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Monday, August 25, 2008

Saratoga Notes

- Flying finish in the 6th at Saratoga on Monday, worth checking out on Cal Racing, or wherever you do so. Three of them across the track! They came in waves, with first Princess Westly coming from nowhere, and then High Draw, content to lumber along for six furlongs, coming from even nowhere-er on the far outside. In fact, he looked like the winner, and it had to have been another unlikely head bob for him to get beat. Durkin called him first, so I think he thought he had it.

High Draw was claimed by owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Michael Maker for 35K. Ramsey has been rather quiet on the track of late, but he did take the state-bred Saratoga Dew stakes with even money Talking Treasure. And he continues to be active at the claim box. On Sunday, he claimed Lord Robyn for 50K on Sunday, and Cash McCool for the same tag on Saturday. Don't think you're gonna sneak your horse through an optional claimer with this guy around.

Bruce Levine took the early double by a combined 23 lengths.

McLaughlin won his 13th race of the meeting, tying the Toddster for the training lead. If I didn't mention before the meeting that I thought McLaughlin could win the trainer title, I meant to. Regal Ransom was a Darley first-timer, a 675K two-year old in training purchase, and the trainer's 4th two-year old debut winner of the meeting. He's by Elusive Quality, out of a Red Ransom half sister to Minister Eric, second in the Juvenile to Action This Day in 2003.

Mott got his third winner of the meet, and first since August 9. Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) is a half-brother to the trainer's stakes horse Forefathers.

Two winners for former Frankel assistant Chad Brown, who now has six winners from just 15 starters.

Graham Motion took the finale on Sunday; been waiting for him to break out, but it was only his third winner in 27 starters. But looking back at the archives from last September, I noticed that I'd written that he only had two winners going into Travers weekend. He won two that weekend, and three more during the final week. So I'm not giving up on him yet.

- By popular demand (of one), Boston's Either/Orchestra with Ethiopia's Mahmoud Ahmed last week at Lincoln Center.

6 Comments:

Anonymous said...

I assume that the breeder of the winner of Sunday's nightcap is THE Joe Bruno of political fame (infamy?).

No mention from you -- did it get by you? But that's how these pols work, you know, sneaking things past you when you've turned your head.

And you've got to love the horse's name -- Exonerated. I wonder if Bruno had named him before Earle Mack purchased him.

Alan Mann said...

Yeah, guess I'm not on the lookout for Joe these days, and I missed it. Thanks for the note. I did write about that horse here though - it was involved in a suspicious transaction between Bruno and Mack, one that may be part of the federal investigation into Bruno's businesses.

Superfecta said...

Hmm...Earle Mack's name graces the building next to the one I work in - do I need to start making friends and influencing people?

Anonymous said...

Another great ride by Castellano on High Draw. Twice in a row he moved too late. Why is it that this clown can get mounts and the Mig can't ? Hey Alan - maybe someone will investigate the democrats extorting contributions from lobbyists.

Bob From NJ

Anonymous said...

Chad is the right Brown. he will leave Bruce in his wake!
he will be the one getting the quality horses. while Bruce get his families horses.

Anonymous said...

In addition to the 6th race the 1st race at Spa was pretty good too with 'Driven By Success' just missing the track record for 6 1/2F yet running in hand for the last furlong. The win was by at least 15+ lengths. Ramon Dominguez could've read a book while he was up there.