Sayonara Saratoga
As the Earth slowly tips on its axis away from the sun here in the Northern Hemisphere, the horse racing world shifts its gaze from the boutique meet of Saratoga to the championship season down state and beyond. The chilly air that follows a boundless, sun-filled summer is both welcomed and met with regret.
Life, if we’re lucky and get a chance to look back on it, will be a lot like every summer - the speed in which days turn into weeks and thoughts of what could have been culminate into some sort of nostalgic reflections - the weather was never as fair, a dollar doesn’t stretch as far and the food not as tasty as when I was a kid. Or stuff like that.
The problem with such sappy memories is that they are quite never true, except for the one person thinking them. No, the good old days weren’t always so good. But this - if you follow horse racing outside the Triple Crown events - is the ‘take it to the bank’ kind of true: horse racing is so much better at Saratoga, and we are so much better because of it.
Just the picture on the simulcast or on your computer screen is clearer, cleaner when Saratoga is on it. (Thanks for the HD NYRA!) The turf courses grass is so green, inviting that you’re likely to think about having a picnic on it after taking the canoe out for a paddle.
If you ever get the chance to go, expectations are met at just about every turn. An adult fantasy land that doesn’t rely on animated characters or simulations to excite the mind. Here horseflesh in action reminds us of the beauty that exists when humans and equines meet in a historic town blessed with geography and history.
On the track the litany of stars on parade this season were of quality of seasons past.
- Frosted turned the Whitney into a public workout, hand-ride and all, following his smashing Met Mile win.
- Songbird came east to find competition only to repel her most recent filly-foes into mediocrity while she soared to greater heights without even batting an eyelash in winning both the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Alabama.
- Flintshire dominated through the Brothers Ortiz race-riding before getting out, and going by with jockey Javier Castellano having a stare down contest with his jockey rivals in the Bowling Green, a few weeks before getting a golden handshake opening along the rail from his entry mate and rabbit in the Sword Dancer to win with ease.
- Cavorting showed her love of all things Saratoga going three-for-three upstate in winning the Personal Ensign.
- Bob Baffert swept the three-year-old races on Travers Day taking two allowance winners onto Grade I winning glory with Defrong in the King’s Bishop followed by the stakes/track record Travers’ score by Arrogate, at 11-1, no less. Arrogate’s winning margin of 13-plus lengths challenged the NYRA stretch camera operator to keep the winner and the rest of the field in the same picture frame.
The bombs came from the claiming ranks to stakes, most notable Paola Queen surging late to take the Grade I Test stakes at 55-1, which track announcer Larry Collmus declared, “Now that’s a shocker!” The three-year-old filly paid $112 to win and headed a $579 exacta!
Among the humans, the aforementioned Ortiz brothers took control of the jockey standings early and never looked back - the only lead changes coming from within the family. The younger Ortiz, Jose, took over the final week of the meet and put up 65 wins. Brother Irad Jr. came within a whisker of breaking 60 wins as well. Not since Mantle and Maris have two New Yorkers performed so well on center stage.
Trainer Chad Brown’s wishes for clear skies and plenty of turf races came to fruition, and he summarily broke Todd Pletcher’s win record ending with 40 wins from 166 starters, good for a 24% win rate and just under $5 million in earnings. With every win photo seemingly going Brown’s way, Pletcher never put in a challenge. New York-based owner Michael Dubb took the owner’s title with 13 wins, one more than Klavarich Stables.
So while the ink dries on Saratoga 148, onward we go from Labor Day through the Breeders’ Cup Championships. The days will grow shorter, the sun will sink further into the horizon and we’ll see if Saratoga’s summer of fun will lead to Eclipse glory for those that graced us with their presence and power.
Before we get there, many will pine and count down the days until Saratoga opens again next July. The summer becomes warmer, more memorable and downright historic each season the old track opens its gates again. It’s the only guarantee that actually lives up to the hype without even trying.