Condo Commando Splashes to Victory in the Spinaway

 

The Spinaway is the most prestigious race for juvenile fillies at Saratoga. It is a race that is loaded with tradition and great past winners, like the immortal Ruffian. Today, the 123rd running of the race had to take a back seat to the final race call of the great NYRA track announcer, Tom Durkin.

 

 

Prior to the Spinaway, heavy rains hit the area turning the track surface sloppy. The pouring rain and dark skies would make Durkin’s last call challenging.

The Spinaway was won by Condo Commando in front running fashion by 13 1/4-lengths. The Rudy Rodriguez trainee came into the race off a twelve-length victory in a $75,000 maiden claimer at Saratoga on August 3^rd.

Today the daughter of Tiz Wonderful broke a bit slowly from the gate and was put on the lead by jockey, Joe Bravo. The first quarter went in :22.46 and Condo Commando began to open up a significant lead. After the first half-mile she was up by 2½ lengths.

Bravo described the grade one victory, "My biggest concern was trying to get out of the gate, and she overcame that and look what she did. Our main concern was to try to get in front. We don't want a lot of dirt to hit her in the face. She overpowered everybody. Really, the race was won the first eighth of a mile. She won first time out pretty impressively, but you didn't know how good she is. I think today she answered a lot of questions."

Durkin said that, “Condo Commando was splish-splashing her way down the stretch.” She had opened significant distance on the second place runner, By the Moon. There was another big gap back to the third place finisher, betting favorite Angela Renee.

As the winner hit the wire, Durkin would deliver his last descriptive phrase, “Condo Commando was splashtastic.” The winner is owned by Michael Dubb, who is the meeting’s leading owner, and partners.

Condo Commando paid $8.70/$4.70/$3.20 as the race’s second betting choice. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:24.68.

After the race Durkin left his announcer’s booth to head to the winner’s circle for a good-bye ceremony. As soon as the Saratoga racing fans saw him they burst into a long and loud standing ovation. Once in the winner’s circle, Durkin took the time to shake hands with the fans who had lined up outside of the area.

In the ceremony Rick Violette, the President of Horsemen’s Association said, “ Durkin is simply the greatest race caller in the history of thoroughbred racing.”

NYRA CEO Chris Kay added, “You have captured the hearts and minds of racing fans around the world.”