Three Stars of the Week
– 1st Star: Will Take Charge (KY) – Much to the delight of the Racing Dudes and Oaklawn fans everywhere, Will Take Charge waited to get on the big stage at Saratoga before finally breaking through with two big races in a row. After struggling through the Triple Crown, the 17 hand chestnut was a solid second in the Jim Dandy, before running the race of his life and winning the Travers last Saturday. He sat the perfect trip with rider Luis Saez aboard, and was able to make up three to four lengths in the stretch to nip Moreno right on the wire. The win also made Will Take Charge a millionaire, and puts him into the mix for three-year old of the year. The Pennsylvania Derby or Jockey Club Gold Cup will be next for him, with the long-term goal being the Breeders Cup Classic.
– 2nd Star: Royal Delta (KY) – While Will Take Charge won the tracks biggest race, the biggest performance of the weekend may have come from two-time defending Breeders Cup Ladies champion Royal Delta. After struggling a bit to start the year, Royal Delta has returned to her flawless form, winning the last two races with no trouble whatsoever. It’s interesting to note that her last two races have been without Lasix, a move that must be credited to trainer Bill Mott. She is without a doubt the number one older mare in the country, and should be heading into the Breeders Cup in perfect shape.
– 3rd Star: Capo Bastone (KY) – The OTHER Pletcher horse got the job done in the King’s Bishop! The race came up as one of the stronger races of the year, and as expected the pace up front was very hot. It was expected that Forty Tales or Declan’s Warrior would be the faster of the closing horses, but it was Capo Bastone that made the strongest of the late charges, and he easily passed Mentor Cane to win by two lengths. Since shortening up to sprint races Capo Bastone has improved tremendously, but still he paid $58.50 for a $2 win bet on Saturday. No plans are set in stone for him yet, but he may have tossed his hat into the Breeders Cup Sprint discussion with this solid effort.
Flop of the Week
– Verrazano (KY) – When you are a heavy favorite and you get a trip like Verrazano got, you are supposed to win. It’s obvious the mile and one-quarter just isn’t up his alley, although there is still plenty of value with him. Shortening him up to a mile is probably the next step, and you would have to think he will be awfully tough to beat at that distance as long as he’s healthy.
Trainer Standings
Rank |
Trainer Name |
Sts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total $ |
|
Win% |
Top3 |
Top3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Todd A. Pletcher | 106 | 32 | 14 | 15 | $3,881,667 | 30% | 61 | 58% | |
| 2 | Chad C. Brown | 75 | 21 | 14 | 16 | $2,077,018 | 28% | 51 | 68% | |
| 3 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 51 | 13 | 7 | 5 | $1,005,136 | 25% | 25 | 49% | |
| 3 | David Jacobson | 64 | 13 | 8 | 7 | $701,543 | 20% | 28 | 44% | |
| 5 | William I. Mott | 74 | 11 | 9 | 6 | $1,198,764 | 15% | 26 | 35% | |
| 5 | Steven M. Asmussen | 49 | 11 | 10 | 9 | $897,569 | 22% | 30 | 61% | |
| 5 | Michael J. Maker | 72 | 11 | 10 | 11 | $662,074 | 15% | 32 | 44% | |
