SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2005
by Dick Powell
The feature race today was the second running of the Saratoga Dew S., a New
York-bred two-turn main track event for fillies and mares. Saratoga Dew
(Cormorant) was the champion three-year-old filly of 1992, and she was gunned to the front
in that year’s Alabama S. (G1) and led every step of the way but the
last as November Snow (Storm Cat) got up in the final stride to win by a nose.
It was one of the toughest beats ever.
In today’s running, South Wing (Dixie Brass) gunned to the front just like
Saratoga Dew and tried to hang on. She opened up an eight-length lead down the
backstretch, but her first half of :46.38 began to take its toll on the far turn.
Meanwhile, leading rider Edgar Prado was biding his time aboard the favorite
JUDY SODA (Personal Flag).
Content to let South Wing run herself into the ground, Prado was more worried
about someone coming up on him from behind than the leader. Prado pushed the
button nearing the top of the stretch, but South Wing was a stubborn foe racing
down on the best part of the track. Judy Soda surged past her inside the final
furlong and held off a grinding challenge by So Sweet a Cat (Tommorows Cat) by
three parts of a length.
It was trainer Tom Bush’s second stakes win of the meet and he did a great
job having Judy Soda ready off an 82-day layoff.
“I didn’t know if she was tight enough for this,” Bush admitted after the
race. “She’s been a nice filly for us. She was disqualified in a heartbreaker on
Belmont Stakes Day. She got some black type today, which is important for these
fillies. I thought someone would demand the lead because she looked like she was
lone speed. Edgar (Prado) is so smart, he came to the paddock saying the same
thing. Hopefully, we can get Edgar to work her on the turf one morning.”
Today was a tough track to figure out going into the day’s races. With the
rain we have had the past few days, the main track was drying out on a sunny and
breezy day. Years ago, before racetracks were sealed into oblivion, a “good”
track was usually the sign of a track drying out and favored closers due to its
tiring nature.
But in today’s world, the day after a track has been sealed tight, it
sometimes can play to speed with the cushion already compressed. Unless the
track super runs a deep harrow over it and turns it over, they usually just
dress it up with a light harrow and it behaves as a speed-favoring wet track.
Thursday saw no turf racing and a main track that was listed as “good” for
the first three races and then upgraded to “fast” from the 4TH race on. The
inside path was the place to be as horses down on the rail got the best footing.
Prado won three races while Johnny Velazquez was shut out. Prado now leads 41
to 35 with Jerry Bailey tied for third with Eibar Coa at 30 and Javier
Castellano right behind at 29. Rick Dutrow won a race and now holds second place
to himself as he trails Todd Pletcher by seven, 20-13.
There’s nature and there’s nurture. Then, there’s none of the above.
According to BRIS’ Ultimate Past Performances, trainer Eddie Kenneally wins only
4 percent with his first time starters. As a sire, Travers (G1) winner Deputy
Commander (Deputy Minister) wins only 4 percent with his first-time starters.
DEPUTY GLITTERS (Deputy Commander) made his career debut in the 6TH race
against a strong group of high-priced maiden claimers and the public bet him
down to 5-1 from his 12-1 morning line. Maybe they knew that his stakes-placed
dam, Glitters (Glitterman), won her career debut at two and was a multiple
stakes-placed sprinter.
It was “like mother, like son” as Cornelio Velasquez broke him on top, led to
the top of the stretch, then drew off to win by nearly 14 lengths in the good
time of 1:10.98.
There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $37,112 waiting for you on Friday.
Amazingly, the winning prices of the six races were $23.80, $6.70, $12.80,
$8.40, $4.50 and $4.30. Ordinarily I would say with the uncertainty of the track
and three of the races switched off the turf, it was due to a lesser-than-normal
Pick 6 betting pool, but there was $58,216 bet, which is not bad for a Thursday.
Horses to Watch
2ND – CORONADO’S STRIKE (Coronado’s Quest) ran well behind a gate-to-wire
winner and should improve with a race under his belt.
4TH – SAMURAI WARRIOR (Capote) rallied down the middle of the track against
the bias to get second in his career debut after breaking poorly.
Friday Preview
3RD – How’s this for a Saratoga pedigree? DR. PLEASURE is by Travers (G1) winner
Thunder Gulch out of champion Beautiful Pleasure (Maudlin), who won two runnings
of the Personal Ensign (G1) here at age four and five. He’s training well and
gets an extended distance at which to debut.
7TH – In the other division of the maiden special weight race for juveniles,
Darley Stable sends out TESTIMONY (Yes It’s True), who just missed in his career
debut. His dam won at first asking and he draws outside.