With remnants of firecrackers still in the air, and Breakfast at Wimbledon very much alive, Saratoga opened to perhaps less fanfare than usual, but with its normal excitement and tradition totally intact.
Mother Nature didn’t take long to remind us who’s in control, as she let the heavens pour down upon the Opening Day crowd, creating less than ideal conditions for the first two stakes of the meet.
Not all of the 2-year-old baby girls racing in the Grade 3 Schuylerville were thrilled with the subsequent muddy, sealed track, and first and foremost was Doug O’Neill’s even money favorite, Shippy.
While Shippy may not have been happy, her trainer Doug O’Neill was, as his other California entry, Comical, held on to beat Todd Pletcher’s late charging Kiss the Girl by a neck.
If people were wondering who the tall, young guy in the Winner’s Circle was following Comical’s victory, it was Erik Johnson, the former #1 NHL draft pick and current Colorado Avalanche defenseman. Johnson owns Comical in partnership, and he seemed as thrilled to win the Schuylerville as he would the Stanley Cup.
In the co-feature on the Opening Day card, another Cali invader took top honors, as Reddam Racing’s and Ben Cecil’s Listing captured the Grade 3 Quick Call, a 5-1/2 furlong turf sprint. Joel Rosario guided the 3-year-old Listing over the yielding Mellon Turf Course for his third win on this sticky day.
The meet began right where it finished off last Labor Day, as Irad Ortiz, Jr. roared to a 6-1/2 length victory in the 1st Race aboard Gary Gullo’s 5-year-old gelding, Armanent.
Irad is seeking his third Angel Cordero, Jr. Jockey Award, after he ran away with last year’s title. Bro Jose interrupted his path in 2016 and 2017, but you can bet they’ll battle to the finish line once again this year for the prize.
Gary Gullo also got off to a fast start, as the longtime New York trainer pulled off an Opening Day double, when his first time starter Big Q, a 2-year-old New York-bred daughter of Big Brown, took the 5th.
There was plenty of action before this race even started, as a maiden daughter of Bayern, Aubrey Tate, got spooked in the Post Parade, dumping Irad, and got scratched. And then Helen by Night was a hellion by the gate when she flipped with Javi Castellano aboard. Fortunately, neither were injured, but surprisingly, the impetuous filly wasn’t scratched.
In Friday’s feature, the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple, Oh Canada was the theme. Mr. Havercamp, Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry’s homebred son of Court Vision, made Ontario and Canadian trainer Catherine Day Phillips proud, as the longshot bested a stellar field that included Voodoo Song, Qurbaan and Hembree.
Junior Alvarado guided Mr. Havercamp to the half length victory in 1:37.50 for the mile stakes on the inner turf course, and he paid $29.60.
Derby Memories made you wonder where he’s been, as this lightly raced 4-year-old son of Curlin started Friday’s card off with a smashing 14-3/4 lengths victory for owner Ken Ramsey, and gave trainer Danny Gargan and jockey Kendrick Carmouche their first victories of the meet.
Two-year-old colts made their stakes debut at the Spa on Saturday in the 105th running of the Grade 3 Sanford. In a compact yet talented field, all five juvies entered had one victory under their belt coming in.
Eddie Kenneally’s classy co-second choice, By Your Side, was very impressive, as he dominated the competition under a perfect ride by Irad Ortiz, on his way to a 3 length score.
The son of Constitution made it look easy this day, as even his closest rivals, including the favorite, Cucina, who finished 4th, and the co-second choice, Raging Whiskey, who finished third, were no match.
Tomato Bill, a son of More Than Ready, and a $500K purchase at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, came in 2nd.
It appears that the Irish-born, Kentucky-based Kenneally will give By Your Side a little breather before next starting him in the Grade 1 Hopeful on closing day. I relish the chance to watch these babies develop, in hopes of witnessing a future star along the Triple Crown trail next Spring.
The 81st running of the $500K Grade 1 Diana could just as easily be renamed the Chad Brown Invitational. Like the mythical goddess it was originally named after, Chad’s ever growing success in the prestigious turf race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up is becoming mythical in stature.
