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FORNATALE'S CORNER
Daily Saratoga Diary and Analysis
By HorsePlayer contributor Peter T. Fornatale
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Peter Thomas Fornatale is a horse racing enthusiast who has spent the last several summers as the handicapper for The Saratoga Special and the stage manager for the Daily Racing Form Seminars at Siro's. He has co-written a well-regarded handicapping book, Six Secrets of Successful Bettors (with Frank R. Scatoni, editor of HorsePlayer Magazine and is the co-author of Harvey Pack's May The Horse Be With You. He has also written about racing on the op-ed page of The New York Times. This year he is excited to change gears and write the HorsePlayer daily diary for Saratoga.
Monday, August 18, 2008 - Day 24 of 36
After three days of not cashing a ticket, the sun came out yesterday – figuratively and literally. Perhaps all the turf races staying on the grass was the reason? Or maybe it was the presence of my friend Ray Darmstadt, aka Ray D, who sat with me, his girlfriend Heather, my friend Sharon, and the legendary DVP (more on him in a future diary entry).
Ray D has been coming to visit me in Saratoga for the past five years. Invariably, he arrives when I’m in the midst of slump, and just as invariably my pockets are full of cash when he leaves. How is this possible? He doesn’t know how to handicap, he is no expert in pedigree or equine body language -- he just has an uncanny effect on my mojo. Normally I’m not at all superstitious (except when I am) but I have to say that this is just getting silly. I think next year I might get a bigger house so I can accommodate him for the whole meet. Our old buddy Stepaside started things with a rousing performance in the 8th race. He looked awesome in the paddock and even better during the race when he looped the field and won easily in the end after looking (to me) like he was too far back. I wish there was a future book for next year’s West Point - though he might even be able to hang against open stakes company by then if he continues to develop. The race of the day was the John’s Call. Totally awesome to see John’s Call himself, still sprightly and playful and the tender age of seventeen, leading the post parade. The other horse who made a major impression in the paddock was Summer Patriot. I love it when the one you liked on paper looks the best on the track and I doubled my bet accordingly. I was a little nervous when he was dead last for the first circuit, though DVP assured me he was right where he wanted to be. Usually I’m more apt to root home my small bets than my big ones, but after three days of losing, I rooted hard as he started his move, "GO ON MY SON!" Ray D, DVP, Heather and Sharon watched amusedly as I made a fool of myself. I didn’t even get a chance to really get into it though as Summer Patriot made the lead so easily that there was nothing to root for from the 8th pole on - he was home free. Monday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll
We’ll try COUNTRY STAR back in turf in the 7th and get PRETTY CAROLINA as a throw in as the other half of Bobby Frankel’s entry. Country Star ought to be supertough back on turf after the time off.
Race 7: $100 to win on 1 COUNTRY STAR (coupled with PRETTY CAROLINA)
Total Cost = $100 (again!!)
Previous Day Results: plus $310 Meet to date Results plus $291.50 Sunday, August 17, 2008 - Day 23 of 36
Even on days when it�s not supposed to rain in Saratoga this year, we get a shower or two. But the rain didn�t dampen my mood on Alabama/Sword Dancer day � my wagering took care of that. I managed to get a couple of favorites beat in the two Grade 1s but I could still appreciate the results.
Alan Garcia did a great job to get Grand Couturier through and up on the inside in the Sword Dancer. I was thinking that Better Talk Now looked like winning when he made his menacing move outside, but Robert Ribuado�s charge just had way too much for him after saving all the ground despite having some trouble. In the Alabama, we got to see two divisional leaders go head to head in deep stretch, the way it�s meant to be. So much for my idea that Music Note was �just better� than Proud Spell. The latter was as game as they come in holding off the big favorite and making Saratoga history in the process. Another great training job by Larry Jones. Sunday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll Today�s feature is the John�s Call and I can�t think about Tom Voss�s awesome gelding without remembering my first year that I spent significant time up here. I had just meant Sean Clancy and was looking for a tip. I saw that an ex-Steeplechase horse off a loooong layoff was returning to the flat. I asked Sean about him in The Parting Glass and he told me that the gelding was a �good horse but would probably need the race.� Sure enough, he was right on both counts � though maybe calling him a �good horse� was underselling him a bit. The great John�s Call campaigned successfully for the next couple of years and ended up winning the Sword Dancer in 2000.
I fouled up the bet when Summer Patriot ran earlier in the meet by getting greedy and trying to hit the exacta. Today in the John�s Call I�m going to keep it simple and just back him to win. Hopefully he gets me off the schneid. Race 9: $100 to win on 5 SUMMER PATRIOT
Total Cost = $100 (again!!)
Previous Day Results: minus $100 Meet to date Results minus $18.50 Saturday, August 16, 2008 - Day 22 of 36
When you back an 8/5 shot who doesn�t raise a gallop, it sure makes you feel like you�re in a slump. That�s where I�m at today. But I�m hoping that nicer weather and two Grade 1s can help to snap me out of my funk. The bankroll is drifting towards the red and it�s time to stop the bleeding.
