, couldn't get the second half of what would have been a nice double.

meet record: 0/5 $-56.00

Double-dog-dare for Fri., Aug. 1st

2008-08-01T07:43:00.005-04:00

Double, Races 1 and 2-

#3-Panthera Tigre, #5-Seeing Clearly//#2-Unicorn Girl, #3-Casino Kay, #6-Onlygotaminute

Dog, Race 7-

#7-Gold Shamrock

Dare, Race 8-

#5-Blue Lion//#1-Big Al, #3-Golden Weekend, #7-Prussian//#1, #3, #7

Results: Onlygotaminute and Gold Shamrock scratched.

meet record- 0/3 $-32.00

Weekend #1

2008-07-28T10:31:00.002-04:00

Commentator proved once again that when he's right, he's as fast as any we've seen the last five years. Kudos to Nick Zito who continues to showcase his ability to point a horse to a big race and win it.

Speaking of veterans who just keep winning, how about Johnathan Sheppard? You must respect everything he sends out at the Spa, whether it's on the flat or over the jumps.

Ginger Punch had to work hard for her win in the Go For Wand, but Rafael Bejarano went from goat to hero with a daring split of horses in upper stretch to get clear late.

Congratulations to Kent Desormeaux on career win number 5000; it came Sunday afternoon aboard Bella Attrice, a daughter of Tomorrow's Cat out of the great NYB racemare Irish Actress. In addition to much applause and handshaking upon returning to the winner's circle, Kent also received, courtesy of some fellow jockeys, a cake or pie aimed at his face. He deftly avoided most of the assault.

The Jim Dandy had a well-matched field, and more than lived up to expectations; it was a terrific horse race. After a too-fast early half-mile doomed the front runners, it was Macho Again, the Preakness runner-up, holding off Pyro in deep stretch. Added distance would appear to help Pyro, and perhaps hinder Macho Again. In the race before the Jim Dandy, Mambo In Seattle won in convincing fashion in a slightly faster time than Macho Again and stamped himself an improving contender for the Travers, along with runner-up You And I Forever (A.P. Indy x You).

Weekend Beyers:

Commentator- 120

Student Council- 112

Abraaj- 109

Mambo In Seattle- 104

You And I Forever- 104

Macho Again- 102

Pyro- 101

looking back- Opening Day

2008-07-23T22:51:00.001-04:00

No problem, I'll cut the grass tomorrow...or the next day...sure.

Deluge all the way up the Northway...hey, at least there were plenty of open...wet...seats at the Siro's handicapping seminar. Harvey Pack returned for the tenth year as moderator; looked kinda frail, but his mind and sense of humor as still as sharp as a tack. Steve Crist from DRF and Dave Litfin were the guests. Rain falls even heavier (is that possible?) during the session.

Scratches abound...duh. Decide to just play the rolling doubles, can't piss away too much that way, right?

Culture clash moment of 2008, and it happens on opening day, go figure. Outgoing NY State Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno, a big fan and supporter of racing, and a key cog in the franchise decision, was taking a final lap through the clubhouse gladhanding. Hey, who's that guy talking to him, wearing pink linen pants and a pale yellow blazer, with a craggy face and spiked blonde hair? Why, it's Rod Stewart (yes, that Rod Stewart), of course. I knew he was a big football(English) fan, but who knew he was a punter? Must be in town for a show, I reckon. Weird.

So I bet three doubles, twelve dollars each, and hit them all...$41.80, $73.00 and $18.00. I should quit now while I'm perfect, this can't last very long. Still raining on the ride home, then the skies opened up just after hitting the mailbox (all junk-mail) and sprinting to the door. 1.6" of additional rain in one hour. Squirrels look to be considering scuba lessons. All things being equal, a strangely good day. And it's still raining...

Selections: 0/1 $-12.00

Selections- July 23rd

2008-07-22T23:03:00.000-04:00

Double: Races 1 &2-
$5- #6 Dancing Tin Man over #4 Flying Private
$4- #6 Dancing Tin Man over #7 Brave Victory
$3- #10 The Shaghraun over #4 Flying Private

Dog: Race 4-
$6 win/place- #10 Alpha Dancer

Dare: Race 6-
$2 triple #8 Marq Of Love over
#2 Big Train/#5 Of All Times/#7 Bedford Arch over
#2 /#5/ #7

Good luck!!

The Double...

2008-07-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

Saratoga - July 23rd, 2008 - Race 1 Estimated Local Post Time: 1:00 PM
Race Type: Starter Allowance Breed: Thoroughbred Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Purse: $66,000 Distance: One Mile Surface: Inner turf

2 Stormy Mirage (KY)
Ramon A. Dominguez117
Allen Iwinski
4/1

3 Baystreet Bully (FL)
Jean-Luc Samyn
LeRoy S. Jolley
15/1

4 Romp (ARG)
Edgar S. Prado
Bruce R. Brown
15/1

1 Millennium Jet (KY)
Jeffrey Sanchez
Robert Barbara
7/2

5 Love Everybody (FL)
Rajiv Maragh
Gary C. Contessa
20/1

6 Dancing Tin Man (KY)
Cornelio H. Velasquez
David G. Donk
3/1

7 Fijonnes (KY)
John R. Velazquez
Mark A. Hennig
5/1

8 Star Player (KY)
Eibar Coa
Chad C. Brown
8/1

9 Hedge Fund (KY)
Rudy R. Rodriguez
Randi Persaud
30/1

10 The Shaughraun (FL)
Alan Garcia
Dennis S. Lalman
8/1

MTO
11 Saint Barr (KY)
No Rider
Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
7/2

MTO
1A Coach Butts (KY)
No Rider
Robert Barbara
7/2

Saratoga - July 23rd, 2008 - Race 2 Estimated Local Post Time: 1:33 PM
Race Type: Maiden Special Weight Breed: Thoroughbred Age Restriction: Two Year Old
Purse: $62,000 Distance: Five And One Half Furlongs Surface: Dirt

2 Cognito (KY)
Shaun Bridgmohan
Steven M. Asmussen
2/1

3 Prince Teton (KY)
Robby Albarado
Dale L. Romans
10/1

4 Flying Private (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
D. Wayne Lukas
8/1

1 Pious David (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
William I. Mott
3/1

5 Gone Astray (KY)
Alan Garcia
Claude R. McGaughey III
8/1

1A Zensational (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
William I. Mott
3/1

6 Forest Lord (KY)
John R. Velazquez
Ronny W. Werner
8/1

7 Brave Victory (KY)
Edgar S. Prado
Nicholas P. Zito
5/1

8 In Speight of It (KY)
Rajiv Maragh
Timothy Ritvo
15/1

Double-dog-dare

2008-07-22T12:41:00.000-04:00

Each day that I'm attending the races I'll post three selections; the "early daily double", the underdog longshot of the day, and the "dare you to bet this" turf triple.

Opening Day- July 23rd

2008-07-22T12:21:00.000-04:00

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures." - William Shakespeare

So I guess Billy the Bard didn't mind an off track.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 73. South wind between 6 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.