laugh track - horse racing · 2019. 7. 12. · 2: times albany times union turf writer tim wilkin...
TRANSCRIPT
Tod
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Year 19 • No. 2 Friday, July 12, 2019
The aratoga
Saratoga’s Daily Racing Newspaper since 2001
Comical wins Schuylervilleto headline Opening Day
Laugh TrackENTRIES & HANDICAPPING LISTING TAKES QUICK CALL
VOODOO SONG RETURNS
3Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
BY THE NUMBERS5:36: Time Thursday morning for the first call about a distribution snafu (that in the end wasn’t really a snafu, whew).
2:51: Time Thursday afternoon the first person of the season (we think) wandered off the street to ask if The Special’s office on East Avenue was still a feed store.
1: Cover of The Special in Chris Landeros’ phone (winning last year’s Birdstone).
2: Times Albany Times Union Turf Writer Tim Wilkin helped with our paper distribution through Thursday morning.
29: Copies of The Special from 2018 – a full set – in Jonathan Thomas’ new office. Thanks to former occupant Ralph Nicks for saving them.
NAMES OF THE DAYComplicit, third race. The 5-year-old mare, owned by Paul Pompa, is by Blame.
Drop A Hint, fifth race. Mathis Stable’s 2-year-old filly is by Into Mischief out of Allude.
HAPPY RETIREMENT, JOEYou don’t know him, but a key person in the history of The Special worked on his last paper (this one) Thursday night. Albany Times Union printing plant employee Joe Harrigan retires after 24 years with that company. For us, he’s the voice at the end of the phone with a reassuring “We’ve got this” attitude when things got a little sideways on deadline. He’ll be missed, though we’re happy he’ll have more time to go to minor-league hockey games in Glens Falls. Thanks for everything, Joe.
DarleyThat race... That race call! See our new film onlineRemember the future: More first-crop Frosted yearlings at Saratoga
FASIG ROCKED BYSTAGGERINGBIG-PRICEDBEAUTIES
Frosted’s Fasig-Tipton July yearlings make $330,000and $275,000, while his $229K average is the highest for a first-crop sire at this sale in a decade.
Tod MarksBridge Builders. Horses leave the paddock chute on Opening Day – under the new bridge to the 1863 Club.
here&there...at Saratoga
4 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
The aratogaEditors/PublishersSean Clancy: (302) 545-7713. [email protected]
Joe Clancy: (302) 545-4424. [email protected]
Managing EditorTom Law: (859) 396-9407. [email protected]
Writers: Catherine Galbraith, Shannon Germain, Ben Gowans, Terry Hill, Brandon Valvo.
Handicappers: Charles Bedard, John Shapazian, Rob Whitlock.
Design: Todd Koch.
Photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush.
Distribution & More: Madeline Ellsworth.
259 East AvenueSaratoga Springs, NY 12866
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RELATIVES OF THE DAYClaiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider run homebred Vast in the fifth race. The 2-year-old filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Sower but, perhaps more importantly, also a half-sister to trainer Bill Mott’s lead pony (and regular Sara-toga mount) Round. Their dam, Enth, has produced a slew of other one-word runners – Apex, Cap, Degree and Hilt among them.
WORTH REPEATING“I haven’t driven a car in six months. I’m so incompetent right now. I’m sitting in the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot trying to figure all of this out.”
Former Saratoga Special intern Shayna Tiller driving from Maryland to Kentucky, less than 24 hours after returning
from graduating the Irish National Stud course
“I basically have two friends, Ben and your nephew. So pretty much what Nick Saban is to his coaching tree is what you are to my friend tree.”
Godolphin Flying Start trainee Corbin Blumberg to Sean Clancy at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton sale, referencing
Special intern Ben Gowans and Ryan Clancy
Mill Ridge Farm’s Mary Miller as Ben Gowans left Kentucky for Saratoga: “Be safe. Don’t talk to strangers.”Gowans: “That’s basically my only job while I’m there.”
“I still remember the day my dad called and said, ‘I thought you said this boy could ride.’ ”
Trainer Mickey Preger Jr., thinking back to The Special’s Sean Clancy’s first job at Saratoga
here&there...at Saratoga
WORLD CLASS MILER by SPEIGHTSTOWN
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MOHAYMEN
Kent Barnes, Stallion Manager (859) 224-4585 www.shadwellfarm.com
Susie RaisherHome Run Derby. Trainer Steve Asmussen – who could really hit back in the day – signs an autograph for a fan at the track Thursday.
6 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
800-523-8143
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I said no whining.”Mom, to kid, at the races Thursday
WORTH REPEATING“If I’m here five minutes after you’ve told me I can go, then I didn’t hear you.”
The Special’s Todd Koch after our first deadline
“It smells like horse out here.”The Special’s Joe Clancy, walking out of the office at 9:27 Wednesday night
“Are you the one that got married?”Exercise rider to exercise rider Thursday morning
“You look like George Burns.”Trainer Gary Sciacca to retired trainer Frank Alexander Thursday morning
“She just made that up.”Assistant trainer hearing an exercise rider’s plan Thursday morning
“What about the Florida Panthers?”Trainer Todd Pletcher, helping to sell Saratoga Special advertising to owner Vinnie Viola
“All I hear is how hot it is.”Owner Daisy Phipps Pulito, when asked about Lexington, Ky.
“I’ll have a Dallas Stewart on a plain bagel.”The Special’s Ben Gowans uttering a sentence we never thought we’d hear
(he was ordering a breakfast sandwich from Spring Street)
“Retirement is so boring.”Retired trainer Frank Alexander Thursday morning
“I wish we were here for four months.”Trainer Dave Cannizzo
“I’m not sure I’m worthy.”Trainer Jonathan Thomas, the first person on the backstretch to
receive a hand-delivered Opening Day edition of The Special
“I heard Shapazian’s picks were late yesterday. He couldn’t find the send button on his abacus.” “Garlic” Rob Whitlock, responding to leading handicapper
John Shapazian’s smack talk in the Opening Day edition
“One for me and one for my brother in prison.”Reader grabbing a copy of The Special from the clubhouse rack early Thursday morning. We’ve heard that line before (for 19 years or so).
here&there...at Saratoga
COUNTRY LIFE FARM
Country Life Farm Breeding Partnerships
Country Life Breeding Partnership mare YOUR FLAME IN ME (SW of $206,840), with her 2019 Maryland-bred foal by Horse of the Year
CALIFORNIA CHROME. Part of Country Life’s RAISE YOU broodmare program, named for the Country Life-bred foal of 1946
who became the dam of champion RAISE A NATIVE. EL
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Saratoga Memories …
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Headley Bell: 859-221-5108 . Price Bell: 859-321-5117
“It was back in the day when they still saddled horses around the trees amongst all the fans. We were late that day and it was pour-ing rain so we pulled our truck right up to the fence on the club-house turn and we were looking directly down the stretch at the starting gate. A minute later the gate sprang open and General Assembly went right to the front. And never looked back. It was raining so hard we lost sight of him going down the backside buthe was the first one to gallop out right past us after the wire. I think Jacinto Vasquez winked at my beautiful wife as he went by.”
– Owner/breeder Tom Gallo, who saw greatness in the 1979 Travers
7Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association
www.nytha.com | 516.488.2337 visit us on Facebook
“It always seems like it’s over after the Travers, same thing in Florida after the Florida Derby. You still have the Hopeful, years ago, that was the race. Tom Fool, Regret, Tom Fool got beat in it, something about his shoes. Some of those 2-year-olds would run in three or four stakes up here, I think one horse won five
The Chief . . . Day 2
Tod
Mar
ks p
hoto
– Trainer Allen Jerkens, 1929-2015
of them. Amazing the difference in the thinking, but I guess the horses are a little different. You’d run the horse, the next day you’d walk them, most of them would eat up, maybe leave a little, I had a horse named Handsome Boy,he would lay down all day Sunday after he ran, half the day on Monday, that afternoon, you’dbe putting the tub in and he’d be squealing, the next day he’d be jumping up and down and you’d gallop him. It seems like they knew how to recuperate.”
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8 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
David Cannizzo couldn’t wait for spring to finally arrive. He’d bought a house 2 miles from Saratoga Race Course in Wilton last fall, moved his family from Long Island and counted down to the mid-April opening of the Oklahoma Training Track.
One of two trainers with horses on the grounds for the first day of “spring training,” Cannizzo now readies for Saratoga with a smaller-than-usual stable for the 2019 meet-ing.
“It’s the smallest number I’ve had in years, 17 horses,” he said Tuesday morning. “We’ve cut back to a smaller string but there’s more quality. We should win a few, we’re going to be very aggressive here and do a lot of shop-ping. We’ve got to replace a lot of bodies so we’ll be active in the claim box and I expect a few of the horses we have to run well. Like I said, it’s set up for a good meet.”
The barn, which endured a rough 2018 meet plagued by rain that cost many of the grass horses’ chances, features mostly older veterans with a few young horses mixed in. Loyal and longtime clients Ivery Sisters Racing and Flying P Stables continue to support the stable.
Cannizzo sat down in his barn office Tuesday morning with The Special’s Tom Law to talk about the group, which includes a multiple stakes winner and $686,660-earner starting a second career.
Love That Goose: Ivery Sisters’ 3-year-old New York-bred by Hat Trick looks to improve on 0-for-7 mark. “She ran third off the turf, came back in a grass race and ran fourth, got beat a length with a troubled trip. I tried sprinting her the other day and she came running. She sets up for a maiden 40 New York-bred grass race July 20. She should be very good.”
China Rider: Ivery and Cannizzo took a shot with Ontar-io-bred mare last time and finished seventh in Zadracarta Stakes at Woodbine. Daughter of Majestic Warrior is 3-for-27 with $245,131 in the bank. “She’ll probably run the third or fourth week of the meet in a two-other-than on the grass. Solid animal, a pleasure to be around and I’ve had her since she was a yearling. The race was an Ontario-bred race and she wound up on the lead, got pressed, never been on the lead in her life. Bad trip to say the least.”
Wildcat Belle: Diane Balsamo’s 6-year-old Intidab filly sports 8-for-27 record and bankroll of $276,170. A $15,500 buy at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale,
she won for a tag Closing Day of the Belmont spring-summer meeting. “She closed out the meet for us. Hard-knocking filly who won five races for me last year and one so far this year. She’ll be running hard on the bottom.”
Slimey: Flying P Stable claimed 3-year-old Quality Road filly out of winning effort May 12 at Belmont. “She’s a nice filly we picked up at Belmont, claimed her for $40,000 off James Law-rence and Matt Schera. Ran back in an a-other-than and she finished fourth. She runs Sunday, should be in a good spot, nice filly.”