Yesterday I hung out yesterday with my friend Sharon, who is in from Chicago. She introduced me to Saratoga when she was a student at Skidmore. All I remember about that first trip was that it was pouring rain (shocking, I know). It must have been a Wednesday or a Thursday because there was a Steeplechase race (no wonder I love the jumps). Beginner�s luck kicked in, I cashed a few tickets, and my career as a semi-professional degenerate had officially begun. We walked all around the yesterday and I was reminded of all the fun ways there are to experience this track. We watched a race at the big clubhouse TV, a great place for people watching. It�s always fun to try and eavesdrop on connections as they watch the replay. We also set up a little area on the grandstand side of the paddock for the 7th race � definitely one of my favorite spots at the Spa. Fancy Diamond and Loving Vindication looked the best and ran one-two but the odds weren�t good enough to bother with. For the Lake Placid, we watched the horses in the paddock and then managed to snake an abandoned picnic table. People are always amazed when I tell them you can bring your own food and even canned beer into this place � could it get any better? Saturday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll I am going to play around with the Grade 1 double. The Sword Dancer is a fascinating handicapping puzzle, given the questions about the ground, pace, and the declaration of the favorite, Red Rocks. I wish I could be more creative but I�m just going to go with the class: Dancing Forever and Better Talk Now. I think the Alabama is all about Music Note. She�s fresh and will relish the trip and as good as Proud Spell is, I just think she�s better.
Race 1: $50 Double 6/7 with 1 (BETTER TALK NOW/DANCING FOREVER with MUSIC NOTE)
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results: minus $100 Meet to date Results plus $81.50 Friday, August 15, 2008 - Day 21 of 36
Saratoga Special day at the Spa always makes me think about my friends at the other Saratoga Special, the newspaper. Since its inception, the paper has gone from being what trainer Angel Penna once called, "a literate Indian Charlie," to a major force on the Saratoga journalistic scene. This year in particular, the paper has a real presence in town among horsemen and tourists alike. I�m proud to still be involved in some way and I wish I could still be doing more for them.
Full disclosure: Sean Clancy is among my best friends. But objectively speaking, the guy�s writing and reporting ability - along with his unbridled passion for the sport of horse racing - make him a pleasure to read. Joe Clancy is the editor in chief and MVP - he makes that paper happen on a day to day basis and is a fine journalist in his own right. They�ve assembled an excellent team around them, including Brian Nadeau (whose virtues I�ve already extolled in this space) and Jamie Santo, who I have enjoyed working with tremendously over the years - not only does he let me keep my weird pop culture references, he encourages me to make more. Boy did we have fun when Michael McDonald started having runners at the Spa. Bottom line: you�re doing yourself a disservice if you don�t make the effort to pick up your copy of The Saratoga Special every day. As for the race from which the paper took its name, Run Away And Hide was a perfect trip winner for Cowboy Ronny Werner and Robby Albarado. Friday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll Our first horse to watch runs back. Here�s what I wrote about Vinnie Van Go�s debut, �Vinnie Van Go had been training well over the local track and looked primed for a big effort to me. He ran OK, ending up second after altering course in the stretch on a sloppy surface. I think normal second time out improvement could make him a winner next out.�
Race 1: $100 to win on 7 FOGCUTTER
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results: minus $100 Meet to date Results plus $181.50 Thursday, August 14, 2008 - Day 20 of 36
Sometimes it�s better to be lucky than good. I was running late today and missed the first few races. As soon as I got to a place to make a bet, it was only two minutes to the 4th race, where our Play of the Day, Silver Reunion, was running. I made my bet only to discover to my horror that the race had been taken off the turf. I wouldn�t have bet her if I�d known but it was too late to cancel. She absolutely hacked up in the end - won easily. The bad news is that I said in the Diary that the bet was for 'Turf Only' so I don�t get to add the extra $440 to our mythical bankroll. My friend Harvey Pack has my favorite line about the concept of the mythical bankroll: "The only thing people want to see you do with a mythical bankroll is lose it all. It makes them feel better about themselves."
One story from the bar to share. My friend and fellow Saratoga lover Mitch told me about a trip he once took to, as he described it, "the late, great Yakima Meadows." It was a special 350 yard race between a thoroughbred, a quarter horse, and a buffalo (!?). Mitch, and the general public, made the quarter horse the big favorite - after all, he was racing under favorable conditions. The t-bred took plenty of money and the buffalo was sent off at 4-1. Mitch was surprised the buffalo even took that much money - how could it have any chance? Unbeknownst to Mitch, buffalos are sprinters. From the inside post, the buffalo quickly made the top and opened up a three buffalo lead in his rollicking front to back gallop. Still, Mitch was unconcerned, surely both horses would run him down easily. And he was feeling really good when the buffalos stride - such as it was - began to shorten at the 8th pole (200 yards out) and began to drift right. But then the thoroughbred bumped the quarter horse as it was looking for room to shy away. The buffalo slowed to a jog, then a walk, but neither horse would go by - they just ran further and further to the outside, essentially pulling themselves up. The last sixteenth was clocked in 22 seconds and the buffalo won by a length and paid $10.50. It was a betting coup. Turns out it was a fixed race -- sort of. Apparently, it is deeply hard-wired into the nature of horses to never want to be in front of a buffalo. As Mitch put it, "If you were a horse, you wouldn�t want a thing with horns positioned like that behind you either." Thursday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll Let�s go back to the jumpers � it worked last week.
