Saginaw and Caixa Eletronica square off
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Photo:
NYRA / Adam Coglianese
There’s race riding, Angel Cordero, Jr. was famous for it, and then there is race writing. In what was clearly a case of the latter, Saginaw and
Caixa Eletronica both qualified for a starter-allowance,
optional claiming race thanks to having started for a claiming price of $25,000
or less in 2011-2013. Under the conditions of the race, Saginaw and Caixa
Eletronica were both assigned 130 lbs and will spot the other seven entrants 14
lbs.
The pair has only met one previous time, and that was over a
year ago in the G1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap. Neither came away a winner that
day, however, as the tough as nails Shackleford
shot straight to the lead and refused to back down even when Caleb’s Posse rocketed down the center
of the track to just miss by a nose at the wire. Caixa Eletronica finished 4th,
and Saginaw finished 6th and last.
Since that race, the duo have combined to race 25 times,
winning 15 times, placing twice, and running third once. The routes they have
taken, however, have been vastly different. Caixa Eletronica finished out his 2012 season racing exclusively in
graded stakes company. He rebounded smartly next out to win the G2 True North
Handicap but didn’t win again until taking down the G3 Fall Highweight Handicap
in his season finale. The Arromanches gelding began his 2013 season with an
overnight stakes win, but after throwing in two disappointing efforts in graded
stakes company, trainer Todd Pletcher
dropped him back down in class. The “Cash Machine” responded with two wins in
two starter events before most recently running 5th to Justin Phillip in the G1 Alfred G.
Vanderbilt Stakes.
Conversely, Saginaw
has run almost exclusively in overnight stakes and has only recorded two
defeats in the interim. Trainer David
Jacobson and owners Drawing Away Stables obviously have figured out the key
to success with the popular gelding. Since being claimed by DAS on March 8 of
last year, Saginaw has gone 17: 14-1-1, with his only off the board placing in
last year’s Met Mile. He has obviously been a win machine and that is at least
thanks in part to smart management.
You can imagine that at this level, it had to have been
pretty difficult to find opponents to enter the starting gate with the two
seasoned, accomplished veterans, but racing secretary P.J. Campo’s race writing
creativity paid off. Thanks to being spotted 14 lbs, 7 other colts and geldings
have been entered to tango with Saginaw and Caixa Eletronica, including Private Tale. Also set to give the “Cash
Machine” and the “Win Machine” a run for their money are Maui Mark, Tummel, Kingsford Drive, Bernie the Maestro, Where’s
Danny, and Metaurus.
Back in May, Saginaw just barely nosed out the plucky
Private Tale while toting the same impost. Caixa Eletronica has previously won
carrying 133 lbs. In a testament of true sportsmanship, Jacobson said that he
didn’t mind the impost so long as he was at equal weights with the other horse
and that he always hoped to be the highweight because it meant that he has a
horse that’s been doing really well. Let that be a lesson in sportsmanship to
all the trainers of successful stakes winners that have complained or opted to
skip a particular race due to weights.
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