Twisted Tom: Mark Breen and Cannizzo claimed New York-bred champion and multiple stakes winner for $62,500 June 19. He’s won seven of 18 starts and $742,331 and finished fourth in the Saginaw Stakes 11 days after the claim. “I claimed him just for you. We tried to wheel him back quick and he ran fourth. He really needed more time. He’s not that type of horse that you can wheel back. He was nominated for the stakes and I said, ‘Let’s get our investment back quick.’ He ran solid. He’ll run in the Evan Shipman Aug. 7. He loves it here. I love the horse. Nice animal, big, gorgeous individual. I’m really excited about him. You’ll be hearing about him later in the meet.”
Ego: Poindexter Thoroughbreds’ 4-year-old Quality Road colt broke his maiden last summer at Monmouth and won three starts back for $40,000 tag. “Pretty solid horse. He had some issues so I gave him the winter off and he’s just coming back. He’ll run about the third week of the meet.”
Into Glamour: Fortuna Ranch Racing’s 4-year-old Into Mis-chief filly hasn’t been out since an eighth in maiden claimer at
Belmont Oct. 4. She raced for the same owner in her first nine starts in Southern California. “Same story, a maiden grass horse who I gave the winter off. She’s just coming back. We got her out in California last year and ran her one time before turf season was over, turned her out for the winter at Dr. Stowe Burke’s farm.”
Tornado Crossing: Louth Racing’s homebred 2-year-old filly by Cross Traffic out of the Irish-bred One Cool Cat mare Hotkittyinthecity shows three breezes on the Oklahoma in early and mid-June. “She’s a New York-bred, doing very good and should run the later part of the meet.”
Turco Bravo: Ten-year-old sports 18 wins from 79 starts with 20 seconds and 12 thirds for $877,022 in earnings. He’s 2-for-6 this season, the latest victory in the Stud Muffin Stakes in late March at Aqueduct. “My 10-year-old machine. We have a love affair. I’ve claimed him back four times. As solid as they come. He’ll run the second week. There are a couple options, those mile-
and-three-eighths starters on the grass that I’ll enter him main track only. Trying to find a spot. There’s nothing on the dirt for him right away. The Birdstone is the next move. August 1. The longer the better. Loves Saratoga, loves the two turns.”
Nueva York: Second and third in allowance races for Ivery Sisters after winning for a $40,000 tag at Aqueduct April 13. “Nice 3-year-old New York-bred. He’ll run toward the later part of the meet.”
Mo Maverick: Claimed three starts back for $35,000 at Gulfstream, 5-year-old Uncle Mo gelding finished third in Monmouth Park’s Cliff Hanger Stakes in May and second in the Kingston Stakes at Belmont May 27. “We’ll go to the West Point with him. Nice horse, fast, speed is his game. Runs the same way as Black Tide. Put him on the grass and step on the gas.”
Tapizar – Yield To No One colt: Flying P and Ivery Sisters teamed up to purchase Kentucky-bred who RNA’d as a yearling for $47,000. “A little behind the 8-ball but a very talented horse. We bought him privately a couple weeks ago.”
Aristocratic: A one-time $475,000 2-year-old in training purchase and winner of the San Pedro Stakes as a 3-year-old, the 5-year-old Malibu Moon gelding joined the stable in March after $25,000 claim at Aqueduct. “Speed is his game, one of the fastest dirt sprinters I’ve seen in a long time. He’s a hard-knocking claimer who will probably run the third week of the meet.”
Every day at Saratoga, The Special presents an exclusive Stable Tour
with a Saratoga trainer.
See thisishorseracing.com for more.
with David Cannizzo
Tod MarksTrainer David Cannizzo and Black Tide return to Saratoga.
9Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
Black Tide: The barn star and multiple stakes winner might miss Saratoga, where he won an allowance and finished fourth in the West Point Stakes in 2017. “He had a couple setbacks, but is doing well now. We’ll shoot for the end of the meet, if not then Belmont. He’ll be all right, it’s just going to be time. It’s too bad, this is his track.”
Fox Rules: Ivery Sisters and Cannizzo re-tired veteran, who won three stakes and 18 of 61 starts, this winter. He’s back with the string after spending some time away from the track. “He’s the pony now. We ran him one time, tried to get a win for him as a 10-year-old and he ran fourth. He did enough for us. My owner, Brian Ivery of Ivery Sisters Racing thought he’d done enough for us and said ‘Let’s give him a good retirement.’ We sent him home to our house for about five months and he’s just starting to take over the ranks as the stable pony. He wants to run again. He’s known nothing else for 10 years. He’s all racehorse. It’s a mission to try and get him to be the pony. He’s becoming the pony, I guess.”
Stable Tour – Continued from page 8
A.G. VANDERBILT ALICIBIADES ARLINGTON MILLION AWESOME AGAIN BELMONT DERBY BREEDERS’ CUP TURF BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC BREEDERS’
CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DELAWARE HANDICAP DONN HANDICAP DUBAI WORLD CUP FRIZETTE FOREGO FRANK KILROE MILE GARDEN CITY GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE HASKELL INVITATIONAL HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP
IROQUOIS HURDLE JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC KENTUCKY DERBY KING’S BISHOP LONESOME GLORY HURDLE MAKER’S 46 MILE MANHATTAN
MAN O’ WAR MATRIARCH METROPOLITAN MILE NEARCTIC STAKES PRIORESS QUEEN ELIZABETH II SHADWELL TURF MILE SPINAWAY
SPINSTER SWORD DANCER TEST UNITED NATIONS VANITY HANDICAP WHIT-NEY HANDICAP WOOD MEMORIAL A.G. VANDERBILT ALICIBIADES ARLINGTON
MILLION AWESOME AGAIN BELMONT DERBY BREEDERS’ CUP TURF BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DELAWARE HANDICAP DONN HANDICAP DUBAI WORLD CUP FLORIDA DERBY FRIZETTE
FOREGO FRANK KILROE MILE GARDEN CITY GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE HASKELL INVITATIONAL HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP IROQUOIS HURDLE JOE
HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC KENTUCKY DERBY KING’S BISHOP LONESOME GLORY HURDLE MAKER’S 46 MILE MANHATTAN MAN O’ WAR MATRIARCH METROPOLITAN MILE NEARCTIC STAKES PRIORESS QUEEN ELIZABETH II
SHADWELL TURF MILE SPINAWAY SPINSTER SWORD DANCER TEST UNITED NATIONS VANITY HANDICAP WHITNEY HANDICAP WOOD MEMORIAL
A.G. VANDERBILT ALICIBIADES ARLINGTON MILLION AWESOME AGAIN BELMONT DERBY BREEDERS’ CUP TURF BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC BREEDERS’
CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DELAWARE HANDICAP DONN HANDICAP DUBAI WORLD CUP FLORIDA DERBY FRIZETTE FOREGO FRANK
KILROE MILE GARDEN CITY GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE HASKELL INVITATION-AL HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP IROQUOIS HURDLE JOE HIRSCH TURF
CLASSIC KENTUCKY DERBY KING’S BISHOP LONESOME GLORY HURDLE MAKER’S 46 MILE MANHATTAN MAN O’ WAR MATRIARCH METROPOLITAN
MILE NEARCTIC STAKES PRIORESS QUEEN ELIZABETH II SHADWELL TURF MILE SPINAWAY SPINSTER SWORD DANCER TEST UNITED NATIONS
VANITY HANDICAP WHITNEY HANDICAP WOOD MEMORIAL A.G. VANDER-BILT ALICIBIADES ARLINGTON MILLION AWESOME AGAIN BELMONT DER-BY BREEDERS’ CUP TURF BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY
AND MARE TURF DELAWARE HANDICAP DONN HANDICAP DUBAI WORLD CUP FLORIDA DERBY FRIZETTE FOREGO FRANK KILROE MILE GARDEN CITYGRAND NATIONAL HURDLE HASKELL INVITATIONAL HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP
W i n n i n g w h e n i t m a t t e r s .
Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center horses include 62 Individual Grade 1 winners.
Just some of the races they’ve won…
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PHOTO © KATHEE RENGERT
CONTRIBUTE.You can help the NTRA’s federal legislative team advocate in Washington, D.C., by contributing to the NTRA 1/4% Check-Off Program.
Help us help horse racing in D.C.
www.SupportHorseRacing.org
10 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
T H E B R E E D E R S ’ FA R M8 5 9 . 2 9 4 . 0 0 3 0
ONE SERIOUS SIRE LINE IN THE MAKING.
Beyer Omaha Beach 101Maximum Security 101Global Campaign 101OWENDALE 99Country House 99War of Will 99 MR. MONEY 98Roadster 98BY MY STANDARDS 97Code of Honor 97Mind Control 97Tacitus 97
Grad
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BY SEAN CLANCY A hockey player referred to a foot-
ball field at a racetrack. Colorado Avalanche defenseman
Erik Johnson stood in the winner’s circle after Comical, a 2-year-old fil-ly he owns in partnership, won the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes. The win, the moment, the history wasn’t lost on the 6’ 4” Minnesota native.
“To win here, it’s like winning at Lambeau,” Johnson said.
Saratoga Race Course. Lambeau Field. Yeah, Johnson gets it.
Johnson was drafted No. 1 in the 2006 NHL draft, won a silver medal in the Olympics and has played in the NHL playoffs but this was a stakes win at Saratoga.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to win at Saratoga,” Johnson said. “These horses are amazing animals, they’re part of your family, to get a win here…hopefully I can win the Stanley Cup later next year and win the daily double.”
Comical did her part. Owned by Johnson’s ERJ Racing, Gary Barber, Dave Kenney and Madaket Stable and trained by California-based Doug O’Neill, Comical wrestled a neck de-cision over a fast-closing Kiss The Girl and Shippy, finishing 6 furlongs over a muddy track in 1:11.66.
The bay daughter of Into Mis-chief broke sharply from post 5 but
was out-gunned for the lead by 17-1 Integral. Javier Castellano, aboard Comical for the first time, nudged her to keep close through the first quar-ter-mile in :22.54 while stablemate Shippy navigated choppy waters on the rail. Integral zipped through a
half-mile in :46.24 as Comical loomed to her outside, swinging into the stretch six wide. Even-money favor-ite Shippy, fresh off a win at Laurel, slogged through on the rail as third-
Tod MarksComical (center) digs in late to win the Schuylerville.