Race 1: $100 to win on 7 FOGCUTTER
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results: No Bet Meet to date Results plus $281.50 Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - Day 19 of 36
It�s like I�m some sort of rain magnet. I leave Saratoga Monday to head down to Brooklyn and the showers follow. I�m down here tonight and tomorrow to see music: Bob Dylan tonight in Prospect Park and Wilco tomorrow at McCarren (not to be confused with McCarron) Pool. Both are outdoor shows and just as I started typing this, I heard a clap of thunder. We�ll have to see how Dylan and Tweedy do in the off going I guess.
As for Monday�s bet of the day, one of the things that attracted me to the horse was that Elvis Trujilo was booked to come up from Jersey to ride that one in his only mount of the day. He never made the trip, and maybe that was a sign? No Speed Limit was slammed at the break, made the running anyway and tired late. Definitely worth another shot. No other racing news to report though I did want to add one horse to watch to our list: 8/6, 5th race: FROSTY DIAMOND broke poorly, ran greenly, and made a crazy eight wide move around the turn. At that point, he rallied a bit. I think he�ll move up off that race and would be of particular interest on the drop. Wednesday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll We tried to back Graham Motion�s SILVER REUNION on Friday when the card was cancelled. No reason not to try her again here.
Race 4: $100 to win on 4 SILVER REUNION (turf only)
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results: minus $100 Meet to date Results plus $281.50 Monday, August 11, 2008 - Day 18 of 36
Another classic lesson when it comes to horse racing: first thought, best thought. For Sunday�s play of the day I initially wanted to bet my boy Banrock in the West Point, who naturally won at 5/2. But the more I looked at the card, the more I decided that there�d be more value in the 10th race so I landed there instead and, of course, disaster ensued. I�m considering limiting the bets of the day to turf and jumps for the rest of the meet!
Not much else to report from today aside from another gnarly thunderstorm. I was planning on bringing some potential new fans to the races but that plan got washed away when they saw the weather. This year at Saratoga really makes me appreciate how lucky we were last year with all the good weather. One stat tells it all: we lost more turf races in the first day in �08 than we did all of �07. And the forecast for this week doesn�t look like it�s going to make for much of an improvement. Monday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll I like Wesley Ward�s NO SPEED LIMIT in the nightcap. If it�s on turf, he shows a quick work over the local sod. If it comes off, he has nice wet breeding. Either way, I like to see Elvis Trujillo show up to ride this one horse on the card. I�m guessing she�s live.
Race 10: $100 to win on 10 NO SPEED LIMIT
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results: minus $100 Meet to date Results plus $381.50 Saturday, August 9, 2008 - Day 16 of 36
Cancelled?? What do you mean they cancelled? Drat. . .
I hadn�t even made it over there today when another thunderstorm of epic proportions hit the area. It even dwarfed the one we had yesterday that impressed me so much I wrote about it in this space. I�m guessing the races we lost will be added next week in what should make for some long days of racing, not such a bad thing. I�m afraid to say I have nothing interesting or insightful to say about the two races they did run today so instead I�ll offer a story. The date was August 1, 2006. It had been an oppressively hot and humid dark day in Saratoga. The rumor was that the next day was supposed to be even hotter. I was over at the Saratoga Special offices - my nomadic colleagues were on East Ave that year as I recall. My editor Jamie Santo and ace reporter Jim Mulvihill were working hard on that night�s paper when I suggested that Wednesday�s racing might be cancelled because of the heat. This was in the wake of Barbaro�s injury and the health of the horse was on everyone�s mind (as it always ought to be). Jim told me I was crazy to suggest the idea. "They�d never cancel. Too much money to be made. They haven�t cancelled a full card in the 142 years this place has been open." Sensing an opportunity for some fun, I challenged him, "OK. What price will you give me that they don�t run?" "You name it. It�s impossible. Won�t ever happen." Famous last words. I think in the end we settled that I�d have $100 on at 1000-1. I hope Jim lives to be 100 and never lays a bet that bad again. The next day the heat index was 110, they cancelled straight away, and I got a call from a sheepish Jim about setting up a payment plan. In the end, I let him off with a few pints of Guinness at The Parting Glass instead. Saturday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll I believe that the Grade 1 winner Ariege has simply been running against better than these and the mile on the Saratoga turf should be a perfect showcase for her talents.
