Handicapper's Diary

The Handicapper's Diary feature from DRF Simulcast Daily will be posted every Thursday during the Saratoga meet.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Spy in the Sky (1st, $14.40) dropped in class from a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 A.P. Smithwick, and ran down determined pacesetter Swagger Stick by a head in the Happy Intelluctual Stakes; the time for the 2 3/8-mile steeplechase was 4:42.60 - more than 30 seconds off the course record. Considering the recent stretch of dry weather, the first of the last week must've been designated Slow Pace Day. A lack of pace didn't make any difference to Stream of Gold (6th, $3.60), a Grade 2 winner in March who was dropped into a $60,000 claimer by Zabeel Racing International and Kiaran McLaughlin - connections that have done this sort of thing recently with class-dropping geldings Caesar Beware and Encinas. Stream of Gold (claimed by leading owner Ken Ramsey and Mike Maker) trailed after six furlongs in 1:13.87, angled outside and erased a seven-length deficit through a last 5/16ths in 28.67 seconds as Alan Garcia's third winner on the card. Cagey Girl (8th, $47.00) was allowed to walk through splits of 24.75 and 49.29, and wired the $83,250 Mollie Wilmot overnight stakes as the longest shot on the board. "On form, I didn't belong, basically," said winning trainer David Duggan, who is having a break-out meet. "The only way I was going to beat the horses was here at Saratoga, because she loves the sharp track and she was the lone speed."

Monday, August 25, 2008

Bruce Levine saddled the winners of the early daily double by a combined 23 1/2 lengths, as Driven by Success (1st, $3.10) and Five Star Chowdair (2nd, $6.00) wired their respectice fields by 15 3/4 lengths and 7 3/4 lengths. Driven by Success, a 3-year-old New York-bred gelding, is now 2 for 2 since a layoff/trainer change; he ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.97, which was close to Topsider's 29-year-old track record of 1:14.40 and good for a Beyer of 108. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained firster Regal Ransom (3rd, $4.10) was 2-1 right before post time, but the gate scratch of Golden Jungle meant that Brave Victory ran for purse money only, so the price was knocked down considerably. Regal Ransom, a $675,000 purchase by Darley Stable in February, turned back Brave Victory through seven furlongs in a sharp 1:22.42 under Alan Garcia, who heads into the final week tied atop the standings with John Velazquez. McLaughlin (13 for 49) is tied with Todd Pletcher (13 for 76) after the first five weeks. Talking Treasure (9th, $4.00) upped her Saratoga record to 3 for 3, stretching out from a win in the seven-furlong Fleet Indian to take the Saratoga Dew over Aristo. Last year's winner, ice Cool Kitty, finished a non-threatening third.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Intangaroo (10th, $12.20) and runner-up Miraculous Miss rallied from next-to-last and last in the Ballerina, after 2-1 favorite Sugar Swirl was hard used pressing the pace in tight quarters inside Mistical Plan through a 44.88 half-mile. Intangaroo has now won Grade 1 races at seven furlongs this year in California, Kentucky and New York. "The only time she really ran bad were those two races at Del Mar," explained trainer Gary Sherlock. Linda Rice continued her dominance of the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprints, sending out Lady Rizzi (7th, $9.30) and Myakka for a one-two finish in a statebred optional claimer. Lady Rizzi lowered the course record to 1:00.66 on a firm-to-hard Mellon course that was in its fourth day without rain - the longest dry stretch in Saratoga Springs since July 4-7, according to the National Weather Service. Lady Rizzi came from off a fast pace set by Sort of Tricky, who rocketed a quarter in 21.07 and a half in 43.24. "I didn't expect the pace to be as quick as it was," said Rice. "We were going to put Myakka on the pace and have Lady Rizzi sit behind the speed. When the first fraction was put up, I thought we were in good shape."