SCHUYLERVILLE PREVIEW
Slap ShotComical wins Opening Day Stakes for NHL player Johnson
Continued On Page 11
11Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
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We charter any jet, any time, any wherechoice Kiss The Girl tried to swing
around all of them. Straightening into the stretch, Comical reached even terms with Integral, brushed slightly before putting away the frontrunner and staving off the closers.
Johnson, who writes left and shoots right, watched the Triple Crown races as a kid and began to invest tepidly in racing syndicates about seven years ago before opening his own stable, complete with a hockey stick and his number 6 on his silks. In partnership, ERJ has campaigned Grade 1 stakes winner Bowies Hero, Grade 2 stakes winner Secret Message and Grade 3 stakes winners Munny Spunt, Curlin Road and Shane’s Girlfriend.
Those were nice. This was Sarato-ga.
“I’ve won a couple of graded stakes, but to win a stake at Saratoga is on the bucket list. Obviously hock-ey is my life. You can’t really top any-thing I do on the ice, but if you’re go-ing to do something off the ice, I can’t think of anything better than this. It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” Johnson said. “I always watched the Triple Crown but as an average horse racing fan, you don’t understand the depths of it beyond the Triple Crown. I just love all sides of it, I try to get as many people involved in the game as I can. It’s a unique sport, it just feels like a different world when you get into it.”
The 31-year-old was squarely in it Thursday afternoon, hugging O’Neill’s assistants, back slapping partner Sol Kumin and checking his tickets at the betting machine in the Saratoga Room.
“When I have downtime from hockey, I either play golf or follow horse racing, this is just beyond my wildest imagination,” Johnson said. “I immerse myself in it. And if you’re not in the game, you don’t realize how hard it is, how difficult it is, if you’re winning at 25 percent, you’re in the Hall of Fame, right, so that means you’re losing three out of four, so you just appreciate how difficult it is, especially at Saratoga. Everybody wants to win here, to win on Opening Day, the Schuylerville, it’s just amaz-ing.”
And it was close to not happening for Johnson. David Meah purchased
Comical, out of a full sister to Travers winner Colonel John, for $100,000 as a yearling for Johnson. She went to Lynwood Stable (tutors of Songbird, Honor Code and others) in Ocala, with a plan to resell her at the OBS March Sale. She worked well, im-pressing Lynwood’s Gene Recio yet again, but no one else.
“Nobody really wanted her,” said Recio. “She worked in 21 and 1, X-rayed clean, everything was good and no buyers wanted her, for what-ever reason. I told Erik, ‘Don’t take a loss on her.’ We scratched her on the day of the sale.”
Sent to O’Neill, Comical walloped five rivals in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden at Santa Anita May 26.
“She was always an extremely good mover, she was a fast filly, she looked like she would go on and she was worth the risk, that’s what it was,” Recio said. “You could say she had some speed like a filly like Song-bird and moved similar to Songbird. She was a very good mover, she was very sound. I pressed on her quite a bit and she took it, mentally and physically, she took it.”
For the 29-year-old horseman, Comical eclipsed anything he’s done in Thoroughbred racing, including a 3 1/2-year stint with Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and his years with his dad, Bill, who’s been teaching horses for 40 years.
“For me, we’ve won Derbies and big races, we had Songbird and Hon-or Code, but this is one filly I believed in. I told everybody I believed in her, I really pushed her, she got multiple looks but nobody pulled the trigger,” Recio said. “This is the highest of the highs and I don’t have to go spray her off or anything…I really want to, to be honest.”
Schuylerville – Continued from page 10
Tod MarksNHL player Erik Johnson tells Acacia Court-ney about Comical.
12 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
BY TOM LAWJoel Rosario walked through the
raindrops along the redlined jock-ey walkway from the clubhouse, wrapped up an interview flanked by security guards before obliging a few fans asking for a moment of his time.
“Joel, will you pose for a photo with my nephew?” asked one man, nursing the last few ounces from a can of Heineken. “You’re the best rider in the country. I mean that, you are.”
A month removed from his second American classic win aboard Sir Win-ston in the Belmont Stakes and eight from his flawless effort on Accelerate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Rosario gave some credence to that fan’s opin-ion with a win aboard Listing in the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes. The victo-ry on the California-bred and -based son of Square Eddie gave Rosario three on Saratoga’s sticky Opening Day beset with plenty of rain late in the day.
Bred and owned by Paul and Zil-lah Reddam’s Reddam Racing and
trained by Ben Cecil, Listing came into the 5 1/2-furlong turf stakes with a victory going a sixteenth shorter in the Desert Code Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He improved to 3-for-5 on the grass in the $100,000 Quick Call, the second time Rosario has been aboard in nine starts.
“I rode him one time and that helped,” Rosario said as he walked back, referring to the Echo Eddie on the Gold Rush Day card April 6 at Santa Anita. “He got beat there, but not too far, then he went to the grass after and won easy. It was grass again today, so that was a good per-formance.”
Rosario referred to the Desert Code as that easy victory, a score against open company that followed a close fourth going 1 mile in the Silky Sullivan against Cal-breds April 28.
Cecil took the blame for the Silky Sullivan loss, saying afterward that the mile might have stretched the colt a bit. A wide trip might have also con-tributed and the return to sprinting on the grass flattened any remaining wrinkles.
Shipping to the East Coast certain-ly added another obstacle, one that Listing took in stride during training hours Tuesday morning.
Bedded down in the same barn of horses trained by fellow Californian Doug O’Neill, Listing relaxed most of the morning before training with a bit more purpose Wednesday. He breezed an easy half in :51.25 at Belmont Park July 5 not long after arriving from the West Coast.
Rosario said he didn’t receive any specific instructions from Cecil, who won three Grade 1s in the early 2000s with champion turf mare Golden Ap-ples and two in the late 1990s with Squeak.
Tod MarksListing captures Thursday’s co-feature, the Quick Call Stakes.
QUICK CALL STAKES RECAP
Rail RideRosario caps three-win day aboard Cal-bred colt Listing
Continued On Page 14
9-time SW up to one mile and
G1–placed earner of $1,144,922
107Beyer speed
Speightstown – Apocalyptical, by Wiseman’s FerryFee: $2,500 LFSN
Give your mare a...
Tod MarksListing exits the winner’s circle.
14 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
Cecil felt the colt could run on anything after transferring his solid dirt form into stakes-winning turf form in the Desert Code and Listing took it a step further in the Quick Call.
Periods of heavy rain throughout the afternoon provided some cut in the turf courses, which start-ed the day firm before being labeled good for the sixth race and yielding by the Quick Call. Post time for the 3-year-old stakes was sped up by a few min-utes with another pocket of rain on the way and Listing went to the post as the 7-5 favorite in the field of seven.
Listing bumped with Elektronic and Call Paul at the break before Rosario let him settle in sixth
while Abyssinian and John Velazquez set the pace. In his turf debut, last year’s Grade 2 Saratoga Spe-cial winner Call Paul tracked while Neverland Rock, Fully Loaded and Somebeyay chased.
Rosario saved ground around the far turn, tipped Listing out in the lane and ran past Nev-erland Rock in the stretch. Rosario stayed busy in deep stretch and held off Elektronic and Jose Lez-cano to win by a half-length.
“I just wanted to hold him together and try to move at the right time, and he did,” Rosario said. “I got through in between horses and he kicked home. That was good.”
The Reddams bred Listing out of their Yonagus-ka mare Marquis Diamond. They bred five foals out of the two-time winner who earned $62,978 racing on the East Coast. She’s produced three stakes win-ners, Listing, $233,470-earner More Complexity and $134,570-earner Green With Eddie.
Quick Call – Continued from page 12
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15Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
The official numbers for Saratoga Race Course’s 2019 Opening Day – attendance 22,591, on-track han-dle $3,087,840, clams 1,963. The first two numbers were provided by NYRA; the last by Jim Cavaretta, proprietor of the Lobster Hut in the grandstand.
Jim lives in Buffalo – Florida in the winter – but he and his seafood have been fixtures at the Spa for the last 11 years.
“I love it here,” he said. “Especial-ly Opening Day. Rain or shine.”
A bit of both welcomed fans for the opener with a dry start and a fast main track that became muddy during the day. The first race went off to enthusiastic applause as a field of nine $14,000 claimers raced past the grandstand for the first time. The sea-son had begun.
For some it started much earli-er in the day. At 8 a.m., more than two-thirds of the tables in the picnic area were claimed with tablecloths. The area is mainly filled with groups
of friends that have been coming here for years. And of course, families.
Saratoga has always been very much about families and Opening Day seems more so. Oliver Gerber camped out at a picnic table with his mother, Jessica Gerber, and his grand-mother, Deborah Reedy. Thursday marked Oliver’s first Opening Day and his grandmother told us he was up $20 after the second race. Oliver didn’t speak to us as he was sleeping like a baby at about that time, which is something a 19-day-old boy is like-ly to do.
Oliver’s mother and grandmother are from the area and have been to many openers. But years from now Oliver will be able to bore his grand-children with the tale of his first.
Behind the grandstand the accom-plished country Americana band Big Medicine, a group reliably assured is
Tod MarksArmament (right) heads to the front in the first race of the meet Thursday.
THURSDAY RACING RECAP
Early StartLate-afternoon rain soaks Opening Day crowd of 22,000
Continued On Page 16
16 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
not associated with any major phar-maceutical firm, attracted a toe-tap-ping crowd singing along and danc-ing. The band still held a crowd under umbrellas even while the rains fell.
“Wouldn’t miss Opening Day for the world,” said Terry Dott, sitting upstairs in the clubhouse. “I know that’s what everyone says, but I’ve been saying it for more than 40 years, so I’ve earned the right.”
Dott’s group included Ed Stack, a longtime political friend. He was more exact.
“This is my 44th,” said Stack, elected five times as the Albany Coun-ty Comptroller with a background in accounting.
Ed Cloos also spent time in the clubhouse. The 83-year-old got on the road at 8 a.m. to drive from his home in Rochester to be at the track by noon. After the last race, he’ll get back on the road and drive another four hours.
“It’s not so bad,” he said. “I did my handicapping yesterday. And it’s Opening Day, you can’t miss it.”
– Terry Hill
• Fans flooded the balconies of the new 1863 Club and the crowd roared to life as the starting gate opened from the 1 3/16-mile start on the main track for the opener. Armament leapt to the lead in the first stride and three quick taps on the right shoulder from Irad Ortiz Jr. helped keep the gelding moving forward as he crossed over to the rail.
Armament led past the new build-ing, up the backstretch and around the far turn. Armament extended his advantage to 1 1/2 lengths, to 4 1/2 past the eighth pole and eventually 6 1/2 at the finish.
