Saratoga Grass Racing/Graham Motion Off to Flying 2014 Start
With a full week of racing complete at Saratoga Race Course, there are plenty of highpoints to review at the historical midsummer thoroughbred meeting. Highlighted by Frankie Dettori’s first victory in Saratoga Springs and a stellar field in the Grade I Diana TVG Stakes, there was no shortage of excitement at the beautiful upstate New York venue. Let’s take a look back at some of the weeks’ best moments on the Saratoga lawn.
Opening day started with several races over the main track, but the second half of the ten race card was built for those who enjoy turf racing. While value players were not cashing tickets in these opening day events, racing fans were still fortunate enough to catch a number of talented equine athletes and some of the best riders in the world. The red-hot conditioner Graham Motion got things off to a strong start for his barn with a victory from previously stakes placed three-year old colt Can’thelpbelieving. This son of Irish bred Duke of Marmelade was ridden by veteran New York jockey John Velazquez and appears primed for a solid second half of 2014.
Bill Mott trainee Tourist did not disappoint as our Opening Day “Play of the Day” on www.shapperdacapper.com with an easy front running victory in the featured Sir Cat Stakes. This son of Tiznow could be special moving forward if he can use his tactical speed and ability to kick clear late like he has since switching to the lawn.
While Tourist’s third straight victory was what I will remember most from this year’s opening day experience, it was European jockey Lanfranco (Frankie) Dettori who stole the headlines. The 43-year old veteran, one of horse racing’s biggest international stars over the past quarter century, won aboard Wesley Ward trainees Aventure Love and Jet Majesty to commence his first ever trip to Saratoga. The fun loving Dettori gave the fans his patented flying dismount before posing for pictures and ending a strong first day at the “Spa.” Dettori would not return to the winners’ circle during the rest of the opening week, but it was certainly special to see his exuberance and fun loving spirit in person.
The first Saturday of the 2014 meet saw a plethora of grass races headlined by the Diana Stakes which offered horse players a full, deep field of older females. Chad Brown and Martin Schwartz’s four-year old filly Alterite went off the 5-2 favorite despite not racing since last November’s impressive third in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The daughter of Literato was a bit eager off the bench and disappointed her backers when fading late to finish eighth. On the other hand, eventual winner Somali Lemonade was as relaxed as ever under a stellar ride from underrated rider Luis Saez. The five-year old Lemon Drop Kid mare, accustomed to being on the front end, was able to rate off the early lead of pacesetter Discreet Marq and come home powerfully at a juicy 11-1 for top-notch conditioner Michael Matz. The $2 exacta with Stephanie’s Kitten came back a solid $196 and the $2 trifecta, completed by the Christophe Clement trained Discreet Marq paid $1170. Top trainer Todd Pletcher did not compete in the Grade I event, but did “bookend” Saturday’s card with victories over the grass in the first and eleventh races of the day. Ironically, both runners were out of English bred Eximius who also produced six-digit earners Sarach and Raphaelus. Keep an eye out in the future for this extremely useful broodmare.
Sunday’s turf racing did not match Saturday’s stellar slate of grass events, but still failed to disappoint. While a few of the fields came up smaller and less competitive than NYRA fans had hoped, the ninth race on Sunday may have produced one of the true up and coming turf superstars. The regally bred Crown Queen made an ultra impressive four-wide middle move under jockey Joel Rosario and pulled away from her competitors to win by a widening four lengths as the 2-1 choice. The extremely pricey Besilu Stables filly appears ready for stakes company and the sky is the limit for this Bill Mott trained daughter of Smart Strike. I look forward to seeing her run again before the meet is complete, but not sure I will be wagering on her at an expected short price.
As one would expect, the weekday cards following opening weekend did not produce the same level of grass superstars, but did see Graham Motion continue his early dominance of the Saratoga turf. Rainha Da Bateria was ignored at the windows, but the two-year old Three Chimneys Farm filly failed to disappoint. The $435,000 daughter of Broken Vow charged home late to nip a strong group of potential future stars in Monday’s second race to take down the lion’s share of the meaty $83,000 maiden special weight purse. Rajiv Maragh was up for the mount for this extremely promising Motion trainee. Motion stayed hot despite a dark day on Tuesday when Sagamore Farm owned Daring Dancer nailed Matz’s A Little Bit Sassy to take down Wednesday’s Grade II Lake George Stakes in thrilling fashion. The daughter of Empire Maker is now 4 for 5 with stakes victories at both Keeneland and Saratoga. Alan Garcia was the winning rider.
As usual it is hard to complain about the quality of the races and the mostly full fields that Saratoga’s meet offers. Between stakes placed entrants and blossoming young colts and fillies, the first week of the 2014 meet got off to a flying start. The second week of stakes races focuses a bit more on the main track with the running of the Curlin, the Jim Dandy and the Amsterdam for three-year olds as well as the Shuvee and the Honorable Miss for the ladies, but there will be plenty of quality racing on the turf as well. I look forward to it immensely.