First Turn - 7/27

FIRST TURN

JULY 27

Saratoga is the summer place to be

by James Scully

Located in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Saratoga Springs is

famous for many things, but horse racing is king. Saratoga is the oldest track

in America and the Victorian town in upstate New York triples in size every

summer for its six-week meeting.

The scenic beauty is spectacular. Mineral spring waters flow underground and

the local spas have attracted visitors to Saratoga since colonial days. A

popular area for arts and crafts, the region also features beautiful lakes and

parks as well as historic Civil War battlegrounds. There are plenty of fine

dining, shopping and nightlife options available.

Saratoga is known as the "Graveyard of Favorites," but many observers are

quick to point out that favorites typically perform better than the national

average during the meeting. Well, forget maiden, claiming and allowance events.

When it comes to champions and top-class horses, Saratoga is the graveyard of

favorites.

Start at the top in the sport. Secretariat and Man o' War are widely

recognized as the two greatest racehorses ever (in either order), and both got

beat at the Spa. Man o' War suffered his only career defeat in the 1919 Sanford.

Secretariat lost to a horse named Onion in the 1973 Whitney (G2).

Man o' War's setback helped change the meaning of the word upset, which came

to be used in sports terminology following the exploits of its equine namesake.

Man o' War didn't get off to his usual quick start in the Sanford, the only time

during his 21-race career that he rated in midpack during the early stages of a

race. He was offering a strong rally on the far turn when he ran into horses and

was forced to check at the top of the stretch, costing him any chance at the

win.

The Whitney was supposed to be another coronation for Secretariat, but the

massive chestnut was bottled up on the rail throughout by the Allen Jerkens-trained

Onion, who didn't own a stakes victory and wouldn't win another, and lacked his

normal finish through the stretch to finish second.

The Saratoga mystique is undeniable.

Six of the last 11 Horses of the Year recipients to race over the track have

been defeated at Saratoga. The 1982 running of the Travers S. (G1) brought

together classic winners Gato del Sol (Derby), Aloma's Ruler (Preakness) and

Conquistador Cielo (Belmont) in a highly anticipated Travers, but longshot

Canadian invader Runaway Groom closed from far off the pace to upset all three

rivals.

The Travers is known as the "Mid-Summer Derby" and produced one of the

biggest surprises in Thoroughbred racing history when Jim Dandy shocked Triple

Crown winner Gallant Fox at 100-1 in the 1930 edition. 

Distaffers haven't been spared either. Filly Triple Crown winners Mom's

Command and Davona Dale were both upset later in the year at the Spa.

There are plenty of highlights. The 1962 Travers is still considered one of

the most thrilling races of all-time. Belmont winner Jaipur squared off against

the classy two-year-old champion Ridan, and the pair went head and head the

entire way. Following a lengthy delay, the photo revealed that Jaipur, under

Bill Shoemaker, had gotten his nose down on the wire first.

Recent years have featured incredible finishes between You and Carson Hollow

in the Test S. (G1), Victory Gallop and Behrens in the Whitney H. (G1), and City

Zip and Yonaguska in the Hopeful S. (G1), the latter a dead-heat.

Bill Mott ruled the roost in the trainers' standings for most of the 1990s

and earned his eighth title in 2001. However, Todd Pletcher narrowly topped Mott

by a 19-18 margin in 2002 and exploded last season, winning a record 35 races.

Pletcher shattered the previous mark of 24 wins set by Hall of Famer Sylvester

Veitch during the 24-day meet of 1954. He comes to Saratoga this year off

another successful Belmont meeting where he led all conditioners.

John Velazquez, Pletcher's main rider, also re-wrote the history books in

2003 when capturing 61 races, breaking the 55-win plateau set by Jerry Bailey in

2001. Bailey won seven of eight titles from 1994-2001, but has been surpassed

the last two years by Edgar Prado (leading jockey in 2002) and Velazquez.

Angel Cordero Jr. owns the most riding crowns at Saratoga with 14. The

popular Cordero was the leading jockey for 11 straight years from 1976-1986.

Thirty graded stakes, including 13 Grade 1s, are carded for this year's

36-day meet, and this marks 136th season. Saratoga represents tradition and

quality racing in a wonderful setting, and it all gets started on Wednesday.