The victory reminded trainer Gary Gullo of his first Saratoga win with Mellow Date in a maiden race nearly 40 years ago.
“It’s always exciting; 1980 was my first year training and I won a race up here,” Gullo said. “It’s always excit-ing coming here. It feels good to get that off our back. First race, it’s good for that.”
Armament’s victory came in his first start for Gullo. The 5-year-old by War Front began his career at Wood-
bine for Malcom Pierce before rac-ing at Fair Grounds this winter and spring in the stable of Buff Bradley and later Karl Broberg. Armament’s Saratoga debut for owner M And M Racing came off a fifth at Oaklawn April 5. Gullo stretched the gelding out from 1 1/16 miles in Thursday’s $14,000 claimer.
“Cody Autrey, the racing manager, called me and asked if I would take him and get him ready and try to get him up to Saratoga,” Gullo said. “He felt good about the horse and the horse was training good and doing well. He’s perfect. There’s really no quirks about him, just happy to do what he does.”
Ortiz, last year’s leading rider, picked up right where he left off as he seeks his third Angel Cordero Jr. Award.
“I feel good. Great way to start the meet. I’m just blessed and thank God for giving me the opportunity to do what I love,” Ortiz said. “It’s very good because it’s probably the only meet where we have a lot of crowd every day. They love the jockeys, so I feel so good right now with all the support from them.”
Gullo doubled up Thursday in the fifth when first-time starter Big Q charged past Love Me Tomorrow and Funfetti to take the New York-bred maiden special under Joel Rosario.
“I can go home now. I can get in my car and leave right now. I did what I had to do,” Gullo joked during his second winner’s circle appearance. “This place is very tough. When you’re running in these races, every-body is trying to win. Everybody’s aiming for the same thing. You’ve got to get lucky, that’s the bottom line.”
A 2-year-old by Big Brown out of the Forestry mare Gaby Q, Big Q is owned by Dutchess Views Farm. She came to Gullo about three months ago and made a quick impression.
“As soon as she came in, she had the look,” Gullo said. “She’s been a sweetheart. She’s a tough filly, very tough. She’s always on the muscle. She’s one of those horses that doesn’t take anything from anybody. It makes her a little bit tough to handle, but tough in a good way. She’s a fighter.”
– Brandon Valvo
• Nine horses compet-ed in the second, racing for a little over a min-ute on the Mellon Turf Course in a maiden race named for a man whose family remembered him as someone of exemplary character and athleticism.
Shadwell Stable’s Sayyaaf took the race named in honor of Patrick Cushing, whose memory lived in the eyes of his fa-ther and the stories from friends and family. He died in a limousine crash last October in Schoharie, one of 17 losses in an acci-dent that attracted nation-al attention.
Every time Cushing’s name was mentioned in the winner’s circle smiles
and tears appeared. Sam the Bugler played a somber Danny Boy. Arms wrapped around each other and tears were interrupted with occasional knowing smiles.
“Danny Boy is just an old Irish tra-ditional song,” said Kevin Cushing, Patrick’s father. “And Patrick was, well, Patrick Cushing is a traditional Irish son.”
The Cushing family, involved in racehorse ownership through West Point Thoroughbreds, thanked NYRA and the Opening Day crowd for carrying on the legacy of their lost family member.
“This is a special place for us, with five generations of Cushings coming to the track to be with the horses and each other,” said Kevin Cushing, who added that Patrick was notably smarter than most racing fans.
“His favorite horse was the win-ning horse,” Cushing’s uncle, Joe Cushing, confirmed with a laugh.
Not only a fan, but an athlete, Patrick Cushing played almost ev-ery sport without bias with a special love for dodgeball. He traveled the country with the National Dodgeball League. He represented and won for Team USA at the 2016 World Cup.
He wore No. 98, which was retired upon his passing. The number came alive Thursday on the jackets and dresses in the winner’s circle, which featured a circular white sticker with 98 on the left side just above the heart.
Thursday – Continued from page 15
Tod MarksSayyaaf pulls away in the second, named in memory of Patrick Cushing.
Tod MarksTrainer Gary Gullo doubled. Continued On Page 17
17Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
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“It was a very high honor for him . . . so we’re honoring his memory as well, by wearing his number.”
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• New York Racing Association president and chief executive officer David O’Rourke and director of fa-cilities Peter Goulet opened the 1863 Club with a ribbon-cutting ceremo-ny. The executives shared a pair of oversized, gold-colored scissors and snipped the red ribbon staged be-tween miniature replicas of the quar-ter and eighth poles in front of the facility’s front porch.
“We did it, we made it,” Goulet said just before cutting the ribbon. Al-though Goulet acknowledged many people doubted the project would be completed by Opening Day as recent-ly as 30 days ago, the 10-year NYRA veteran was steadfast.
“I’m part of the team that helped build this. With the team we have, I felt confident,” he said. “I knew with the proper planning that we did and the team that we assembled, I knew it was going to be difficult, but I always believed we were going to get it done.
“It was a team that put it all togeth-er and make this happen. The chal-lenge here was taking what should be a 2-year job and getting it done in nine winter months. We planned it out, we started this two years ago, moving utilities for the basement once we had the site work done. Then last year, the day after the last racing meet, we started excavation. It was just the proper planning and sequenc-ing of how to get this building out of the ground and get the roof on it and get it ready for today.”
The 1863 Club features many amenities, including The Rail, a ground-level buffet, a members’ club for box holders on the second-floor, which connects to the main clubhouse via a bridge over the horse path, and luxury suites on the third floor named for many of the great horses to grace Saratoga throughout its history – Monomoy Girl, Lady Eli, Whirlaway, Forego, Native Dancer and Rachel Alexandra.
Historical works of art adorn the walls on each level, with familiar im-
ages of Onion vs. Secretariat in the 1973 Whitney and Jim Dandy beating Gallant Fox in the 1930 Travers and more obscure references for the true racing enthusiast, like 1907 and 1908 Horse of the Year Colin, the Great Match Race at Sheepshead Bay in 1890 and Jaipur versus Ridan in the 1962 Travers.
Although the building is upscale and new, the details are designed to mesh with Saratoga’s history. NYRA utilized the expertise of Matt Hurff, architect at Frost Hurff, a veteran of Saratoga projects for 10 years, to achieve the right look and feel.
“One of the first things I did was a historical survey of the entire proper-ty,” Hurff said. “I know pretty much every stage of all the different pieces of this building and when they were built. The property was built up in four or five major pieces. That’s sort of what’s interesting about it, this is another piece in that continuing evo-lution of the property.”
While Goulet was confident, Hurff didn’t hide his emotions at seeing the vision realized for Opening Day.
“It’s a tremendous relief,” he said. “This is such a big part of Saratoga. Failure isn’t an option. I’m just so happy that we made it.”
– Brandon Valvo
Thursday – Continued from page 16
Tod MarksLight The Posse returns after winning the sixth for trainer Charlton Baker.
18 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
Thursday July 11.
FIRST $32,000, CLAIMING $14,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 3/16M2 Armament I. Ortiz, Jr. $11.40 $5.50 $3.806 Tiz No Bluff L. Saez $5.20 $3.503 Blurred Line K. Carmouche $5.40Dk B/ Br Gelding 2014, by War Front - Alternate by Seattle SlewOwner: M and M Racing (Mike Sisk). Trainer: Gary Gullo. Breeder: Pin Oak Stud, LLC (KY). Time: 1:57.18Claimed: Armament claimed by Balsamo, Diane for $14,000, Real Dan claimed by River Card Stable for $14,000.Exacta (2-6), $30.00; Superfecta (2-6-3-7), $77.60; Trifecta (2-6-3), $111.00
SECOND $90,000, MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3 YO’S & UP, 5 1/2F2 Sayyaaf J. Castellano $3.80 $2.50 $2.3011 Vehement J. Alvarado $4.80 $4.207 Point of Humor D. Davis $8.30Ch Colt 2016, by Sepoy (AUS) - Tahfeez by AljabrOwner: Shadwell Stable. Trainer: Chad Brown. Breeder: Shadwell Farm, LLC (KY).Late Scratches: Off the Record, Up and Onward, Ahead of PlanTime: 1:01.05Daily Double (2-2), $11.20; Exacta (2-11), $10.20; Quinella (2-11), $10.30; Superfecta (2-11-7-12), $26.75; Trifecta (2-11-7), $40.62
THIRD $92,000, ALLOWANCE, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M3 Vincento J. Ortiz $22.80 $9.10 $5.406 Growth Engine J. Castellano $5.90 $3.207 The Rock Says L. Saez $3.30Ch Gelding 2013, by Include - Seeking the Silver by GrindstoneOwner: Hinkhouse, Joseph, A.. Trainer: Linda Rice. Breeder: Vince Scuderi (NY). Time: 1:49.56Daily Double (2-3), $20.20; Exacta (3-6), $58.50; Superfecta (3-6-7-4), $38.35; Trifecta (3-6-7), $109.75; Pic 3 (2-2-3), $122.50
FOURTH $50,000, CLAIMING $35,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1M2 Local Hero L. Saez $5.90 $3.60 $2.807 Zap Daddy I. Ortiz, Jr. $4.90 $3.008 Bemma’s Boy J. Ortiz $5.40Dk B/ Br Gelding 2014, by Hard Spun - Liam’s Dream by Saint LiamOwner: Hui, Michael, M.. Trainer: Michael Maker. Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY).Late Scratches: Indigo Yankee, Mr. DiscretionaryClaimed: Local Hero claimed by Funky Munky Stable LLC for $35,000, Zap Daddy claimed by Mr. Amore Stable for $35,000, Autostrade claimed by Our Sugar Bear Stable LLC for $35,000Time: 1:35.25Daily Double (3-2), $40.50; Exacta (2-7), $14.30; Quinella (2-7), $10.70; Superfecta (2-7-8-1), $40.75; Trifecta (2-7-8), $40.25; Pic 3 (2-3-2), $72.00
