Saratoga Report #7: The Awards

Horse of the Meet: Princess of Sylmar – There were several great performances this meeting, but Princess of Sylmar takes the award for top horse of the meet.   Her two monster wins out-weighed everyone else.  She’s all class, and she also proves that you don’t have to have a million dollars to buy a world-class horse!

Older Male of the Meet: Cross Traffic – He only ran once, but once was enough!  Cross Traffic was an impressive winner of the Whitney Stakes, which was actually his first ever stakes win after finishing a close second in his last two tries.

Older Female of the Meet: Royal Delta – Another horse that only ran here once, but like Cross Traffic she made it count.  Royal Delta was such an easy winner of the Personal Ensign Stakes, and showed the world that she’s in top form and ready to go to California and win the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic once again.

3 Year Old Male of the Meet: Will Take Charge – This horse loved Saratoga!  After struggling through the Triple Crown races, Will Take Charge finished second in the Jim Dandy, and then won the Travers by a nose of Moreno.  The 17 hand horse found himself at the Spa, and hopefully he can carry that class to the next place he goes.

3 Year Old Female of the Meet: Princess of Sylmar – What a show she put on for us!  Princess of Sylmar was so dominant in winning the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes.  In a league of her own among the Three Year Old Female division.

2 Year Old Male of the Meet: Strong Mandate – After several nice performances by many young colts, is was Strong Mandate that stole the show on closing day.  He broke his maiden on August 17th, and then won the Hopeful by almost ten lengths to close out the meet.  The horse is now ranked among the top two-year olds in the country.

2 Year Old Female of the Meet: Sweet Reason – Two starts, two wins, you can’t deny Sweet Reason this award.  After breaking her maiden at Saratoga in early August, she returned to take the Grade 1 Spinaway to end the meet.  Like Strong Mandate, she is now ranked among the top two-year olds in the country.

Sprinter of the Meet: Justin Phillip – The old war-horse finally got his first Grade 1 victory in the Vanderbilt, and then came back to run a decent third in the Forego over a sloppy track.  He seems to be getting better with age, as this season had probably been his best ever.

Owner of the Meet: Ken and Sarah Ramsey – Don’t have to explain this one much…The Ramsey’s broke a record for wins by an owner at the meet!  They continue to be the best owners in the country.

Trainer of the Meet: Todd Pletcher – Another blowout trainers title win for Pletcher.  Not only did he win by double digits, but he also won at a great percentage this year.  It was one of his best meets ever, as he once again dominated with two-year olds.

Jockey of the Meet: Javier Castellano – He ended up running away with the jockey title as Joel Rosario got injured.  Even if Rosario would have stayed healthy Javier still would have most likely won the title.

Race of the Meet: The Travers – For the second year in a row, the Travers gave us the most exciting race of the year.  Last year the race finished in a dead heat, and this year it almost did again as Will Take Charge just barely nosed at Moreno to take the tracks most coveted race.