Saratoga Report #2

Three Stars of the Week

– 1st Star: TEXAS RED – The Texas Red everyone was waiting for finally showed up in the Jim Dandy Stakes as him and Frosted put on a show last Saturday!  Scratches left the Jim Dandy field to just four horses, but it only needed two: Texas Red and Frosted.  Japan set the pace early while Frammento trailed the entire way, but at the top of the stretch it was a two horse battle.  Texas Red got the jump early on Frosted, and was able to hold on late to prevail by a head in the end.  Both horses will now aim for the Travers which could quickly become the race of the year if American Pharoah decides to show up.

– 2nd Star: ROCK FALL – Saturday’s Vanderbilt Handicap was the toughest test yet for Rock Fall, and he passed the test with flying colors.  In his previous races Rock Fall found himself on the lead, but in this one he had to rally late to catch the Saratoga loving The Big Beast.  It was a tenacious effort as late in the stretch it looked as though The Big Beast was going to hold on, but Rock Fall kept to task and ran him down.  The win lands Rock Fall towards the top of the sprint division, and you’d have to think a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint will be the main goal from here on out.

– 3rd Star: RED RIFLE – There is no doubt this Saturday’s win in the Bowling Green was Red Rifle’s best race ever.  The field was loaded with veteran turf runners, but Red Rifle’s rail rally proved to much for any of the them to handle as he cruised to a two length victory.  The win was one of MANY for trainer Todd Pletcher this week, and could put Red Rifle in consideration for bigger races down the road.  This horse has always ran consistent, but this past weekend puts him on another level.

Flop of the Week

– UNTAPABLE – It seems unreasonable to call a second place effort in a Graded Stakes a flop, but it’s clear Untapable just isn’t the same horse as she was last year.  Her and Stopchargingmaria battled the entire way in the Shuvee Handicap, but it was Stopchargingmaria that won the battle in the end.  What to do now with Untapable is a mystery.

Trainer Standings

Rank	Trainer Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings	Win %	Top 3	Top 3%
1	Todd A. Pletcher	44	15	5	2	$1,420,378	34%	22	50%
2	William I. Mott	27	7	6	2	$553,731	26%	15	56%
3	Chad C. Brown	29	5	5	3	$502,223	17%	13	45%
3	Christophe Clement	23	5	1	3	$550,553	22%	9	39%
5	Claude R. McGaughey III	10	3	2	1	$221,843	30%	6	60%
6	David Jacobson	24	2	1	5	$148,870	8%	8	33%
6	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	11	2	4	2	$293,282	18%	8	73%
6	Jeremiah C. Englehart	9	2	1	1	$120,172	22%	4	44%
6	Gary C. Contessa	24	2	4	3	$118,798	8%	9	38%
6	Steven M. Asmussen	16	2	3	1	$287,479	12%	6	38%
6	John T. Toscano, Jr.	9	2	1	1	$85,762	22%	4	44%
6	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	8	2	1	0	$133,482	25%	3	38%
6	Michael J. Maker	18	2	1	3	$109,876	11%	6	33%
6	John A. Shirreffs	5	2	1	0	$134,075	40%	3	60%
6	Bobby S. Dibona	2	2	0	0	$46,200	100%	2	100%
6	Barclay Tagg	4	2	0	1	$110,390	50%	3	75%
6	George Weaver	21	2	6	2	$210,420	10%	10	48%
6	Danny Gargan	4	2	0	0	$81,576	50%	2	50%
6	Brad H. Cox	4	2	0	1	$84,800	50%	3	75%
6	John P. Terranova, II	5	2	1	1	$83,900	40%	4	80%
6	Charlton Baker	2	2	0	0	$105,000	100%	2	100%

Jockey Standings

Rank	Jockey Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings	Win %	Top 3	Top 3%
1	John R. Velazquez	60	17	9	1	$1,541,098	28%	27	45%
2	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	71	11	8	13	$802,155	15%	32	45%
2	Javier Castellano	78	11	12	10	$1,163,641	14%	33	42%
4	Jose L. Ortiz	58	9	7	7	$750,306	16%	23	40%
5	Jose Lezcano	47	8	6	5	$628,949	17%	19	40%
6	Luis Saez	56	7	10	3	$573,796	12%	20	36%
6	Junior Alvarado	47	7	2	6	$495,406	15%	15	32%
8	Joel Rosario	59	6	10	3	$679,480	10%	19	32%
9	Shaun Bridgmohan	31	4	1	4	$230,071	13%	9	29%

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