FIFTH $78,000, NY-BRED MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2 YO, 5 1/2F5 Big Q J. Rosario $30.00 $10.20 $6.206 Impazible Donna L. Saez $5.00 $3.509 Funfetti J. Ortiz $3.10B Filly 2017, by Big Brown - Gaby Q by ForestryOwner: DutchessViews Farm. Trainer: Gary Gullo. Breeder: Golden Goose Enterprises (NY).Late Scratches: Aubrey Tate, Jewel of Arabia, Big BountyTime: 1:06.91Daily Double (2-5), $62.75; Exacta (5-6), $69.75; Superfecta (5-6-9-2), $138.05; Trifecta (5-6-9), $142.25; Consolation Double (2-8), $3.20; Pic 3 (3-2-5), $1,470.50; (3-2-8), $40.25; Pic 4 (2/5/9/10-3-2/3/11-5), $1,016.00; Pic 5 (2-2/5/9/10-3-2/3/11-5), $4,934.25
SIXTH $80,000, NY-BRED ALLOWANCE, 3 YO’S & UP, 5 1/2F8 Light the Posse J. Alvarado $31.40 $11.60 $7.601A Veterans Beach M. Franco $4.60 $3.205 Rockin Jo D. Davis $9.00Ch Gelding 2015, by Posse - The Lamp Is Lit by MiswakiOwner: Fried, Jr., Albert. Trainer: Charlton Baker. Breeder: Albert Fried, Jr. (NY).Late Scratches: Morgantown, Poppy’s Destiny, Red Zinger, Bustin to Be Loved, Giant Boo Boo, New York Hero, Fled Time: 1:02.36Daily Double (5-8), $169.75; Exacta (8-1), $65.00; Superfecta (8-1-5-2), $518.95; Trifecta (8-1-5), $283.25; Pic 3 (2-5-8), $1,099.00; (2-8-8), $42.75
SEVENTH $83,000, NY-BRED AOC $40,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M10 Wegetsdamunnys J. Rosario $7.70 $4.50 $2.9011 Classic Lady M. Franco $4.70 $3.204 Giant Zinger J. Alvarado $2.90Gr/ro Filly 2015, by D’ Funnybone - Mystic Miracle by Unbridled’s SongOwner: Krase, Scott D. and Stokes, Peter G.. Trainer: Christophe Clement. Breeder: Wellspring Stables (NY).Late Scratches: Maiden Beauty, Turn and Bern, Cartwheel, Vip NationClaimed: War Canoe claimed by R. A. Hill Stable for $40,000Time: 1:52.81Daily Double (8-10), $79.75; Exacta (10-11), $17.10; Superfecta (10-11-4-3), $36.50; Trifecta (10-11-4), $27.75; Pic 3 (5-8-10), $1,039.50
EIGHTH $150,000, STAKES - SCHUYLERVILLE S., 2 YO, 6F5 Comical J. Castellano $8.20 $4.50 $2.809 Kiss the Girl J. Velazquez $5.10 $2.901 Shippy J. Ortiz $2.40B Filly 2017, by Into Mischief - Kayce Ace by TiznowOwner: ERJ Racing, LLC, Barber, Gary, Kenney, Dave and Madaket Stables LLC. Trainer: Doug O’Neill. Breeder: Susan Casner (KY).Late Scratches: Aurelia Garland Time: 1:11.66Daily Double (10-5), $15.70; Exacta (5-9), $18.70; Superfecta (5-9-1-7), $18.55; Trifecta (5-9-1), $19.75; Pic 3 (8-10-5), $403.00
NINTH $100,000, STAKES - QUICK CALL S., 3 YO, 5 1/2F4 Listing J. Rosario $4.80 $3.20 $2.602 Elektronic J. Lezcano $7.50 $4.309 Neverland Rock (GB) R. Santana, Jr. $5.10B Colt 2016, by Square Eddie - Marquis Diamond by YonaguskaOwner: Reddam Racing LLC. Trainer: Ben Cecil. Breeder: Reddam Racing, LLC (CA).Late Scratches: Releasethethunder, Mount Travers, Gladiator King, Dunph. Time: 1:03.94Daily Double (5-4), $11.10; Exacta (4-2), $25.75; Superfecta (4-2-9-10), $74.20; Trifecta (4-2-9), $83.50; Pic 3 (10-5-4), $39.25; Grand Slam (1/5/8-4/10/11-1/5/9), $9.60
TENTH $48,000, MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M12 Dottie’s Spirit J. Lezcano $4.10 2 Simply Miss Red M. Franco 6 Bizness Beauty J. Rosario B Filly 2016, by Curlin - Brush of Fortune by Broad BrushOwner: Parkland Thoroughbreds. Trainer: Jorge Abreu. Breeder: Grade I Bloodstock, Halcyon Farm, &W.S. Farish (KY).Late Scratches: Elite Mom, To a Friend, Going to Temple, Lido Key, Sister Gema, Lady Trish’s Dream (GB), Claddagh’s Run, Encore Kitten, Darling of the Spa, Countenance Time: 1:56.79Daily Double (4-12), $5.30; Pic 3 (5-4-12), $31.00; (5-4-1/3/4/5/7/8/9/10/11), $10.50; Pic 4 (10-5-4-ALL), $24.87; Pic 5 (8-10-5-4-ALL), $474.25; Pic 6 (5-8-10-5-4-ALL), $329.50; Pic 6 (5-8-10-5-4-ALL), $18,133.00
Attendance: 22,591. All-sources handle: $15,754,227.63Copyright 2019 EQUIBASE Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
SARATOGA RESULTS
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SARATOGA RESULTS PHOTOS BY TOD MARKS
20 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
proven to be a
0Classic
West Virginia Breeders Classics, Ltd.P.O. Box 1251 | Charles Town, WV 25414
www.wvbc.com | 304-725-0709
Carol Holden | PresidentTheresa Bitner | Exec. Sec.
Sam Huff | Chairman Emeritus
S A T U R D A YOCT. 12, 2019
POST TIME 7:00 PM
WVBC XXXII WInnErrunnIn’TOLuVya
Featuring the West Virginia Breeders Classicand the Breeders Classics Races
BY BEN GOWANSA familiar blaze is back in today’s
featured Grade 3 Forbidden Apple Stakes. In an era of top-class horses running at a minimum of every four weeks, Voodoo Song captivated Sara-toga in 2017 by winning four times in seven weeks. Barry Schwartz’s home-bred had great success in Saratoga again last year, when he fought off all comers in a thrilling rendition of the Grade 1 Fourstardave.
Voodoo Song suffered his first Saratoga defeat one start later in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch and hasn’t started since October, when he was 12th in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. He ran his worst race on turf that day and was sent to WinStar Farm for some time off.
“No, it wasn’t the plan,” trainer Linda Rice said of the nine-month break. “He’d been at WinStar all winter rehabbing and we had a lit-tle setback with a hind leg that had a little inflammation, so his return was delayed.”
Rice knows Voodoo Song thrives off racing – and not necessarily train-ing – and made sure to temper expec-tations for today’s $150,000 stakes.
“Last year I started him out at Aq-ueduct in April, just got a race into him, he was third in an allowance, then he won a race at Belmont,” Rice said of the 5-year-old who is the 3-1 Tod Marks
Voodoo Song looks for his sixth Saratoga win today, in his first start of 2019.
FORBIDDEN APPLE PREVIEW
Summer TuneSaratoga-loving Voodoo Song returns in Grade 3 turf stakes
Continued On Page 21
21Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
morning-line favorite in the 1-mile stakes. “So, we got a couple races into him before he got to Saratoga. This year, it’s going to be a tougher hurdle to get over because he has not had a few starts. Both Voodoo and I don’t want to let down his fans.”
The New York-bred didn’t have any fans before the 2017 Saratoga meet. He made quite a few in the sev-en weeks that followed.
Voodoo Song made his first Sara-toga start in a $40,000 claimer in his first start for Rice, who took over from the retired Mike Hushion. The son of English Channel ran off and hid that day, then returned four days later in a 1 3/8-mile allowance and literally ran off. He opened a 16-length lead going down the backstretch while set-ting a blistering pace for the distance. He shortened stride in the lane, but held on to win by three-quarters of a length. He won for a third time at the meet four weeks later and then tri-umphed yet again 10 days later in the Grade 3 Saranac.
Rice worked Voodoo Song six times since he returned to her barn in preparation for a second-half of 2019 campaign. Thursday’s rain softened the Saratoga turf, which may bring
fitness into play even more.“I’d like it to be nice and firm, not a
laboring, tiring course for him off the layoff,” she said. “He’s had a good breeze schedule and hasn’t missed a beat. We’ve gotten a breeze into him on the turf every Sunday at Belmont. But he’s older and he’s carrying more weight than he ever has in the past so I’m a bit concerned about him be-ing tight enough. I talked to Barry Schwartz yesterday and we discussed it knowing that he took a couple of starts to get going last year but we’re going to give it a go. He’ll get more out of a race than I can get into him in workouts.”
Jose Lezcano has ridden Voodoo Song every time he has won in Sara-toga and rides him again today.
As for the trainer, it’s been 10 years since she won the Saratoga training title, but her resume has included sev-eral achievements since then.
“Winning the title here 10 years ago was a good springboard to get my business going stronger,” she said. “I was able to win a couple of oth-er titles at Belmont, tied for Belmont summer with Todd (Pletcher), and this past winter I finally won the win-ter meet. I’d been second five years in a row. We’ve had a pretty good year so far coming into this meet. You can never have too many wins or too many good horses in your barn.”
The Forbidden Apple serves as a
prep for the Fourstardave at this year’s reconfigured meet. Mark Casse will send out two entrants, as he hopes to get them to the Grade 1 he won two years ago with World Approval.
Third in the Grade 3 Saranac here last year, March To The Arch goes for Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plan-tation, which also owned World Ap-proval.
“During his 3-year-old year I felt he was a little better than he looked,” Casse said. “He was really impressive winning up at Woodbine and ran well when we brought him here. I like to give my 3-year-olds off in the fall, I don’t want to run them against older horses. I find a lot of them – given the break – you bring them back and they run better. Two horses we did that with that came back and were very good horses were Tepin and World Approval. Both were OK 3-year-olds but became better 4-year-olds. I had that idea with him and so far it’s worked.”
March To The Arch has won twice in three starts this year – a state-bred stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Chur-chill Downs bookending a fifth in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic on
the Kentucky Derby undercard.“He won for fun at Tampa to
start the year and his race Derby Day wasn’t bad. In his last race, he ran into some trouble but as soon as Ty-ler (Gaffalione) was able to find some room he took off,” Casse said. “We’ll just see how good he is, we’ve got the Kentucky horses against the New York horses.”
Casse’s First Premio also ran in the Wise Dan, tiring late to finish fifth.
“First Premio had a rough trip. He traveled 59 feet farther than March To The Arch. He just got hung up and with turf racing you need to have the trip.”
There figures to be some early speed with Todd Pletcher’s Gidu and Voodoo Song disputing the pace. Chad Brown sends out two – Made You Look, off since a fourth in the Fourstardave last year, and consistent New York-bred Offering Plan. Kiaran McLaughlin changes a few things for last year’s Bernard Baruch winner Qurbaan. The 6-year-old will have blinkers off, a new rider in Joel Ro-sario and also cuts back 2 furlongs. Hembree, Mr. Havercamp and Doc-tor Mounty complete the field.