Saturday, August 23, 2008

It was the largest Travers field since 1990, but among a dozen 3-year-olds it came down to a head-bob between Colonel John (11th, $10.40) and Mambo in Seattle, who was in front a stride before and after the wire. "Things got pretty scary at the top of the stretch," said winning trainer Eoin Harty. "Horses were bouncing off each other like a pinball machine. He won on heart." Shakis (9th, $14.80) and Visionaire (10th, $15.60) capped a five-win day for Alan Garcia, who brought both horses from well off the pace. In winning the Bernard Baruch for the second straight year, the 8-year-old Shakis recaptured top form and ran down War Monger in the final strides. Visionaire was last of 10 after a half-mile of 44.73 seconds in the King's Bishop, swung wide into the lane and rolled by the embattled leaders in the final sixteenth. Desert Key was rated from the break, finished gamely on the rail; he's going to win an important race at 7-8 furlongs sooner or later. Along with the hard-to-figure Slambino (7th, $179.00), Porte Bonheur (8th, $24.60) helped trigger a $147,974 pick six carryover by running down 2-5 Indyanne in the Victory Ride, who was off slowest. "It was 'go' time and I didn't have enough time to readjust her footing in there," said Russell Baze. "She's always been a little bit slow leaving the starting gate, and today was just a little bit more so.

Friday, August 22, 2008

A recent and most welcome stretch of sunny weather has firmed up the turf courses, to the point where early speed is dangerous if left unattended: * Onoitsmymothrnlaw (4th, $8.60) "wouldn't go away," said track announcer Tom Durkin, and finally caught Cocktail Attire after chasing that rival through a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint on the Mellon. * Quick Comeback (7th, $85.50) shook loose early in a non-winners of three claiming route on the inner turf, and remained clear after being chased throughout by 14-1 Bright Illusion, who completed an exacta worth $871. * Sunshine for Life (8th, $30.60) sped clear from her outside post through a 23.10 first quarter, maintained a clear lead to the stretch and held off Viva La Flag, who was in striking range throughout. In the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, Ginger Punch (9th, $3.30) stretched out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time, and took a head-bob decision from Lemon Drop Mom. "Today and in her last race, she had to overcome a lot of things," said Bobby Frankel. "She's in heat...when I saw her in the paddock, she was acting as if she was ready to be bred. We're thinking about the Beldame (Sept. 27)."

Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Price of Love (1st, $7.30) took over from Red Letter Day nearing the stretch for the final time, and prevailed in a three-way blanket finish in the $70,000 Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes, becoming a two-time winner over the jumps at the meet for Jonathan Sheppard. Seer loomed menacingly but stumbled over the final fence, and was edged for second by 7-5 choice Dynaski. Wait a While (8th, $3.70) tracked a headstrong Sharp Susan to the quarter pole, then blew that one's doors off to win the Grade 2, $196,000 Ballston Spa Handicap for the second straight year. Wait a While, who won the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:40 last summer, ran the distance in 1:39.70 over a Mellon course that appears to have firmed up faster than the inner turf. "I think firm turf is the biggest key," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled his 13th meet winner to equal his total from 2007. Pletcher indicated the Yellow Ribbon (Santa Anita, Sept. 27) is Wait a While's next objective. Four consecutive winners at double-digit mutuels by Mickless (4th, $36.20), Beckham Bend (5th, $25.80), Intuition Magic (6th, $13.00) and Trouble Maker ($13.60) triggered a pick six carryover of $43,255 into Friday's card.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Travers week began with an historic win by Tin Cup Chalice (9th, $6.70), who collected a $250,000 bonus in becoming the first New York-bred to sweep Belmont's Mike Lee, the New York Derby at Finger Lakes, and the 1 1/8-mile Albany Stakes. Tin Cup Chalice, who improved to 7 for 7 lifetime for trainer Mike Lecesse, benefited from the program scratch of Writingonthewall, who would've been his primary rival for the early lead, and fending off challenges through the final stages after setting slow fractions of 50.88 and 1:15.33. Big Truck and Icabad Crane, who had been freshened up since tangling with open company on the Triple Crown trail, finished third and sixth in disappointing performances. John Velazquez rode three winners, capped by the $83,400 Bennington overnight stakes on Zada Belle (8th, $3.40), and took a 25-23 lead in the standings over Alan Garcia. Garcia won with Crafty N P (1st, $41.40) and Encinas (6th, $6.90), and moved one win ahead of defending Spa champ Cornelio Velasquez, who won a 2-year-old grass route with Relatively Ready (2nd, $14.40).