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Saratoga Report #2

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 1stDescending 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 1stDescending 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%

Preview to Next Week

Wed., Aug. 5 Shine Again $100,000 F&M 3&UP 7 Furlongs (Dirt)
Thu., Aug. 6 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase) I $125,000 4&UP 2 1/16 (Turf)
Thu., Aug. 6 Quick Call $100,000 3YO 5 1/2 (Turf)
Fri., Aug. 7 National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame III $200,000 3YO 1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 8 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose $100,000 F&M 4&UP 1 Mile (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 8 Lure $100,000 4&UP 1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 8 Fasig-Tipton Waya II $200,000 F&M 3&UP 1 1/2 (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 8 Whitney I $1,250,000 3&UP 1 1/8 (Dirt)
Sat., Aug. 8 Longines Test I $500,000 F3YO 7 Furlongs (Dirt)
Sun., Aug. 9 Alydar* $100,000 4&UP 1 1/8 (Dirt)
Mon., Aug. 10 NYSS Cab Calloway Division $100,000 3YO 1 Mile (Turf)

 

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