Sending out a quartet of starters, with only two others brave enough to enter, Chad won his fourth straight Diana, and fifth overall, when he hit the triple with repeat winner Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall and Homerique.
With his fifth Diana triumph, Chad equaled the record of the late, great Hall of Famer, J. Elliott Burch. Chad won his first Diana with Zagora in 2011, followed by Dacita in 2016, and then won with the magnificent Lady Eli in 2017.
Sistercharlie, the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner, and the Eclipse champion female turf horse of 2018, showed no rust after an eight month layoff, as she recorded a 105 Beyer, while Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez once again led her to the wire.
With Peter Brant owning Sistercharlie, and three of Chad’s four separate starters, including the “rabbit,” Thais, oldtimers who remember the prevalence of “coupled” entries, and horse players everywhere, were heard grumbling about this ironic situation.
I could not help but notice the frustration on the faces and in the words of members of the e Five Racing family who were standing next to me at the finish line, as they watched their 4-year-old star, and former Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ, Rushing Fall, place, with Hall of Famer Javi Castellano aboard.
Peter Brant’s Homerique and Irad Ortiz rounded out the trifecta for Chad, and it appears that this trio will battle next in the $600K, Grade 1 Beverly D, on the Arlington Million Day card on August 10.
Sistercharlie upped her bankroll to $2,850,603, while $2 bettors got more on a win ticket at $5.80 than they did on a $.50 triple at $5.65.
The final stakes of opening weekend was Sunday’s Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies going 5-1/2 furlongs over the Mellon turf course. Klein Racing and Brad Cox’s versatile star, Break Even, proved in her turf debut that she can handle anything her connections throw at her, as she remains undefeated at 6-6.
Break Even broke her maiden in the slop on New Year’s Day at the Fairgrounds, and romped to her second win at the same site over a fast track at the end of January.
BE moved on to Oaklawn Park at the end of March and recorded her first stakes victory, which set up her appearance on the first Saturday in May in the Grade 2, 8 Belles on the Derby Day undercard. She was never challenged, and won by 5-1/2 lengths.
In BE’s last start before Sunday, Break Even bobbled out of the gate at Belmont, but regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan steadied her, and she was able to race to her fifth straight win.
In her turf debut at the Spa, Break Even broke like a bottle rocket out of the gate, and blazed her way to a 21.03 opening quarter, and never looked back while wiring the field.
Following the race, Brad Cox stated that she’ll return to the dirt in the $250K, 6 furlong, Grade 2 Prioress on closing Saturday, and I’m sure this is a big relief for the trainers who are sending their 3-year-old fillies to the $500K, 7 furlong, Grade 1 Test on August 3.
Among those are Chad Brown with his undefeated Royal Charlotte, Tom Amoss with Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, and Simon Callaghan with Bellafina. It should be noted, however, that Brad Cox won’t be totally absent, as the up and coming star trainer will still be represented by his speedy filly Covfefe.
As we head into Week 2, another fine race for 3-year-old fillies looms, this one for those who can go 1-1/8 miles, with the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. The $500K stakes will be the Spa coming out party for Chad’s breakout star Guarana, and will act as a prep for the Grade 1 Alabama on August 17.
Also expected to start are Eddie Kenneally’s Boxwood, a daughter of English Channel, Dermot Magner’s Safta, George Weaver’s Point of Honor, and Ian Wilkes’ Champagne Anyone.
Trainer Rick Violette’s enduring legacy will be honored on Wednesday, fittingly, with the inaugural running of a New York-bred stakes race bearing his name, for 2-year-olds going 6 furlongs.
Rick’s tireless dedication and devotion to those without a voice, both human and equine, is legendary, and will never be forgotten, nor will his work as the longtime President of NYTHA, where he fought long and hard for his fellow comrades.
With the forecast calling for downpours midweek, and unbearable temperatures and humidity over the weekend, I will pray for the horses and their fans to stay safe, and for the turf courses to remain usable!