Race 7: $100 to win on 5 ARIEGE (TURF ONLY)
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results NO BET Meet to date Results plus $246.50 Friday, August 8, 2008 - Day 15 of 36
We got back on the good foot in the A.P. Smithwick I�m happy to say. High Action made a nice run at the pacesetter, Salford City, approaching the last and shot by to victory, returning $8.40. I was hoping for more like 4-1 but with the way the Plays of the Day have been running (or not running), I ain�t complaining.
The rain showers were so intense today that Jan Rushton�s pre-race paddock spiel was literally rained out as she had to run for cover in medias res. I can only recall one shower quite that crazy and it happened on one of my very first trips up here. Many moons ago, Horseplayer editor Frank Scatoni and I headed up here together (Hey, how did you think I got this sweet gig anyway?)for a weekend. We were staying with a couple of jump jockeys who we�d never met but were friends of a friend, Chip Miller and Sean Clancy. We brought them two six packs of beer in exchange for floor and couch space. One was a six of Anchor Steam, the other of the downmarket brand Genesee Cream Ale. To this day, Clancy makes cracks about the Genesee. Anyway, the place they were staying was on the second floor and had a porch. They had a big chaise lounge type deal complete with a real mattress - not your ordinary flimsy cushion. Then there was this giant thunderstorm so intense that the mattress from the chaise lounge ended up two yards over after blowing off the deck. So if you�re out walking around town tonight and you see a stray mattress or two, blame it on the rain.
Friday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll Silver Reunion looks very live to me for a trainer, Graham Motion, who I love to bet up here despite his tepid start to the meeting. This one took a little cash in her debut, which I�m guessing was just a prep for a grass stretchout anyway. Her sire�s charges have done OK on turf and she�s out of a graded stakes winning dam. There are a couple of others in here to take money so I think the price will be right.
Race 5: $100 to win on 9 SILVER REUNION
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results plus $320 Meet to date Results plus $246.50 Thursday, August 7, 2008 - Day 14 of 36
Welcome to the name dropping edition of my Saratoga diary, but first, I must complain about another bet of the day went awry. Sarah�s Prize looked to be going well to me then got stuck down inside of horses. I can�t call it an excuse though because she found absolutely nothing in the end. Seemed like maybe she didn�t want to run that far after all. Barclay Tagg�s Nehantic Kat ended up winning. She looked amazing in the paddock and won easily. There was an unusual scene in the winner�s circle: a quartet of folks dressed as the main characters from the Wizard of Oz accompanied the winning connections. Eibar Coa looked amused. Barclay Tagg did not.
Sam the Bugler and Tom Durkin�s duet on "Minnie the Moocher" before the Cab Calloway was a great moment. My friend Harvey Pack always likes to comment about how happy he is that they named a race after Calloway because he was one of the few celebrities who was at the races day in, day out. He says, "Any time they needed someone famous to hand out a trophy, they�d just go grab him and point him to the winner�s circle." Trust me, it�s funnier when he says it.
Speaking of Durkin and singing, that reminds me of a funny story he told me a few years back. Tom went to Paddy Reilly�s one night in Manhattan to see a band play, maybe it was Black 47, I can�t really remember. He was looking very Irish in a wool pullover and was treated like a celebrity upon his arrival. It made sense that the folks there would know a racing celebrity when they saw. He ordered his Guinness and sat down next to the stage when the true reason behind his royal treatment was revealed. The manager came up to him and said, "Wow, I can�t believe Van Morrison is sitting in my place!" I didn�t get around to a little piece of business yesterday so let�s do it now: Week Two Horses to Watch: August 1st, 8th race (The Majestic Light): RUSSIAN SAGE ran third despite a meaningful steadying against some good horses. Worth a long look next time, especially against easier competition. In that same race, GOLDEN WEEKEND impressed me. He led the field a long way through honest fractions after stumbling at the gate. Another I�ll try again in the right spot. August 2nd, 2nd race: VISCOUNT just didn�t break at all in his debut and ran on nicely for third. I�d think he�ll move up a bunch off that effort and maybe he�ll sneak off at a decent price next time. Thursday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll �ll take a shot over jumps in the A.P. Smithwick. I was very impressed by HIGH ACTION when he won a flat race at the Fair Hill Races over Memorial Day (shows up as a workout, not a race). He subsequently looked good winning over hurdles and will hopefully get us back into the black here.
Race 1: $100 to win 6 HIGH ACTION
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $100 Meet to date Results minus $73.50 Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - Day 13 of 36
There are two days when I never seem to win: Del Mar Opening Day and my birthday at Saratoga. And yet every year, I show up, take a swing, and end up doing my money. Monday was no different. Fortunately, it was a super fun day anyway. My Mom and her boyfriend Bob were in town, so they joined my brother Mark and I for the At The Rail buffet. It was a special day in there � a luncheon to honor the Hall of Fame inductees. Seated not far from us were such racing luminaries as Angel Cordero, Chris McCarron and Beverly Lewis (who won the 7th race with Persistent Penny). The highlight for me was getting to congratulate Edgar Prado on his Hall of Fame induction as he rode Belle onto the track (also in the 7th). He responded with a wide smile and a humble nod of the head.
