Saratoga Notebook

SARATOGA NOTEBOOK

AUGUST 7, 2008

by Bernard T. Moore

Week #2 at Saratoga has been completed and is in the books. And, with

much-improved weather, both handle and attendance rose over opening week.

Thirteen races have been taken off the turf according to NYRA at this year's

meet, causing a predictable downturn in business. Conversely, not a single grass

event during the first two weeks of the 2007 meet found its way to the main

track. As I put the finishing touches on this week's notebook on Wednesday, the

extended weather forecast for upstate New York calls for the chance of showers

and/or thunderstorms for each day thru the weekend. Geez, I wonder if Saratoga

has an umbrella giveaway this year. Regardless, let's get to last week's graded

stakes action.

AUGUST 1 -- Allowed to carve out a controlled and uncontested pace, ANY LIMIT

(Limit Out) made every pole a winning one, triumphing in the Honorable Miss H.

(G2) by 5 3/4 expanding lengths. The Allen Jerkens trained runner found herself

alone on the lead with Miss Macy Sue (Trippi) her closest pursuer. Zada Belle

(Indian Charlie) chased the pace as well, but was compromised when forced to

check sharply nearing the turn while Graeme Six (Graeme Hall) benefited from a

perfect outside trip. Shortly after entering the stretch, Any Limit began to

distance herself from the field as the race was now for place. Zada Belle

subsequently closed well along the inside in the stretch to get second, with

Graeme Six coming on late to take down the show. Miss Macy Sue gave way and

finished fourth while Rite Moment (Vicar), who trailed throughout, brought up

the rear in a dull effort.

AUGUST 2 -- As it turns out, the Test S. (G1) wasn't much of a "test" after

all for INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie), as she dismantled the opposition en

route to an authoritative seven-length triumph. I won't bore you with the

details except to say that the Bob Baffert-trained sophomore runner had look of

a winner virtually every step way. With jockey John Velazquez serving as merely

a passenger, the odds-on favorite drew away in upper stretch, and was never

asked for her best at any point while completing the seven furlongs in a quick

1:22 3/5. Sweet Hope (Lemon Drop Kid) passed tired horses to finish second, with

Ms. Margaret H. (Point Given) closing belatedly to get third money.

AUGUST 3 -- Showing no signs of rustiness despite not having competed since

October 6, 2007, RED GIANT (Giant's Causeway) wore down a stubborn Stalingrad

(Glitterman) to emerge victorious in the Fourstardave H. (G2) on Sunday. Trained

to the minute by Todd Pletcher, Red Giant was forced to change lanes as he

mounted a stretch bid. Undeterred, the four-year-old finished resolutely to

collar the runner-up in deep stretch, proving best by a determined neck.

Stalingrad, within striking distance throughout, moved to the front at the

midstretch point and secured a tenuous half-length advantage. He resisted gamely

when headed by the winner, and just missed in a sharp effort. Thorn Song

(Unbridled's Song) stalked the front runner into the stretch, but could

accelerate when asked and outlasted Distorted Reality (Distorted Humor) by a

nose to get the show. Danak (Ire) (Pivotal), dispatched as the 2-1 favorite,

failed to make the course as he was pulled up by jockey Rajiv Maragh while

bleeding from his left front and left hind quarters.

AUGUST 4 -- In the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2), WESLEY (El

Prado [Ire]) closed widest and best of all to score by a half-length while

annexing his initial graded stakes triumph in the process. Wesley finally

leveled off leaving the far turn under jockey Javier Castellano, and was then

maneuvered outside of rivals for clear sailing. He was able to sustain that

rally to finish, closing with a purpose notch his third victory from just six

starts in 2008. Thou Swell (Aptitude) certainly outran his 26-1 posttime odds.

He rated kindly on lead while dictating tepid fractions, and held on grimly to

save second under jockey Jean Luc Samyn. Deal Making (Empire Maker) raced in

heavy traffic while attempting to rally in the stretch, closing well when

finally clear to get third. Adriano (A.P. Indy), the even-money favorite,

endured a brutal trip. He was caught behind horses passing the eighth pole while

attempting to rally, and lacked racing room again while looking to split rivals

in deep stretch. He managed to finish fourth with under modest encouragement by

jockey Edgar Prado while remaining "in tight" between rivals to the finish.

Suffice it to say that this was not one of Prado's Hall of Fame rides.

The main track played honestly the majority of the week, but appeared to

favor speed on Sunday and Monday. The Mellon and Inner turf courses favored

closers on Wednesday. Both courses became played evenly until Sunday, when

closers appeared to hold an edge once again.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (7/30)

2ND -- DIXIE TIME THIEF (Dixie Union) raced evenly to finish third in an

abbreviated sprint to begin her career. She should benefit from this effort, and

might appreciate more distance in the future.

9TH -- ICE COOL KITTY (Tomorrows Cat) appears to be slowly rounding back

into form off a long layoff. Carried her speed much farther vs. statebreds,

setting a pressured pace before tiring to finish third. Will probably be

stretched out in distance for her next start.

Thursday (7/31)

2ND -- KEEP'EM MOVIN DAN (Distorted Humor) recorded a sharp second-place finish in his

well bet/well meant career debut. He held gamely while setting a pressured pace,

yielding only to the favorite in the stretch in a good educational race.

9TH -- PRINCE OF PEACE (Regal Classic) was entered at the wrong distance for

his return. He ran reasonably well chasing slow fractions at six furlongs in an

even effort while finishing third. Look for him to be stretched out to a route

of ground in subsequent starts.

Friday (8/1)

8TH -- GOLDEN WEEKEND (Golden Missile) was ambitiously spotted off a sharp

maiden special weight

turf win in a sprint. She held remarkably well dictating the pace into the

stretch, tiring slowly late to finish a respectable fourth. She remains eligible

for a preliminary allowance contest.

9TH -- Zada Belle has suffered both career defeats against graded

stakes competition. Finished gamely despite steadying sharply down the

backstretch, losing her best chance behind a loose wire-to-wire winner.

Saturday (8/2)

2ND -- NOWHERE TO HIDE (Vindication) had to be "rushed up" to get position

after coming away from the gate awkwardly in his debut. He did well to finish

fourth in an encouraging race, and should have gained valuable experience from

this effort.

3RD -- ON BOARD AGAIN (Awesome Again) offered a useful comeback effort off a prolonged

layoff. He closed with good energy to be second in a "foundation building" race.

He will in all likelihood be stretched out in distance in his next start.

Sunday (8/3)

1ST -- DIVERSE (Kingmambo) closed belatedly while racing wide to take down

the show in a race that quickened noticeably late. A one-paced runner, she needs

the right setup and a good trip to be at her best.

4TH -- AOJA (Lion Heart) closed well late to finish second in a swiftly run

contest. She should move forward off this effort as trainer Patrick Kelly rarely

wins with a first timer.

Monday (8/4)

8TH -- CIELO SONG (Conquistador Cielo) closed well late to finish second

behind a multi-level class dropper off the Mike Maker claim. He exits a quickly

run contest and should benefit from his initial outing at Saratoga.

9TH Adriano never received the running room necessary while

caught in cramped quarters throughout the stretch. He was beaten about

one-length and probably would have won with a clean trip.