Saratoga Report #5: The Summer of Songbird

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: SONGBIRD – The “Summer of Songbird” came to a rousing end on Saturday evening as the super filly extended her record to 10 for 10 while romping in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes.  Songbird came to the “Graveyard of Champions” and laughed in its face.  She came north and won two Grade 1 races with ease and leaves as the undisputed 3 year old filly of the year no matter what happens from here on out.  The pressure of facing the boys will continue, but for me the last four weeks were about enjoying one of the best horses in the country running at the best track in the country.  The future races will get tougher for Songbird, but she’ll be equipped to handle anything that comes here way.

https://youtu.be/Pdle-LeA1Bo

– 2nd Star: TOURIST – As many thought the pace of Saturday’s Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap was slow which allowed Tourist to sit just off the front runner King Kreesa.  Once that happen it was going to be very tough for anyone to catch a classy horse like Tourist, and he did indeed turn the race into a runaway as he passed King Kreesa on the turn and cruised home to big victory.  Tourist has been close in several races, but finally on Saturday he was simply the class of the field.  He’ll most likely point towards the Breeders Cup now as his talents are strong enough to make a run at the Mile.

– 3rd Star: TIME AND MOTION – The streak of Catch a Glimpse is officially over!  Time and Motion, who has been defeated by Catch a Glimpse in the past, was able to sit closer to the pace this time and was able to run down Time and Motion to win the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes.  As the wire approached Time and Motion just kept getting better and better, and it was becoming clear Catch a Glimpse was getting tired.  Time and Motion had been knocking on the door for while now so it was nice to see her in the winners circle.  Perhaps the surface casued the upset, or perhaps this is a horse that just keeps on getting better.

Flop of the Week

– EVER SO CLEVER – I’ll never be too hard on 2 Year Olds, but Ever So Clever did not live up to the hype last Friday as she was a non-factor in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes.  Steve Asmussen will have to go back to the drawing board with this one as she is better than what she showed.

Preview to Next Week