Betting wise, let�s just say it was humbling. Mark and I cashed one small ticket all day while Mom and Bob proceeded to cash on Warm Country (12-1), Ninth Client (who deadheated at 18-1), and Thou Swell ($16 to place in the stake). But the capper was the 6th race, where Bob came up with the Fiddler�s Princess/High Draw exacta for $180. Somehow, he had it twice. The system of these two handicappers? Mom bet names and longshots. Bob bet the ones who looked mean as they walked out on the track. Hey, it wasn�t a total loss for me: dinner was on them.
Wednesday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll One principle that�s served me well in betting turf racing at Saratoga over the last decade is: In Cristophe we trust. Master turf conditioner Clement sends out Sarah�s Pride in the 8th race. She�s only run on turf twice. She needed the first try off a long layoff. Last time she ran an OK final time after chasing a slow pace. Today I think she�s sitting on one, third race of the form cycle, adding a little more ground. Look for the trainer to be stomping his foot, rooting her on by the big TV in the clubhouse.
8th race: $100 to win on 2 Sarah�s Pride (turf only)
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $100 Meet to date Results plus $36.50 Monday, August 4, 2008 - Day 12 of 36
The Pick Four went so badly for us today that I don't even want to talk about it! Suffice it to say we weren't close and our brief winning streak is over. Our key horse, Dulcet Tone in the 10th race, appeared to get run off her heels, suggesting that the big figure she earned last time was more a function of being alone on the lead than of her being a crack sprinter. Still, I might give her another chance if and when Bobby Frankel tries to stretch her out. Speaking of Frankel, I saw him coming out of the horsemen�s office today talking to Gary Sciacca about pasta. So that�s what trainers chat about when they�re not talking business - food.
It was a bizarre day weather-wise up here. Lots of sun and lots of rain, often at the same time. It was the type of day where it alternated from being sunny in the paddock and rainy on the track to the other way around. These giveaway Sundays are also always noteworthy for the phenomenon known as spinning. People - I want to say local people - go through the turnstiles a mind boggling amount of times to collect multiple numbers of whatever it is being given away - today it was T-Shirts. My brother Mark and I saw one woman holding a stack of shirts so large it practically obscured her face. As Mark noted, "Now she has something to wear Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. . ."
One last note from wandering around the Spa on a Sunday: file this one under the theory of "no good deed goes unpunished." I had a couple of extra grandstand seats for today and I couldn�t be bothered to try and sell them. I figured I�d give them away. I saw a couple of oldtimers lurking at the top of my section, leaning on the rail. I figured I�d do my good deed for the day and hand them a couple of proper, freebie seats. I explain the situation, offer the tickets and the guy just reaches out, takes them and says, "I�ll take them." No thank you, no nothing. I figure at the least this means that I�m karmically destined to have a good day. It was the worst betting day of the meeting by far. Ah well . ..
Monday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll Let�s take a shot with the bred to the purple With Flying Colors in the 7th race. There�s a lot to like. She exits a key race, she has a real excuse for her slowish figure last time (the slop) and was bred to run all day. I also get the feeling she might be a halfway decent price despite the high profile connection (Phipps/McGaughey/Velazquez).
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $100 Meet to date Results plus $136.50 Sunday, August 3, 2008 - Day 11 of 36
Today at Saratoga we got to see a sight that my buddies out west have yet to get to see this Summer - Bob Baffert in the winner�s circle. Indian Blessing outran her odds - yes, it�s possible to outrun your odds when you�re 2/5 to begin with - and absolutely crushed the field in the Test stakes. Why do I get the feeling the white haired one might just decide to move East permanently at this point? At least for the dog daze of August. . .
Porte Bonheur pulled the upset in the Flanders Stakes. There was a ton of betting exuberance for Bobby Frankel�s Lovely Isle. I was worried about her because she�d never really shown the ability to pass horses and the presence of More Happy made me think she wouldn�t be on the lead. I landed on Irish Smoke, who went off an overbet 2-1 and was closer than I would�ve liked. The winner got the perfect trip and responded by rewarding her backers with a $17 mutuel. My favorite thing about the race was my man Brian Nadeau�s line in the Saratoga Special this morning. Brian is an excellent reporter and terrific handicapper. He wrote, "If you�re wondering who Flanders is, check her out on Youtube and enjoy. (If you�re wondering what YouTube is, ask your kids)."
Fortunately, we were able to take down the late Pick Four that we keyed around Indian Blessing. Unfortunately, it came back a little chalky - only fair given the sequence of prices: 6/5, 6-1, 2-5, and 2-1. Still, $165 isn�t anything to sneeze at I suppose.
Sunday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll OK, so maybe this is getting greedy but we�re going to take another swing at the Pick Four tomorrow.