| 8 | George Weaver | 38 | 9 | 4 | 6 | $664,054 | 24% | 19 | 50% | |
| 8 | Dominic G. Galluscio | 35 | 9 | 8 | 3 | $417,353 | 26% | 20 | 57% | |
| 10 | Rudy R. Rodriguez | 67 | 8 | 11 | 9 | $520,080 | 12% | 28 | 42% | |
| 11 | Bruce N. Levine | 45 | 6 | 9 | 5 | $424,407 | 13% | 20 | 44% | |
| 11 | Anthony W. Dutrow | 24 | 6 | 4 | 3 | $357,008 | 25% | 13 | 54% | |
| 13 | Claude R. McGaughey III | 30 | 5 | 2 | 9 | $529,380 | 17% | 16 | 53% | |
| 13 | Christophe Clement | 44 | 5 | 9 | 13 | $526,705 | 11% | 27 | 61% | |
| 13 | Dominick Schettino | 36 | 5 | 5 | 2 | $395,181 | 14% | 12 | 33% | |
| 13 | Bruce R. Brown | 43 | 5 | 5 | 7 | $390,615 | 12% | 17 | 40% |
Jockey Standings
| Rank |
Jockey Name |
Sts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total $ |
|
Win% |
Top3 |
Top3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javier Castellano | 269 | 54 | 45 | 53 | $4,360,374 | 20% | 152 | 57% | |
| 2 | Joel Rosario | 221 | 41 | 41 | 32 | $3,209,172 | 19% | 114 | 52% | |
| 3 | John R. Velazquez | 202 | 39 | 29 | 29 | $4,058,223 | 19% | 97 | 48% | |
| 4 | Jose Lezcano | 170 | 24 | 25 | 26 | $2,454,093 | 14% | 75 | 44% | |
| 5 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 210 | 22 | 19 | 33 | $2,071,290 | 10% | 74 | 35% | |
| 6 | Junior Alvarado | 140 | 21 | 12 | 10 | $1,440,062 | 15% | 43 | 31% | |
| 7 | Jose L. Ortiz | 164 | 19 | 16 | 21 | $1,510,926 | 12% | 56 | 34% | |
| 7 | Cornelio H. Velasquez | 145 | 19 | 15 | 15 | $1,215,521 | 13% | 49 | 34% | |
| 9 | Rosie Napravnik | 140 | 15 | 21 | 16 | $1,259,989 | 11% | 52 | 37% | |
| 9 | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | 113 | 15 | 11 | 2 | $1,090,709 | 13% | 28 | 25% | |
| 11 | Luis Saez | 192 | 14 | 19 | 21 | $1,920,623 | 7% | 54 | 28% | |
| 12 | Rajiv Maragh | 137 | 10 | 15 | 24 | $854,866 | 7% | 49 | 36% | |
| 13 | Edgar S. Prado | 98 | 7 | 15 | 11 | $950,662 | 7% | 33 | 34% | |
| 14 | Mike E. Smith | 26 | 6 | 1 | 3 | $1,096,114 | 23% | 10 | 38% | |
| 14 | Alex O. Solis | 77 | 6 | 11 | 11 | $603,116 | 8% | 28 | 36% | |
| 14 | Jose L. Espinoza | 61 | 6 | 4 | 4 | $331,309 | 10% | 14 | 23% |
Preview to Next Week
– Wednesday: The P.G. Johnson Stakes – Two Year Old Fillies – 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $100,000
– Thursday: The With Anticipation Stakes (Grade 2) – Two Year Olds – 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $200,000
– Friday: The Riskaverse Stakes – Three Year Old Fillies – One Mile (Turf) – Purse: $100,000
– Saturday: The Bernard Branch Handicap (Grade 2) – Three Year Olds and Upward – 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $250,000
– Saturday: The Forego Stakes (Grade 1) – Three Year Olds and Upward – Seven Furlongs – Purse: $500,000
– Saturday: The Woodward Stakes (Grade 1) – Three Year Olds and Upward – 1 1/8 Miles – Purse: $750,000
– Sunday: The Saranac Stakes (Grade 3) – Three Year Olds – 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $150,000
– Sunday: The Spinaway Stakes (Grade 1) – Two Year Old Fillies – Seven Furlongs – Purse: $300,000
– Monday: The Glen Falls Stakes (Grade 3) – Fillies and Mares Three Year Olds and Upward – 1 3/8 Miles (Turf) – Purse: $150,000
– Monday: The Hopeful Stakes (Grade 1) – Two Year Olds – Seven Furlongs – Purse: $300,000