Forbidden Apple – Continued from page 20
Celebrate Quick Call’s 35th Birthday and help us gather 1,000 Gifts of $35 in his honor during the 2019 Saratoga racing meet! Learn about his amazing racing and retirement careers, and make your $35 Gift today: TRFinc.org/QuickCall.
1,000 WISHES FOR QUICK CALLSARATOGA’S “HORSE FOR THE COURSE”
Tod MarksMarch To The Arch is one of two in the turf stakes for trainer Mark Casse.
22 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
Friday, July 12.1ST (1:00PM). $40,000, MCL $20,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8MExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 5, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Arguto ............................ T. Gaffalione ..................... N. Zito ........................ 15-12 ..... 2 ............Legion Storm ................. L. Saez ............................. K. McLaughlin .............. 9-23 ..... 3 ............Derby Memories ............ K. Carmouche .................. D. Gargan ..................... 6-14 ..... 4 ............Dreammaster ................. R. Maragh ........................ C. Martin .................... 10-15 ..... 5 ............French Revolution .......... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ T. Pletcher .................... 8-56 ..... 6 ............Ummu Ummu Ummu..... J. Lezcano ....................... R. Klesaris .................. 20-17 ..... 7 ............Clonedsimmard .............. L. Reyes .......................... L. Gyarmati ................ 30-18 ..... 8 ............Oso Negro ...................... J. Castellano .................... C. Brown ...................... 2-1
2ND (1:36PM). $78,000, MSW, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8M (INNER TURF)Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 4, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Klickitat .......................... J. Alvarado ...................... J. Jerkens ..................... 8-11a .... AE..........Overland ......................... M. Luzzi ........................... J. Jerkens ..................... 8-12 ..... 2 ............Worth a Shot .................. J. Lezcano ....................... L. Rice .......................... 4-13 ..... 3 ............Catorat ........................... E. Cancel .......................... D. Donk ...................... 15-14 ..... 4 ............Prince of New York ........ L. Saez ............................. J. Englehart ................ 20-15 ..... 5 ............Jimmy Jazz .................... J. Ortiz ............................. T. Bush ......................... 6-16 ..... 6 ............Crazy Life ....................... J. Castellano .................... C. Brown ...................... 9-27 ..... 7 ............Danfusi ........................... J. Rosario ........................ C. Clement.................... 6-18 ..... 8 ............Overlord ......................... D. Davis ........................... G. Contessa ................ 12-19 ..... 9 ............Make Motime ................. J. Leparoux ...................... G. Goodwin ................ 20-110..... 10 ..........Curlin’s Legacy ............... R. Maragh ........................ P. Kelly ....................... 20-111..... 11 ..........The Happy Giant ............. M. Franco ........................ R. Handal ................... 15-112..... 12 ..........Saltking .......................... C. Landeros ..................... M. Hennig .................... 5-113..... MTO ......Daddy Knows ................. J. Lezcano ....................... L. Rice .......................... 1-1
3RD (2:12PM). $95,000, AOC $62,500, 3 YO’S & UP, F & M , 1 1/16M (TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... MTO ......Held Accountable ........... . Rider TBA ...................... P. Serpe ........................ 6-11a .... 5 ............Pauseforthecause ........... R. Maragh ........................ K. McLaughlin .............. 6-12 ..... MTO ......Viva Forever ................... J. Castellano .................... A. Quartarolo ................ 2-13 ..... 3 ............Complicit ........................ I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ C. Brown ...................... 8-54 ..... 4 ............Dream Passage .............. J. Rosario ........................ B. Cox .......................... 5-25 ..... 6 ............Ferdinanda ..................... L. Saez ............................. B. Tagg ......................... 7-26 ..... 7 ............Conquest Hardcandy ...... T. Gaffalione ..................... J. Ryerson .................... 4-17 ..... 8 ............Tanya’s Gem ................... L. Reyes .......................... E. Jones ..................... 20-1
4TH (2:48PM). $34,000, CLM $12,500, 3 YO’S & UP, 7FExacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Dazzling Okie .................. M. Luzzi ........................... W. Potts ..................... 10-12 ..... 2 ............Gorelli ............................ D. Davis ........................... H. Bond ...................... 15-13 ..... 3 ............Soul P Say ..................... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ R. Diodoro .................... 7-24 ..... 4 ............Kahramani ...................... L. Saez ............................. J. Sharp ........................ 5-15 ..... 5 ............River of Dreams ............. K. Carmouche .................. L. Gyarmati ................ 12-16 ..... 6 ............Nolinski .......................... L. Reyes .......................... A. Maymo ................... 15-17 ..... 7 ............Orpheus (ARG) .............. R. Maragh ........................ C. Martin ...................... 6-18 ..... 8 ............Lord Simba .................... T. Gaffalione ..................... E. Kenneally .................. 4-19 ..... 9 ............Big Muddy ...................... R. Santana, Jr. ................. R. Atras ........................ 3-1
5TH (3:28PM). $90,000, MSW, 2 YO, F , 5 1/2FExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 6, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Apurate .......................... J. Velazquez ..................... T. Pletcher .................... 7-22 ..... 2 ............Good Shabbos ............... L. Saez ............................. J. Englehart .................. 5-23 ..... 3 ............Drop a Hint ..................... T. Gaffalione ..................... D. Lukas ..................... 15-14 ..... 4 ............Lotta Ott ......................... R. Santana, Jr. ................. S. Asmussen ................ 3-15 ..... 5 ............Bird Tycoon .................... J. Leparoux ...................... I. Wilkes ..................... 12-16 ..... 6 ............Vast ................................ J. Alvarado ...................... W. Mott ........................ 6-17 ..... 7 ............Pure Wow ...................... D. Davis ........................... J. Terranova II .............. 5-18 ..... 8 ............Mylastfirstkiss ................ K. Carmouche .................. A. Quartarolo .............. 12-1
6TH (4:03PM). $70,000, CLM $50,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/16M (INNER TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 5, Daily Double1 ..... MTO ......Felix in Fabula ................ . Rider TBA ...................... B. Levine ...................... 8-51a .... MTO ......Curlin Road .................... . Rider TBA ...................... R. Rodriguez ................ 8-52 ..... 1 ............Heavy Roller ................... L. Saez ............................. J. Sharp ...................... 10-13 ..... MTO ......Super Dude .................... . Rider TBA ...................... G. Contessa .................. 4-14 ..... 3 ............Harv Won’t Tap .............. J. Rosario ........................ B. Brown ...................... 8-1
5 ..... 4 ............Holiday Bonus ................ K. Carmouche .................. G. DiPrima .................. 15-16 ..... MTO ......American Lincoln ........... E. Cancel .......................... A. Williams ................... 8-17 ..... 6 ............Keep Quiet (FR) .............. R. Santana, Jr. ................. S. Asmussen ................ 3-18 ..... 8 ............Dubby Dubbie ................ J. Velazquez ..................... R. Hess, Jr. ................. 12-19 ..... 9 ............Dontblamerocket ............ J. Lezcano ....................... N. Casse ....................... 6-110..... 10 ..........Our Way ......................... J. Ortiz ............................. H. Bond ........................ 5-111..... 11 ..........Hay Dakota ..................... J. Castellano .................... E. Kenneally .................. 9-212..... 12 ..........Applicator ....................... I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ L. Rice .......................... 4-1
7TH (4:39PM). $80,000, ALW, 3 YO’S & UP, F & M , 5 1/2F (TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Pic 4, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Short Pour ..................... J. Ortiz ............................. M. Hennig .................. 10-12 ..... 2 ............Hollywood Cat ................ I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ J. Servis ....................... 5-13 ..... 3 ............Citizen Matzo .................. M. Franco ........................ R. Lerman .................... 6-14 ..... 4 ............Tiffanys Freud ................ J. Martinez ....................... L. O’Brien ................... 30-15 ..... 5 ............Lem Me Have It .............. D. Davis ........................... B. Levine .................... 15-16 ..... 6 ............Noble Jewel .................... J. Rosario ........................ C. Martin ...................... 6-17 ..... 7 ............Tzipi ............................... J. Alvarado ...................... L. Rice .......................... 8-18 ..... 8 ............Something Joyful ........... J. Lezcano ....................... J. Englehart .................. 8-19 ..... 9 ............Filly Dilly ........................ L. Saez ............................. J. Englehart .................. 4-110..... 10 ..........Andarta .......................... L. Reyes .......................... T. Albertrani ................ 20-111..... 11 ..........She’s Dreamin ................ R. Santana, Jr. ................. T. Bush ......................... 8-112..... 12 ..........Cirque ............................ E. Cancel .......................... B. Dunham ................. 15-113..... MTO ......Evan’s Nice Now ............. L. Saez ............................. J. Toscano, Jr. .............. 8-114..... MTO ......Fancycase ...................... B. Hernandez ................... P. Kelly ....................... 15-115..... MTO ......Saloon Girl ..................... J. Velazquez ..................... W. Ward ....................... 5-216..... MTO ......Trouble for Skylar ........... K. Carmouche .................. D. Gargan ..................... 5-1
8TH (5:15PM). $80,000, AOC $25,000, 3 YO’S & UP, 1 1/8MExacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pic 3, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Irish Valor ...................... J. Ortiz ............................. M. Ferraro .................. 10-12 ..... 2 ............Dreamzapper .................. L. Saez ............................. M. Shirer ...................... 3-13 ..... 3 ............Big Gemmy .................... J. Lezcano ....................... L. Rice .......................... 9-24 ..... 4 ............Broadway Bay ................ A. Worrie ......................... J. Englehart ................ 10-15 ..... 5 ............Danebury ....................... J. Rodriguez .................... C. Baker ........................ 7-26 ..... 6 ............Doups Point ................... J. Rosario ........................ C. Clement.................... 5-27 ..... 7 ............Fiery Opal ....................... E. Rivera .......................... A. Arriaga ..................... 6-1
9TH (5:51PM). $150,000, STK - THE FORBIDDEN APPLE, 4 YO’S & UP, 1M (INNER TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double1 ..... 1 ............Gidu (IRE) ...................... M. Franco ........................ T. Pletcher .................. 12-12 ..... 2 ............First Premio ................... J. Ortiz ............................. M. Casse .................... 10-13 ..... 3 ............Hembree ........................ L. Saez ............................. M. Maker ...................... 8-14 ..... 4 ............Offering Plan .................. J. Castellano .................... C. Brown ...................... 6-15 ..... 5 ............March to the Arch .......... T. Gaffalione ..................... M. Casse ...................... 6-16 ..... 6 ............Made You Look .............. I. Ortiz, Jr. ........................ C. Brown ...................... 4-17 ..... 7 ............Voodoo Song ................. J. Lezcano ....................... L. Rice .......................... 3-18 ..... 8 ............Qurbaan ......................... J. Rosario ........................ K. McLaughlin .............. 6-19 ..... 9 ............Mr Havercamp ............... J. Alvarado ...................... C. Day Phillips ............ 15-110..... 10 ..........Doctor Mounty ............... J. Velazquez ..................... C. McGaughey III ....... 15-1
10TH (6:25PM). $48,000, MCL $40,000, 3 YO’S & UP, F & M , 5 1/2F (TURF)Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta1 ..... 1 ............Freudycatfever ............... R. Santana, Jr. ................. H. Bond ...................... 12-12 ..... 2 ............Fight Night ..................... J. Castellano .................... G. Weaver..................... 9-23 ..... 3 ............Don’t Tell Flora ............... L. Reyes .......................... J. Ryerson .................. 15-14 ..... 4 ............Smart Throb ................... E. Cancel .......................... P. Quick ...................... 10-15 ..... 5 ............Abby Normal .................. M. Franco ........................ D. Donk ........................ 8-16 ..... 6 ............Linda’s Ballet .................. J. Ortiz ............................. L. Rice .......................... 2-17 ..... 7 ............Winifred J ...................... D. Davis ........................... E. Barker .................... 10-18 ..... 8 ............Accabonac Harbor .......... J. Alvarado ...................... C. Englehart ................ 20-19 ..... 9 ............Heartstrings ................... J. Lezcano ....................... C. DeVaux................... 12-110..... 10 ..........Taniell’s Candy ............... J. Leparoux ...................... B. Lynch ..................... 10-111..... 11 ..........Traci’s Girl ...................... J. Rosario ........................ C. Baker ...................... 12-112..... 12 ..........Minit Maus ..................... B. Hernandez ................... G. Sciacca .................. 30-113..... AE..........Prisoner’s Dilemma ........ L. Saez ............................. C. Clement.................... 7-214..... MTO ......Summer Fantasy ............ M. Luzzi ........................... J. Englehart ................ 12-115..... MTO ......Scarlet’s Command ........ L. Saez ............................. H. Bond ...................... 10-116..... MTO ......Happy Sophia ................. J. Rosario ........................ R. Handal ..................... 5-2Copyright 2019 EQUIBASE Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
23Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
New HandicapperThe Saratoga Special welcomes a new addition to the Power Grid presented by Winner’s
Circle Beer for 2019 in Rob Whitlock, better known around the stable are as “Garlic” Rob for his garlic spray business to keep the bugs away from the horses here in Saratoga Springs.