Sparky�s Perfection/Sorority Sister/CT Phone Home with War Monger/Thorn Song with Dulcet Tone with Condamine/Bartletts/Nickel Pickle
So that�s: a $5 Pick Four 3/6/10 with 2/4 with 3 with 1/9/10 and a $5 Pick Four 6 with 2/4 with 3 with 10
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results plus $222 Meet to date Results plus $236.50 Saturday, August 2, 2008 - Day 10 of 36
Finally, a little parimutuel love in the house! Luck Money was able to hold off Prussian and win the Majestic Light putting us in the black (albeit not by much). Desormeaux and Mott tried a change of tactics today, having runner up Prussian come from off the pace and he responded pretty well. I wouldn�t be surprised to see him build off that effort next time. And the third place finisher, Russian Sage, ran a big race despite trouble and also might be sitting on a race next time - especially against a little easier company.
Great to see Allen Jerkens in the winner�s circle in the big one. Any Limit absolutely crushed her overhyped competition as the longest shot on the board. I know Jerkens hates the Giant Killer moniker but I have to say honestly that the man is the best trainer I�ve ever seen. The things he has accomplished with comparatively modest stock are just amazing. Kudos and then some to a man who makes me happy to be a racing fan. He does right by his horses and he just keeps winning.
Saturday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll We�re gonna take a shot at the Pick Four today and see if we can make a little noise. Indian Blessing looks like a certainty in the Test so we�ll key the play around her.
Race 8: $4 Pick Four Zip By You/Catty Madeline/Heather�s Angel with National Pride/Posse Cat/West Express with Indian Blessing with Tenacious Star/Chief Talkeetna/More Than Coolin
So that�s 4/6/10 with 2/3/4 with 6 with 3/7/14
Total Cost = $108 (OK, so somebody needs to lend me the cost of a beer at Siro�s)
Previous Day Results plus $230 Meet to date Results plus $14.50 Friday, August 1, 2008 - Day 9 of 36
A little bit more frustration at the windows today. Our tip in the jumper, Be Certain, just couldn�t quite get up against Jonathan Sheppard's The Price of Love.
I didn't like much today so other than the aforementioned first, I stayed out of pari-mutuel trouble. But I do have one additional comment. I thought I would live to be 100 and not see a 10 length lead coughed up in the stretch but that's exactly what happened to Retribution in the nightcap. Favored Logic Way, who I stubbornly stood against, got him in the final stride after it briefly looked to me like he was going to hang. My condolences to Retribution�s backers.
Friday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll OK, so maybe the last European shipper I tried in this column didn't work out so well but I still contend that you won�t see a worse trip all meet than the one she got. Today, we�ll look across the pond once again and try LUCK MONEY in the Majestic Light. Bill Mott's Prussian is in as well Sure, he�s got close up form to the excellent Gio Ponti and is clearly a talent, but I don't want to bank on him at a short number with so much other early speed signed on. Luck Money appears tactical and has on his resume a Group 2 placing at Ascot and a win in a pricey restricted stake at the Curragh. I have a feeling he'll be good enough to beat these.
Race 8: $100 to win on 8 LUCK MONEY
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $100 Meet to date Results minus $215.50 Thursday, July 31, 2008 - Day 8 of 36
I had to make my way south for a meeting in New York City today so I wasn't able to attend the races live. I ended up watching instead at The Blind Tiger Ale House in the West Village. I�m one of a small cabal of Tiger regulars who love horse racing, and one of my fellow degenerates happened to be in the place today as well. The rest of the crowd watched us with a mix of interest and horror as we poured over The Racing Form and traded tips. My favorite exchange:
Kevin: I've never been to the track.
Pete: That�s crazy.
Katherine: I went to the track when I was too young to remember it and haven't been back since.
Pete: Now that's really crazy.
The first issue we had was how we'd place our bets. I�m not a big phone account guy, I won�t accept OTB's surcharge, and my computer battery was near dead. Fortunately I was able to strike a deal with Kate, our bartender - I could plug in my laptop behind the bar in exchange for a small commission on any winnings. Once we sorted that out I ordered an Elysian Immortal IPA and got down to business.
I�m a big jump racing fan and was impressed with Dynaski in the first. The barn loves him, he looked good in victory, and might be heard from again later in the meet.
I learned a valuable lesson for the umpteenth time in the sixth race: when you have a real opinion, don�t mess around in exactas, bet to win. In the "play of the day," I tried to hook up Summer Patriot with two others in the exacta. Summer Patriot, who looks like a force to be reckoned with for Barclay Tagg, won pretty easily. But we didn�t cash a cent.
The De La Rose to me on paper was as tricky a betting race as you�ll see so I decided to go fishing for a couple of perceived overlays. I ended up with using Jade Queen, Rasta Farian, and Long Approach. So what happens in the seemingly open race? Carriage Trail, who I thought was a little overbet at 4-1, gets up right on the line. Typical. As for Jade Queen, I�m afraid she has to go on the "never bet again" list. She�d given up leads in her last several starts but I thought the cutback second off the layoff might do the trick. She set a slow pace and still got inhaled and ended up fifth. No mas.
