Saratoga Notes

Not a good start for chalk players at Saratoga on Wednesday as even money Madison Avenue was half the length of the stretch up the track in last for Steve Klesaris in the opener, yuck. Disco Diva ($53) went wire to wire for Galluscio and I'm sure there was at least one happy guy at the track going: "25-1, ARE YOU KIDDING ME, HORSE WINS BY FIVE LAST TIME AND HE'S 25-1?" Aren't you sorry sometimes that you know too much to bet a horse like this? Innocence can truly be bliss at the races.

Pletcher heating up a bit at the track where he once ruled the roost regularly, and say that ten times fast. The Toddster won his fourth race in the last three days when Paracaides outfinished 3-5 Film Chant in an extremely game performance. This daughter of War Chant, the only four-year old in the 3-and-up contest, was hounded by the favorite all the way and was pressured to a half of 45.14 in the seven furlong race. From there, she slowed considerably - 25.38 for the third quarter and nearly 14 seconds for the final furlong. But she managed to outlast the equally tired Film Chant.

I guess this is the type of race that some of the rabid anti-synthetic folks are referring to when they talk about the dirt game of speed and heart that they feel that artificial tracks muzzle. I have to admit that there's a certain appeal to seeing two exhausted combatants battle it out in deep stretch. I find it comparable to a football defense trying to mount a desperate goal line stand in the final seconds despite being tired and battered. I think it's a very American trait to find this sort of battle-to-the-death scenario appealing....one of the reasons perhaps why we're in the minority of those who watch the brand of football played with an oblong ball and horse racing on dirt.

Personally, watching the stretch run of this race, I found it more agonizing to watch them stagger home than thrilling to see. Just my point of view.

Dean's Kitten ($5.40) is the 7th winner for rookie sire Kitten's Joy. The grass champ stands for Ken Ramsey for $20,000.

Marscaponi was outclassed by Too Amenable ($3.40) in the 6th; but Ubillo now has a second and two thirds with four starters; we're gonna make some money on this barn before the meet is over.

I watched the head on of the De La Rose Stakes, and it looked to me as if Cocoa Beach simply drifted in, despite left-handed whipping by Ramon, and impeded Grande Annee.

The stewards deduced that Lucky Copy, the tiring pacesetter drifted out several paths turning for home and may have started a chain reaction in which Cocoa Beach's hind end got turned around when bumped by another horse causing it to look as though Cocoa Beach was at fault. [Daily Racing Form]

I didn't see that at all.