Saratoga Daily Notebook

SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2006

by Bernard T. Moore

The closing day feature at Saratoga on Labor Day was the Hopeful S. (G1) at

seven-furlongs for two-year-olds. The 2006 Saratoga meet ended just like it

began, with trainer Todd Pletcher saddling the feature race winner as CIRCULAR

QUAY (Thunder Gulch) recorded an authoritative 4 1/4-length victory.

Coupled in the wagering with Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), who was

also undefeated at prior to the Hopeful, Circular Quay set up shop at the back of the pack,

racing a country mile off of a ridiculously fast and contentious pace. Pegasus

Wind (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Irish Ace (Grand Slam) were slugging it out on the

front end as Unbridled Express (Unbridled's Song), a Churchill Downs shipper,

sat a perfect stalking trip. Scat Daddy, who broke a bit tardily from gate while

drawing the disadvantageous rail post, raced in fourth position along the

inside. Circular Quay, was also compromised by a bit of a tardy start, and

subsequently was forced to check slightly soon afterwards. With jockey Garrett

Gomez aboard, the pair bided their time while racing in a different area code as

the Hopeful field made its way down the Saratoga backstretch.

Unbridled Express was first to attack the beleaguered pacesetters around the far

turn, and was quickly joined by Scat Daddy, who had been maneuvered off the

inside by jockey John Velazquez when placed in tight quarters approaching the

far turn. Although Circular Quay still had a substantial amount of ground to

make up, he was in high gear and it was obvious he would have something to say

concerning the outcome.

Even though Unbridled Express gained the advantage at the midstretch point, it

was short-lived as he was powerless to fend off Circular Quay, who was closing

like a runaway train down the middle of the track. With giant strides, Circular

Quay quickly seized command and ran clear, triumphing by an expanding 4 1/4-widening lengths. Scat Daddy, who encountered trouble despite the small field, outgamed Unbridled Express in deep stretch to take down the place by a length.

As one would expect, Pegasus Wind tired noticeably once displaced on the lead

and finished fourth, with his pace nemesis Irish Ace giving way badly in the

stretch and reporting home a well-beaten fifth.

Also on the Monday card was the 11-furlong Glens Falls H. (G3) for fillies

and mares. NOBLE STELLA (Ger) (Monsun), demonstrating her running style

versatility while reverting to stalking tactics, posted a determined two-length

victory with jockey Mike Smith up.

An overzealous Sabellina (Langfuhr) was determined to set the pace and led

the field past the stands the first time, with Noble Stella relaxing comfortably

in second. Both runners maintained their positions until the stretch, when the

Woodbine-based shipper wrestled the lead away from Sabellina to seize an

advantage. Noble Stella was well within herself as she maintained a safe lead to

wire, turning back a solid bid from Latice (Ire) (Inchinor [GB]).

Louve Royale (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) closed belatedly from last to get the show

by a nose over Wait It Out (Swain [Ire]), who raced evenly throughout. Sabellina

wound up checking in fifth. A major disappointment in the Glen Falls was Olaya

(Theatrical [Ire]), the 5-2 favorite. She barely lifted a hoof and was

one-paced the entire way, finishing a non-descript seventh.

HORSES TO WATCH

4TH - Unbridled's Express turned in a creditable third-place finish

while stepping up into a Grade 1 contest and meeting winners for the first time. He

sat too close to an exceptionally fast pace against more accomplished rivals.

However, he continued on well to the finish in his initial effort beyond six

furlongs and has room to improve going forward.

10TH - SAY REVAIN (Tiznow) regressed badly off a career best effort in his

second start off a prolonged layoff. He was hustled to the lead to carve out

lively pace after leaping into the air at the start. Say Revain held the lead

until the far turn, and then gave way readily in his first start vs. winners.

Will obviously need some time to regroup after this effort.

Edgar Prado was leading rider once again at the Saratoga meet, with Garrett

Gomez a surprising second. Cornelio Velasquez and John Velazquez finished in a

tie for third.

Pletcher dominated all trainers at The Spa, with Richard Dutrow Jr. a

distant second. Scott Blasi, Bill Mott and Nick Zito finished in a dead-heat for

third-place.

Next up -- Belmont Park

It used to be that divisional championships were either won or lost at the

Belmont Park fall meet. And while that is no longer true, races of significance

are still contested over "Big Sandy." Many runners with Breeders' Cup

aspirations will have the their final prep races at Belmont Park, as twelve

Grade 1 contests are scheduled to be run at the fall meet.