Thursday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll On a card I�m not crazy about, I'm going to take my daily bankroll and support the jumping game by backing Tom Voss�s BE CERTAIN. To be totally honest, when I first looked at the race, I was tempted to go another direction but the more I look, the more I think that he�s the best horse in the race and will get the job done
Race 1: $100 to win on 3 BE CERTAIN
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $100 Meet to date Results minus $115.50 Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - Day 7 of 36
Monday's Play of the day didn�t work out so well for an unexpected reason. As expected, Tergesti was loose on the lead and crossed the wire first - but in the end, he was running for purse money only as his entrymate, Successful Affair, was a late scratch. So all we really needed was Overextended to get second to be considered the winner but he was outfinished by Lorccan. Ah well, the scratch saved us the exacta cash anyway
Week One horses to watch:
July 23rd, second race: Vinnie Van Go had been training well over the local track and looked primed for a big effort to me. He ran OK, ending up second after altering course in the stretch on a sloppy surface. I think normal second time out improvement could make him a winner next out.
July 25th, 8th race (The Lake George): Mousse Au Chocolat is a talented looking French filly who had a world of trouble in her USA debut. I'm not sure what plans the connections have but I�ll give her a long look next time out.
Wednesday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll The sixth race involves a few horses I�ve had on my �to watch� list and we�re going to bet them as follows:
Race 6: $25 exacta box 2-4 (Giant Storm and Summer Patriot), $25 exacta box 4-7 (Summer Patriot and Sky Dragon).
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $75 Meet to date Results minus $15.50 Monday, July 28, 2008 - Day 6 of 36
It was an eventful day yesterday at the Spa, complete with some amazing performances, a few more showers (I�m as shocked as you), a candidate for burger of the year, and a celebratory scene straight out of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. What the hell am I talking about? Read on. . .
Pretty Carina was the easiest of winners in the 8th race. She looked the part in the paddock and left the result never in doubt. Unfortunately, the word was out and then some so the price wasn�t all I�d been hoping. Still, an even money shot can still be value if she ought to be 1-2. Carina ran like she could have been 1-9. I�m curious to track her progress under the excellent handling of Bobby Frankel.
Mambo in Seattle stamped himself as a dark horse contender for the Travers with a nice looking score in the Henry Walton stakes. He came home faster than the winner of big boy stake (The Jim Dandy) and looked impressive in the way he made the lead and how he fought on after being headed by You and I Forever. The stretch duel between those two called to mind the amazing 2002 Test Stakes, where You and I Forever�s dam, You, battled Carson Hollow and got up in one of the closer photos you�ll ever see. Racecaller Tom Durkin�s line that day was memorable, "a photo finish that doesn�t deserve a loser."
As for yesterday�s Big One, Macho Again did the business for Dallas Stewart and my friends at West Point. I didn�t back the horse but was happy for those folks. I saw Stewart later on in the evening, still dressed to the nines, chatting on his mobile outside The Parting Glass. That�s just one of the great things about this place: getting to personally congratulate winning owners, trainers or bettors who you just randomly see around town. Racing people are Saratoga.
There is a new player on the Saratoga dining scene: Max London�s. I went there with a small crew last night and was very impressed with the room, the service, the wine list, and especially the food. The lamb burger - which might be a Sunday special - was knock your socks off good. I give this place my highest recommendation and plan to write more about it as the meet continues.
I feel like I�m forgetting something - oh yeah, the Smoky Mountain Wrestling thing. Kent Desormeaux got his 5,000 career winner in the 7th race aboard Bella Attrice. Afterwards, there was a little ceremony in the winner�s circle, complete with a cake. As a longtime old-school wrestling guy, whenever you see a cake presentation like that, you fully expect it to end up in somebody�s face. The second that thought occurred to me, there was a little transfer problem and the cake ended up face down on the ground. Not as funny as in somebody�s face, but I still half expected to see Jim Cornette lurking somewhere near the 17-minute bell. (Congratulations if you�re one of the three people in the world who get those references. . .)
Monday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll I've had Overextended on my horses to watch list since the first start of his life. He�s been oddly handled but I think he�s really going to have a chance to thrive running against other New York breds. The problem today is that it looks like Tergesti could be alone on the lead so we'll have to save with him a little
Race 1: $75 to win on 4 Overextended, $25 exacta 1 - 4 Tergesti/Overextended
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results plus $105 Meet to date Results plus $59.50 Sunday, July 27, 2008 - Day 5 of 36
The first of my day happened at 8 a.m. on East Avenue - the annual Silks and Satins run to benefit the Special Olympics. To be honest, I had a bit of a rough trip. Delayed at least a hundred yards at the start due to congestion, floated about 8 wide on Union Avenue by a wall of runners, then some dude in a wifebeater nearly clipped heels with me and sent me down as I approached the water station. I was feeling pretty proud of myself when I crossed the wire in a personal best for 5k of about 25:16 (adjusted for the delayed start). My pride didn't last long though. I went to get my banana and gift bag and saw some apparently out-of-shape guy sitting in a lawn chair who'd clearly finished well ahead of me smoking a cigarette. Truth is,I think I'm about the equivalent of a 10 claimer when it comes to running.
