Slow Wednesday at the Spa

Just 10,889 at Saratoga on Wednesday despite good weather - the second straight racing day of sub-11,000 crowds. Since NYRA put forth the effort to issue nonsensical comparisons between the attendance and handle for the first four days - the ones added this year - and those figures at Belmont on the corresponding days last year, I think it's totally fair for me to point out that this crowd was down 14,555, or 57%, from the comparable day there last year (opening day 2009). And that the ontrack handle of $1,867,464 was down 40%. And that this doesn't portend well for the upcoming weekend.

However, I imagine that those who did attend enjoyed what looks from the results charts like an excellent betting card. In just three races was the favorite less than 2-1; and the cheapest of those of 1.55 to 1. It's early still - a lot of races still to fill. But I'd take cards like Wednesday's - and Thursday's for that matter - over the racing at Monmouth any day of the week. Hands down...I don't care what the purses are.

Another winner for trainer Chad Brown, his 4th from eight starters at the meeting. Much Fanfare ($9.90) was claimed by Galluscio, and the action at the claim box has been pretty lively.

If you boxed the three horses in the Lake George Stakes who last ran at Woodbine - I dunno, maybe you're Canadian or just a big hockey guy or you like Neil Young - you cashed a $6,103 triactor trifecta. It was an economic ride by Johnny V on Perfect Shirl ($20.60). This three-year old daughter of Perfect Soul is the 4th grassy stakes winner for her dam, the G1 turf winner Lady Shirl (the others being Shakespeare, Lady Shakespeare and Fantastic Shirl. So yeah, quite a nice mutuel price there. Favored Strike It Rich wilted, according to the race chart, and finished last.

In the 5th, Essex Ferry paid $30; he could have been 140-1 instead of 14-1 and nobody would have surprised.

Four races were won by stables that have shipped horses in for the meet despite the richer purses in NJ and a shorter trip to it for some. Ken McPeek, Albert Stall Jr., Dale Romans, and Thomas Proctor (now two-for-two) are all highly capable barns worth keeping a close eye on.

OK, instead of handicapping Thursday's card at this late hour, I'm in the middle of reading the REPORT OF INVESTIGATION INTO THE RESPONSE BY THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE AND OTHERS TO A DOMESTIC INCIDENT DAVID W. JOHNSON, AN AIDE TO THE GOVERNOR....whew, y'know, the one conducted by the former state Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith Kaye in lieu of the attorney general who had a conflict because he was running at the time against the governor who is not running anymore in large part because of the DOMESTIC INCIDENT INVOLVING DAVID W...., well, y'know. The governor was resolved of any criminal wrongdoing, but not so of stupidity, tactfully labeled errors of judgment in the report. Of course, Paterson's attorney said that the report has "exonerated him of any wrongdoing in this matter.” But that's kinda like comparing crowd and handle figures at Saratoga with Belmont.