Whitlock joins perennial defending champion John Shapazian, who led the way with 117 winners from the 404 races in 2018. He won his sixth Power Grid title with a 29 percent strike rate. Charles Bedard held onto the second spot for a second season with 102 winners (25.2 percent). Tom Law finished third in 2018 after picking 95 winners (23.5 percent).
Guest HandicapperToday’s guest handicapper is Tom Durkin, retired track announcer and longtime voice of the
New York Racing Association. Durkin currently serves as managing partner of the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association’s Empire Racing Club. Thursday, Meg Kelly picked two winners.
The guest win total will not include Wednesday this year, when only The Special’s regular handicappers picks appear at thisishorseracing.com.
grid
the Power
Race #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Oso NegroDerby Memories
French RevolutionDaddy Knows
DanfusiCrazy Life
Viva ForeverComplicit
Dream PassageSoul P SayLord SimbaBig MuddyLotta Ott
Good ShabbosApurate
Repole entryKeep QuietOur Way
Saloon GirlFilly Dilly
Noble JewelDreamzapperDoups Point
DaneburyQurbaanHembree
Made You LookHappy SophiaLinda’s BalletAbby Normal
TomLaw
RobWhitlock
CharlesBedard
JohnShapazian
Tom Durkin
Legion StormFrench Revolution
Ummu Ummu UmmuKlickitat
Crazy LifeDanfusi
Dream PassageComplicit
Ferdinanda Soul P SayBig MuddyLord Simba
Good ShabbosApurate
Drop A HintHarv Won’t Tap
Keep QuietDontblamerocket
Short PourFilly Dilly
Hollywood CatBig GemmyDoups PointIrish Valor
Offering PlanQurbaan
Made You LookHeartstrings Fight Night
Don’t Tell Flora
French RevolutionOso Negro
Legion StormDaddy KnowsWorth A Shot
DanfusiComplicit
Dream PassageFerdinandaSoul P SayLord SimbaBig MuddyLotta Ott
Good ShabbosApurate
ApplicatorKeep QuietOur Way
Hollywood CatNoble Jewel
Filly DillyDoups PointDreamzapperBig Gemmy
Made You LookMarch To The Arch
Voodoo SongLinda’s BalletFight Night
Taniell’s Candy
Legion StormFrench Revolution
Ummu Ummu UmmuKlickitat
Crazy LifeDanfusi
Dream PassageComplicit
Ferdinanda Soul P SayBig MuddyLord Simba
Good ShabbosApurate
Drop A HintHarv Won’t Tap
Keep QuietDontblamerocket
Short PourFilly Dilly
Hollywood CatBig GemmyDoups PointIrish Valor
Offering PlanQurbaan
Made You LookHeartstrings Fight Night
Don’t Tell Flora
French RevolutionOso Negro
Derby MemoriesKlickitat
Worth A ShotCrazy LifeFerdinandaComplicit
Conquest HardcandySoul P SayBig MuddyLord Simba
Lotta OttVast
Pure WowHarv Won’t TapDubby Dubbie
Keep QuietFilly Dilly
Short PourHollywood CatDreamzapper
DaneburyIrish ValorQurbaan
Voodoo SongGidu
Linda’s BalletFreudycatfever
Fight Night
2019 Records 2/10 1/10 3/10 1/10 2/10
Our
fifth
han
dica
pper
will
be
a sp
ecia
l gue
st e
ach
day.
24 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
RACING RETURNSAUGUST 8 - SEPTEMBER 7 | THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 5PM
$500,000 in Daily Purses $1.8 MILLION in Stakes Purses$250,000 G-3 Virginia Derby on Saturday, August 31
Owner/Trainer Participation Incentives
They don’t make horses like Quick Call anymore, but that’s OK. The one they did make might just live forever. The 35-year-old gelding is the senior resident of the
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances farm at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in Wallkill, N.Y.
And he was a Saratoga star. Quick Call made 17 starts at the Spa, winning nine. Twice he won three races in a single meet (1987 and 1988). He won two in 1989 and one in 1990. Those feats, his 16 total wins, 15 seconds, a dozen thirds and $807,817 in earnings helped fuel the creation of the Quick Call Stakes in 2008 but his post-racing life had as much to do with it.
Since 2001, Quick Call has resided at Wallkill where he’s the dean of the TRF’s “oldtimers” field now overseen by farm manager Kelsey Kober. The Kentucky-bred simply lives his life – eating, drink-ing, sleeping, getting groomed and passing along lessons to his human caretakers.
“A lot of the gentlemen tell the other inmates in their units that they work with this famous horse and when those men get an opportunity to come out they all say, ‘We want to see Quick Call. Where’s Quick Call?’ ” said Kober. “That’s a nice experience, to see others react to him. We see him every day so we’re spoiled. But he’s special to other people too.”
Kober was at Saratoga Race Course Thursday, for the 12th Quick Call Stakes, and tried to summa-rize a horse she only came to know recently.
“To have him in my care is very special to me,” she said. “I’ve been with TRF and the Department of Corrections for a year and a half so this has been an experience for me as well. He’s older than I am.”
He’s older than many. Bred by Warner Jones Jr. and David Greathouse Jr., Quick Call was foaled in 1984. Ronald Reagan was president. The Raiders won the Super Bowl, over the Redskins. Chrysler introduced the minivan to the world.
Owned by Lynda Stokes, Quick Call made five starts as a 2-year-old in 1986, winning a Belmont Park maiden and finishing fifth in the Saratoga Spe-cial Stakes.
He was far busier the next year – making 18 starts including four wins, three seconds and two thirds. The son of Quack started four times at Sara-toga. He won Aug. 5 and 10, finished fourth in the King’s Bishop Aug. 22 and closed the meet with an-other win Aug. 30 to help his trainer – future Hall of Famer Sidney Watters Jr. – claim the meet cham-pionship with 12 wins.
The 1988 season was even better as Quick Call won five of 15 starts including all three Saratoga starts, two handicaps (Aug. 4 and 13) and the Grade 2 Forego Handicap Aug. 21. He won the Forego again in 1989, with a tune-up handicap win eight days earlier. In 1990, he won a Saratoga handicap Aug. 16, but was denied a third consecutive win in the Forego by Lay Down.
Hall of Famer Pat Day was aboard for the Fore-go wins, and called Quick Call a force in upstate New York.
“He was really good there,” Day said Thursday. “He stepped up his game in Saratoga. It was uncan-ny how and why he did that. I don’t know the why, but it happened. The atmosphere, the air, the wa-ter, the people around him, something helped him. Horses that would beat him down south, he’d put them away easily up there.”
Like anyone who talks about Quick Call, Day marvels at the horse’s longevity.
“He’s still alive?” he asked/exclaimed to me Thursday.
I told it straight, “Well, he looks a little old . . .”Day cut me off, “He should. To be standing and
going at 35, bless his heart. That’s a horse.”The truth is I’ve never seen Quick Call, mostly
because my schedule won’t line up with the public availability at Wallkill – it is a prison after all and
open houses are sporadic. The TRF’s Kim Weir says it’ll happen this fall. I hope so. I’d love to meet him. He sounds like a star.
He is to Kober, though, as one of the people re-sponsible, she carries some trepidation.
“He does not sleep standing up, he sleeps laying down and it freaks me out and freaks the inmates out that I have to go out and check on him some-times,” she said. “But he’s just asleep. He is 35. He needs to rest. He has a great life. We don’t bother him, but he’s part of everything. He’s very calm, re-laxed, he loves attention – he loves his ears itched, that’s the one thing I’ve learned that he loves.”
Kober, who grew up in a family that worked with Standardbreds, said Quick Call looks good. She credits him, the inmates who groom him regularly, Poulin Grain’s Fibre-Max feed. His teeth are good and his coat gleams (once he sheds out fully from the winter). The blacksmith says Quick Call has the hooves and bones of a 20-year-old.