The real racing started a few hours later and it was a great card. I was super impressed by Munnings in the paddock before the second race and he ran to his $1.7 million purchase price in a romp. I�d think he�ll be a stakes level sprinter in the near future but based on his breeding and body type, I wouldn�t necessarily bet on his stretching out.
I got the pleasure of feeling like an idiot two separate times later in the card. In the 5th, we had the play of the day, Stepaside. But I got cold feet in real life when the price went in to 5/2 and didn�t bet any actual cash. Still, at least he was a nice winner for the "meet to date" stats.
Much worse was the Diana, where Forever Together looked great on the track and I got word that her trainer, Jonathan Sheppard, was exuding confidence in the paddock. A quick look at the PPs showed she was a legitimate longshot. But I�d already put in my Pick Fours and I was socializing and couldn�t be bothered to go to the window. She paid $20.
I'd be remiss if I didn't give props to Ginger Punch - the much the best champ - and Commentator - gotta a love a 7-year old who wins his second Whitney. Now that's kicking it old school.
Sunday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll I�m hearing good things about PRETTY CARINA and she makes a lot of sense on paper as well. She ought to improve with the switch to the Frankel barn and the addition of lasix.
Race 8: $100 to win on 9 PRETTY CARINA
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results plus $178 Meet to date Results minus $40.50 Saturday, July 26, 2008 - Day 4 of 36
Today Fornatale's corner went from being a virtual destination to an actual one. My brother Mark and I scoped out a nice patch of grass on the far side of the paddock to set up a little campground, complete with a beach blanket, a camping chair, and a cooler full of water and a six of delicious canned micro-brewed beer (Porkslap Ale and Snapperhead IPA, courtesy of Butternuts Beer and Ale). It was a great spot to relax in the shade and check out some of the best horses in the country. I wish every Friday up here had sunset racing. It truly is a joy.
The racing itself didn�t quite go our way. We cashed a couple of tiny bets on paddock plays on the undercard, but the one real bet of the day was a bit of a disaster. Mousse au Chocalat, who went off favored in the Lake George, had a ridiculously bad trip. First, she broke so poorly that I'm surprised there wasn�t an inquiry for her to be declared a nonstarter. Then she was out of touch with the field behind a slow pace, made a little middle move and then clipped heels in the stretch when Receipt drifted out. In the end, $100 done in cold blood and a total tossout of a race. It will be interesting to see where she shows up next.
Saturday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll Sure, there are four stakes races tomorrow but I feel like the best betting opportunity of the day might come in a New York bred race. Tom Voss's STEPASIDE has some nice form in his PPs, including a good second to the multiple stakes winner Banrock. He's been parked outside his last two and should be very well meant at a square price.
Race 5: $30 to win, $70 to place on 8 STEPASIDE
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results minus $100 Meet to date Results minus $178.50 Friday, July 25, 2008 - Day 3 of 36
Another day of off the turf and sloppy, so another day I couldn't be bothered to actually show up in person at the track. Don't worry though, I'm there tomorrow for sunset racing come hell or high water - the latter being a distinct possibility with all this rain.
I got into town officially today and checked in my little east side place near the tennis courts and the mom and pop where I've stayed the last two seasons.
The drive up from Brooklyn was uneventful. My brother and I rehashed our favorite driving up from downstate story ever.
The year was 1998. EZ Pass was a relatively new concept at the time. We somehow inadvertently got onto the Thruway through an EZ Pass only lane. Therefore, when we got to the Northway exit that takes you to Saratoga, we had no ticket to present the ticket taker dude. He was a jovial fellow with a thick upstate New York accent (think "bay-ack" instead of "back").
My brother Mark nervously told him what had happened and the ticket guy handed him a piece of paper and asked him to sign it. Fearing that it was a summons of some kind, Mark asked him, "Uh, what's this I'm signing, sir?"
He replied, "That's a lost ticket voucher. You sign this and you pay $4.80. Or I can charge you the $13 to Buffalo and you don't have to sign s*#t!"
Friday Plays of the Day - $100 Daily Bankroll In the featured Lake George, I'm intrigued by an excellent looking French filly named Mousse au Chocolat. She shouldn't have any trouble with the off going and she has form that ought to wallop these - she was less than 3 lengths to the superfilly Zarkava, who�d be about 1-10 in here.
Race 8: $100 to win on 4 Mousse au Chocolat .
Total Cost = $100
Previous Day Results -$100 Meet to date Results -$78.50 Thursday, July 24, 2008 - Day 2 of 36
The first day of Saratoga 2008 was a washout - almost literally. With the area being pounded by inclement weather, I didn�t even bother to make an appearance and instead watched the races on television. I briefly felt guilty but after seeing all those umbrellas in the paddock and rain drenched sport coats, I�m certain I made the right call.
With all the races being taken off the turf yesterday and the scratch of the Zayat entry in the second, we were only left with $20 worth of exacta plays in the 2nd. Fortunately, Cognito did the bu | ||
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