Close menu
Saratoga Report #1

Saratoga Report #1

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: Curalina (KY) – She’s now a dual Grade 1 winner, and even though it took a DQ for her to get the win in the Coaching Club American Oaks (REPLAY) you still can’t discount the fact she ran a solid race.  It looks as though her and I’m a Chatterbox are evenly matched so it could set up to be an interesting rematch if both horses target the Alabama Stakes later on in the meet.  For now we can only debate as to which one is better with no current clear answer.  One thing we do know: Curalina is a very nice filly.

– 2nd Star: I’m a Chatterbox (KY) – She was first to cross the wire in the Coaching Club American Oaks, and several felt she should have been left up but it didn’t work out for her this time.  She still ran a winning type of race, and her body of work is probably the strongest of anyone in the 3 year old filly dirt division.  I’m still a bit skeptical she can go a mile and a quarter, but you would have to think a race like the Alabama Stakes will now be the goal.  Larry Jones has two very nice fillies in her and Lovely Maria.

– 3rd Star: Hard Not to Like (ON) – When you saw the opening fractions you had to think someone would be making a move late, and Hard Not to Like was able to do it just in time in the Diana Stakes (REPLAY) to become a three time Grade 1 winner.  Christophe Clement has her as good as ever this year with two straight years in a row, as well as a second and third place effort.  Saratoga offers some nice stakes races later, or Clement could also toy with the idea of going to Arlington as well.  Several options for a very nice mare!

Flop of the Week

Stephanie’s Kitten (KY) – It wasn’t a bad effort when she finished fifth beaten by 2 lengths in the Diana, but it also wasn’t her normal performance.  The classy mare may have lost a step as she gets older because the pace in this one should have been strong enough for her to close nicely.  We’ll wait to see what happens next with her.

Trainer Standings

Rank Trainer Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Total $ Per Start $ Win% Top3 Top3%
1 William I. Mott 13 6 3 1 $338,440 $NaN 46% 10 77%
2 Todd A. Pletcher 16 4 2 1 $454,710 $NaN 25% 7 44%
3 Chad C. Brown 16 3 4 3 $373,627 $NaN 19% 10 63%
4 Christophe Clement 8 2 1 1 $381,124 $NaN 25% 4 50%
4 Jeremiah C. Englehart 5 2 1 0 $105,922 $NaN 40% 3 60%
4 Barclay Tagg 2 2 0 0 $99,600 $NaN 100% 2 100%

Jockey Standings

Rank Jockey Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Total $ Per Start $ Win% Top3 Top3%
1 John R. Velazquez 27 9 2 0 $893,953 $NaN 33% 11 41%
2 Jose Lezcano 17 5 2 3 $309,843 $NaN 29% 10 59%
2 Junior Alvarado 21 5 1 2 $261,752 $NaN 24% 8 38%
4 Jose L. Ortiz 26 4 5 2 $339,322 $NaN 15% 11 42%
5 Irad Ortiz, Jr. 31 3 7 6 $385,367 $NaN 10% 16 52%
5 Luis Saez 23 3 5 0 $312,988 $NaN 13% 8 35%
5 Javier Castellano 34 3 4 4 $277,880 $NaN 9% 11 32%
8 Manuel Franco 18 2 1 1 $99,802 $NaN 11% 4 22

Preview to Next Week

Wed., Jul. 29 Honorable Miss Handicap II $200,000 F&M 3&UP 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
Thu., Jul. 30 John Morrissey (NYB) $100,000 3&UP 6 1/2 Furlongs (Dirt)
Fri., Jul. 31 Curlin $100,000 3YO 1 1/8 (Dirt)
Sat., Aug. 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap I $350,000 3&UP 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
Sat., Aug. 1 Amsterdam II $200,000 3YO 6 1/2 Furlongs (Dirt)
Sat., Aug. 1 Jim Dandy II $600,000 3YO 1 1/8 (Dirt)
Sun., Aug. 2 Caress $100,000 F&M 4&UP 5 1/2 (Turf)
Sun., Aug. 2 Shuvee Handicap III $200,000 F&M 3&UP 1 1/8 (Dirt)
Mon., Aug. 3 Coronation Cup $100,000 F3YO 5 1/2 (Turf)

 

Join the Inner Circle

Sign up for exclusive 10% discount on orders, plus be the first to access our daily free and premium horse racing picks, articles, podcasts, and more!

Sign Up