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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Saratoga Notes

In the second at Saratoga on Friday, She's a Ketch (8-1) makes her debut, on the grass, for trainer Chad Brown. This barn sent out Zodiac Girl ($16) to win her debut on the lawn on Wednesday (a 75K maiden claimer). Brown has sent out two other debut runners on the grass at the Spa; War Hoot was third by two lengths after a troubled start at 12-1, and Eto'o was third by seven at 23-1. (And one of the trainer's other three winners at the meet was first timer Kid Kate [$11.20]).

She's a Ketch is a three-year old daughter of Silver Clipper, a Silver Deputy mare whose only win in 16 starts came on the grass and whose half-sister May Night (Gulch) won the PG Johnson Stakes on the grass here at two. Some awesome workouts and Lezcano wins at 30% for this outfit.

Upper Gulch (4-1) goes for trainer Pat Kelly, looking for his first winner of the meeting (from 16 starters). But the last three horses that he's sent out were Pynaformer, a troubled, wide third by 2 1/2 at 14-1; Lyrical Bobcat, a fast closing second by 1 1/4 at 9-1; and Joey's Chance, second by a neck at 11-1 to City Sneakers ($11.40) from the unconscious Linda Rice (14 for 36, 39%). Kelly always seems to pop a winner or two at the meet; he's never been shut out going back to at least 2004, and his median payoff is $18.20. So I'd look for him to maybe pop one or two before we're done here....but not with this one (an 0-for-14 maiden).

Ostensibly (15-1) makes her debut for Roy Lerman, two for four on the meet (three for 34 with first-timers over the last five years). She's by grass champion Cozzene, out of Supposedly (Polish Numbers), who earned over $100K on the turf (13-4-5-1). This is the direct distaff family of the two-time Arc winner Alleged (Princess Pout, the dam of Alleged is the third dam of Ostensibly).

Shine Softly (3-1) is, at least to me, an inexplicable morning line favorite making her first start since running third on the dirt at Saratoga last year.

- Another horrible well-bet juvenile first-timer for McLaughlin, as Cableknit, a $1.7 million daughter of Unbridled's Song, was a futile 5th on Thursday at 6-5! His debut babies are worse value than dinner at [fill in your favorite overpriced Saratoga restaurant]. J Z's Revenge ($17.40), a $6,000 daughter of Act of Duty (Mr. Prospector), won for Zayat and Steve Asmussen.

Another long-priced winner for Jimmy Ferraro with Straight Romance ($32.40); and his first-timer S.Z. Madison was giant to rally for second after a horrible start at odds of 18-1.

5 Comments:

Anonymous said...

The Ass Man was a steal at that price in that race.

If Choice Play draws into the 2nd tomorrow, watch out. Added distance, wider turns, outside post will mean this one charging down center of track for win at a nice price.

DiscreetPicks said...

Looked to me like the Pletcher horse Sure as Gold was best in that maiden race. Totally blew the break, as she took a right-hand turn leaving the gate and was headed for the outer rail. Looking at the head-on replay, you can see that she was seperated from the rest of the field by literally about half the width of the racetrack. Ended up beaten just a length at the wire, despite a ton of lost ground and the expenditure of some valuable early energy after being rushed back into contention. Time of the race was a bit slow, but clearly there's more under the hood here than it will look like on paper. Incidentally, she had worked a furlong in 10.0 at the Keeneland sale back in April and figures to show far more speed with a clean break next time.

jamesp said...

OFF TOPIC Alan, but thanks for all the heads up this summer for the free concerts around the city. They did not go unnoticed.

I am a sucker for the old pros, and The Four Seasons the other night and Donna Summer last night had folks of all ages and backgrounds swaying and singing in the streets with their terrific shows.

The only down side at Coney Island was that publicity whore of a boro president who emceeyed the opening of the concerts. Last night, with the musical act late getting ready, this gasbag went on shamelessly promoting his political friends for - no exaggerating - one hour and ten minutes, which I believe is a record even for him. The restless crowd finally had enough and began 'one, two, one-two-three' hand-clapping, and Marty finally got the message and left the stage.

I think if he ever tried to do this at one of the city's race tracks - holding up the races while grandstanding - the fans there would tie him up and gag him and leave him squirming on the infield grass.

Cheers.

Alan Mann said...

Jim - Yeah, Marty gave a little speech at the Mission of Burma show at the East River park in Brooklyn.....but an hour and ten minutes?!?

I see that they've added a new free show at the South Street Seaport next week - John Fogerty on Wed evening.

Anonymous said...

At least our local politicos know enough to make their statements take credit for the show and leave here in the Bronx, spoke for less than five minutes at the most recent free show.

Another great performance from Godfrey Townsend with some of the other members of the Alan Parsons Project (sans Alan) who had previously rocked the backyard at the Belmont Stakes.

Mostly cover tunes, but they venture much deeper into the songbooks of Clapton, Beatles and Zep (as well as others) than most bands would dare and perform them better than any cover band I have ever seen.

Their versions of Blind Faith's "Sea of Joy" and "Had To Cry Today" were awesome. The drummer nails Winwood and Plant's vocals, not easy to do while kicking ass on the drums.

But enough of that, I will just say they are worth a look and listen if NYRA is wise enough to bring them back.