Saratoga Daily Notebook

SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2007

by John Mucciolo

My father had no advice for me on who to wager upon in the $250,000 Ballerina

S. (G1), but I sure wish he did, because Mark Gorman et al's MARYFIELD (Elusive

Quality) got up in the final strides at 16-1. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Maryfield

rated in midpack for the opening half-mile before coming out at the head of the

stretch and nailing an ultra-game Baroness Thatcher (Johannesburg) in the final

jump. The newly crowned Grade 1 winner completed the seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5

under Elvis Trujillo.

Baroness Thatcher tracked in second for the opening four panels prior to

kicking clear at the head of the lane, only to be reeled in by the hard-charging

winner. The runner-up was four lengths clear in second at 11-1, followed by the

last-to-third Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley). Unbeaten 6-5 favorite Burmilla

(Storm Cat) was never seriously involved, while 7-2 second choice Pussycat Doll

(Real Quiet) was through early.

The race was marred by the tragic breakdown of pacesetter INDIAN FLARE

(Cherokee Run), who led the field through splits of :22 1/5 and :44 2/5 to the

half. The five-year-old, according to Dr. Anthony Verderosa, NYRA's chief

examining veterinarian, fractured her pelvis, likely at the start of the race,

and died of cardiovascular shock after crossing under the wire in last.

Six main track events and four turf races comprised the 10-race card on

Sunday. Three winners led at every call on the fast main oval, with as many

winners coming from off the early lead. The lone turf sprint yielded a

wire-to-wire winner, while the trio of turf routes produced three winners from

off the early tempo.

Cornelio Velasquez finished first in two contests on Sunday to inch closer to

his first Saratoga riding title, standing atop the standings with 39. Kent

Desormeaux, who had one winner today, is probably the only one with a chance at

knocking off the leader. The Cajun counts 33 wins to his credit. Garrett Gomez

picked up two wins on Sunday and is in third place with 23.

Bill Mott continues to lead the trainers' table with 19 photo takers. Gary

Contessa is next with 11, followed by Todd Pletcher's 10 and Richard Dutrow, who

has saddled nine winners. We feel the need to mention the fantastic meet Richard

Schosberg has had thus far. The New York mainstay has hit the board with a

superb 17 of 23 starters, with five wins, eight seconds and a quartet of

third-place finishes.

For Pick 6 players, get ready cause there's a $81,616 carryover heading into

Monday's card.

Horses to Watch

2ND - LOXY LADY (Dynaformer) made a good first impression in here for Mark

Hennig and shouldn't be a maiden for long with anything resembling this effort.

The three-year-old lass closed well in the latter stages to finish a clear

second behind a strong favorite in here.

3RD - WAR PASS (Cherokee Run) notched his second consecutive facile tally in

here and will almost surely be stakes bound in his subsequent start. The

well-bred Zito pupil has yet to be headed from a pair of local starts and should

be a tough one to handle at Belmont.

4TH - DAAHER (Awesome Again) was a smashing winner in here for Kiaran

McLaughlin and seems poised for a graded event in his next try. The

three-year-old colt, who is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 heroine Spun

Sugar, responded brilliantly to the addition of blinkers and could be a

different animal with the shades on.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Monday, August 27

A trio of stakes events will take place on Monday, headed by the $80,000

Classy Mirage S. for fillies and mares traveling 6 1/2 furlongs. CHEROKEE JEWEL

(Cherokee Run) was withdrawn from the Ballerina and fits much better with these.

The Timothy Hills pupil captured the Capote Belle S. over this oval in 2006 and

drew the rail under top jockey Cornelio Velasquez.

Multiple stakes victress SUGAR SWIRL (Touch Gold) exits a game score in the

Alyssum S. at Belmont and has trained splendidly in advance of this one. The

Bobby Frankel trainee will have the services of Garrett Gomez. Impressive

allowance winner CUABA (Smoke Glacken), FAST DEAL (Grand Slam), HUMOROUS GAL

(Distorted Humor) and MORE ANGELS (Slew of Angels), as well as stakes vixen RICH

FANTASY (Richter Scale) round out the group.

In the Jena Jena S. for New York-bred juvenile fillies, Colleen S. runner-up

EXPECT THE END (Precise End) is listed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for

Richard Dutrow. The dark bay filly will be guided by Edgar Prado.

Maiden winners SPEAK PROUDLY (Hook and Ladder), MYAKKA (Crafty Prospector),

BET THE DIVA (Posse), CRAZY CATLADY (Freud) and SLIPSTONE (Grindstone), as well

as first-time starter JOVANNA (Minardi) will also travel the six furlongs.

Fleet Indian S. romper LAUREN'S TIZZY (Tiznow) and Wendy Walker S. victress

ICE COOL KITTY (Tomorrows Cat) will lead a field of six postward in the Saratoga

Dew S. The 1 1/8-mile race also drew recent allowance winner BORROWING BASE

(Personal Flag) and Dancin Renee S. second STOLEN STAR (Cat Thief), as well as

SHADY LANE (Peaks and Valleys) and MAMA THERESA (Carson City), second and third,

respectively, in the Fleet Indian.

Monday's Best Plays

1ST - FLYING FALCON (Fly So Free) is one of the quicker gate horses around

and is the true speed of this field for Sal Russo. The five-year-old mare was a

close second over this oval most recently and should be a strong presence in

here.

8TH - KARELIAN (Bertrando) opted for this spot instead of Saturday's Bernard

Baruch H. (G2), and that decision may pay dividends for trainer Rusty Arnold.

The gelded five-year-old has enough tactical speed to be in the mix early, and

his best closing kick should give him a big chance with these.

10TH - BOLD HAWK (Silver Hawk) was much the best in his second career start

and could be tough to upend with minor improvement in this field. The James

Toner trainee hails from a family full of graded stakes-winning turf standouts

and is bred to love the 1 3/8-mile trip.