The Best of New York Stakes in 2012

From Feb. 4^th to Nov. 24^th there were a total of 102 graded stakes races run at the NYRA tracks of Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. I have gone through the results of these races and have selected my six favorite New York stakes of 2012.

 

NYRA is a political football, and it has always been. There appears to be no way to get around that. Whether it was the fight for the renewal of the NYRA franchise, or the recent takeover and restructuring of NYRA by Governor Cuomo, the day-to-day operation of Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga, it is clouded and hampered by New York politics. There are times during the year when NYRA bashing becomes sport, a sport that plays out in the social media, in the blogs, and in the traditional press.

 

Through all of this, NYRA puts out the best racing in the country and this blog entry is meant to remind us of that and to highlight the best of the best.

 

At the end of the blog you will find a spreadsheet listing the winners of all 102 of the stakes. Please feel free to comment about your favorites.

 

March 3 – Gotham Stakes (G3) – Hansen reasserted his presence on the 2012 Derby Trail with his victory in a field of 13 horses.

 

 

May 28 – Met Mile (G1) – The immensely popular Shackleford defeated a very strong field in the Met Mile. Track announcer Tom Durkin said that Shackleford ran, “furlong after powerful furlong,” and was still able to hold off the late charge of Caleb’s Posse.

 

 

June 9 – Belmont Stakes (G1) – With the scratch of I'll Have Another and the disappointment that there would not be a try for the Triple Crown, Union Rags saved the day with what Durkin called “A thrilling rendition of the Test of Champions." With a second place finish, Paynter began what was to be an emotional roller coaster for his owners, the Zayats, and his devoted followers.

 

 

July 28 – Diana (G1) – Winter Memories won her final career start with her trademark explosive stretch run to win a race that included Zagora, the probable female turf champion of 2012. In the video you will hear Tom Durkin exclaim, “Look at Winter Memories kick away.”

 

 

August 11 – Fourstardave Handicap (G2) – We got to see probable Horse of the Year, Wise Dan, win on the Saratoga turf. The stretch call was, “Wise Dan dashes to the lead. The versatile Wise Dan scores an impressive victory over the yielding going today.”