And maybe there’s more to it. He is retired, but he also serves – as an example for racing, a teacher of men in need of (as the farm’s name implies) second chances and a host to officials who visit. In honor of his 35th year, the TRF created a 1,000 Wishes campaign – seeking $35 pledges to celebrate Quick Call and retired Thoroughbreds. Representatives manned the Community Booth Thursday and were busy. You can learn more at trfinc.org/quickcall.
Weir said you don’t have to know Quick Call to appreciate him, and that helps connect people to a horse they don’t really know. Hopefully, he feels the love. Kober believes he does.
“I think of it as we’re in good spirits,” she said when asked what his secret is. “He is constantly get-ting loved, constantly getting attention and I feel as if that is what’s kept him alive this long. The good spirits matter. That’s the sentimental part of it, and that matters with a horse this old.”
I hope so.
theoutsiderail True CallingBY JOE CLANCY
25Friday, July 12, 2019 The SaraToga Special
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbred
Vol. 27, Issue 7
JULY 2019
Point of Honor rules Black-Eyed Susan | May sale sets records | Scorpiancer returns
Will’s WayAfter Derby drama, Casse colt captures 144th Preakness
C1_0719.indd 1
6/21/19 1:10 PM
On race’s 50th anniversary, Girvin rules the Haskell | Meet jockey Carol Cedeno
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 25, Issue 9
SEPTEMBER 2017
Delaware MusicPorter collects elusive hometown Grade 1 with Songbird
C1_0917.indd 1 8/17/17 3:29 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 3
MARCH 2019
Meet Fred Hertrich | Late Night Pow Wow adds Fritchie | 2018 Industry Statistics
Dark HorseJump Start tops regional stallion rankings again
C1_0319.indd 1 2/20/19 2:47 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 6
JUNE 2018
Something Awesome adds Charles Town Classic | Meet Rich Glazier
Second TermSenior Senator (right) wins another Hunt Cup
C1_0618.indd 1 5/17/18 3:45 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 2
FEBRUARY 2019
Trainer Lynn Ashby | Penn National stars lead U.S. in wins | Starter Bruce Wagner
Blooming FillyPA-bred Shamrock Rose leads final 2018 poll
C1_0219.indd 1 1/21/19 10:12 AM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 7
JULY 2018
Big numbers rock Fasig-Tipton sale | Irish War Cry wins Pimlico Special
Air JustifyBaffert star soars in Preakness on way to Triple Crown
C1_0718.indd 1 6/19/18 4:25 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 8
AUGUST 2018
Meet Bobby Lillis | Sports betting takes root | Hawkish rules Penn Mile
High Stakes Pennsylvania-bred Spring Quality
keys region’s banner day at Belmont
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Looking for another good read?Our July issue is now available on line or at the Saratoga Special office
And you know no one will tell their stories like
Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. The issue is available
online at MidAtlanticTB.com.
Just join the Club and get the
digital edition free!Better yet, stop by the
Saratoga Special offices at 259 East Avenue
for a hard copy, and enjoy the good read!
Always entertaining stories from those familiar Saratoga Special faces, Joe and Sean Clancy, and Tom Law. This issue boasts big features on Preakness weekend–beautifully illustrated with great photography. Plus get the inside scoop on the record-breaking 2-Year-Old sale at Timonium and of course, all latest in the steeplechase world.
www.MidAtlanticTB.com The heart and soul of the Thoroughbred in the region
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 9
SEPTEMBER 2018
Therapeutic Thoroughbreds | Good Doctor Rizen | Del ’Cap to Elate
Ringleader Good Magic wins Haskell and – presto! – regains prestige as a 3-year-old elite
C1_0918.indd 1 8/17/18 4:36 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 10
OCTOBER 2018
Pittman enters new race | Super Ninety Nine comes home | Maryland Million Guide
Ride OnSeven-day meet provides thrills at Timonium
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Fasig-Tipton yearling sale continues roll | Historic Montpelier still a horse haven
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 25, Issue 11
NOVEMBER 2017
West Philly BoyBaffert 3-year-old dominates Pennsylvania Derby
C1_1117.indd 1 10/17/17 2:11 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbred
Vol. 26, Issue 11
NOVEMBER 2018
MD-bred filly tops yearling sale | Pennsylvania Derby | Hursts find success as breeders
Past GloryMaryland’s Glade Valley Farm ages gracefully
C1_1118.indd 1 10/18/18 4:12 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 12
DECEMBER 2018
All ‘Love’ in West Virginia | PA-bred wins at Breeders’ Cup | Irish shine at Far Hills
Classic MomentPrado, Saratoga Bob master the Maryland Million
C1_1218.indd 1 11/19/18 9:46 AM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 7
JULY 2019
Point of Honor rules Black-Eyed Susan | May sale sets records | Scorpiancer returns
Will’s WayAfter Derby drama, Casse colt captures 144th Preakness
C1_0719.indd 1 6/21/19 1:10 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 6
JUNE 2019
Senior Senator wins third Hunt Cup | 50 years of Douglas Lees | Yearling Show History
Luvin’ ItWest Virginia-bred shines in Charles Town Classic
C1_0619.indd 1 5/15/19 2:31 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 1
JANUARY 2019
Stallions gear up for 2019 | Meet Northview’s Francisco Torres | Mixed sale report
$4.7 Million ManNew stallion Hoppertunity sets up shop in Pennsylvania
C1_0119b.indd 1 12/19/18 4:55 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 4
APRIL 2018
Ms Locust Point dazzles in Fritchie | Meet MJC’s Mike Singletary
Family TimeNecessary nurse mares find footing with regional breeders
C1_0418.indd 1 3/16/18 2:55 PM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 26, Issue 5
MAY 2018
Calumet’s Preakness Glory | Remembering Jose Flores | Noble Indy’s PA Connection
Two for TimoniumMay sale promises fireworks on track, in ring
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 5
MAY 2019
Three Diamonds mines success | Region unveils safety plan | Meet Brother Chub
Bell Ringer Call Paul, other star graduates spur May sale
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The heart and soul of the Thoroughbred in the region
Tech BoomCloud Computing collars Classic Empire in Preakness
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbred
Curlin colt sets auction record at $1.5 million • Scorpiancer adds Iroquois to banner year
Vol. 25, Issue 7 JULY 2017
C1_0717.indd 1 6/19/17 11:36 AM
The heart and soul of the Thoroughbred in the region
Goodbye BenMaryland-bred champ retires after 32 wins
A personal tie to the great Man o’ War • Hall of Fame to honor Voss, Good Night Shirt
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbred
Vol. 25, Issue 8 AUGUST 2017
C1_0817.indd 1 7/17/17 11:15 AM
Mid-AtlanticThoroughbredVol. 27, Issue 4
APRIL 2019
Fiber Sonde breeds success | Digital registration | Legislation boosts WV
Son RiseEclipse winner Hamilton blazes trail
C1_0419.indd 1 3/18/19 3:14 PM
26 Friday, July 12, 2019The SaraToga Special
It’s July 11 and we’re in Saratoga. Designed as an August excursion before
global warming, it’s now a July gig with global warming. Thursday morning was hot, like Adrian Cronauer hot. By Thurs-day afternoon, it was a deluge, one of those Saratoga storms that conjure up other Sara-toga storms (Little Current/Holding Pattern, Birdstone’s Travers, Hurricane Irene…). And, yes, they have cancelled in the past. Tom Law just walked in the office, drenched. “Epic rain.” Admittedly, these are first-world problems, being in Saratoga and dealing with the weather and an added week. We’ll power through.
For those who recognized a good thing and moved here, it’s just another week with houseguests. For those of us who don’t live here, it’s another week of being houseguests, tourists, out of our routine, away from our pillars, our rocks (Annie! Sam! Miles! Ryan! Jack! Nolan! Katie!).
But as always, there are positives and negatives. Good and bad. And, of course, an occasional ugly.
You decide. My Virginia garden booms with tomatoes, black-
berries, cucumbers, carrots, red beets, chard and a few volunteer pumpkins (no telling when they go orange) and other plants I don’t recognize and certainly didn’t plant. Leaving it Tuesday was like walking out of the movie right before the best scene, the birds and I competed for ripe raspberries and blackberries. The garden has been left to Miles and Annie, they don’t see the garden the same way I see the garden. It’s my sanctuary – ‘wow, look what’s growing here.’ It’s their confusion – ‘are these toma-toes in the beets?’ If you’re driving down Snake Hill Road in Middleburg, I know of a good “Pick your Own” patch behind the green bank barn. Bring a basket. Help yourself.
Rents have gone up. Tolerance could go down.Eight weeks is hardest on the children, well, it’s
hardest on the parents who miss the children, miss their rituals with their children. The Tour de France is already on stage 6. For Miles and me, no Caven-dish, no Sagan, no arduous climbs, no harrowing descents, no joy of seeing those crazy life-size clocks the French design in wheat fields and lawns. We’ve watched the first week of the tour and then talk-ed about the second week for Miles’ entire life. I’ll miss Miles’ grandfather’s service in Birmingham, a year after his death, it’s a Greek thing. I won’t be able to drop Miles off or pick him up or help him recite lines for Hill School’s version of Annie at the-atre camp, it starts Monday. Worse, I won’t watch him perform. We won’t watch the Baseball Hall of Fame induction. Smoothies and egg surprises with fresh herbs from the garden will have to wait anoth-er week. And his books, oh, I’ll miss hearing about the plot twists and the irony in the dozen books he reads from now until then.
Five more deadlines. Five more columns. Five more issues.
A couple of more trips to Four Seasons Natural Foods, for better or for worse. An-other week of pizza, for better or for worse. Perhaps, two more sessions at Henry Street Taproom, for better or for worse. Another couple of dark days to somehow clear our schedules to spend an afternoon on Rich Cristiano’s boat, for better, if it happens and for worse, if we fumble it again like last year. Another week of shows at Caffe Lena, any-body want to catch Cindy Cashdollar, Bella Fleck or The The Band Band (that’s not a typo)?
Another round of Mig stories.A couple of more chances to run, not
conquer, the five-mile trail in the state park. Another 5K with the Saratoga Stryders? Tom has booked Joe and me for the Boiler-
maker, yeah, the Boilermaker Road Race in Utica Sunday, as Tom says, “It’s just three 5Ks.” I haven’t run three 5Ks in a year, much less three in a row. We were safely at home when Tom’s annual assault on the Boilermaker happened in the past, offering our enthusiasm and our best, ‘Man, that would be great, wish we were up there…’ Well wishes come true. It will feel like a death wish.
Two haircuts. A chance to get those Hall of Fame autographs
that we haven’t been able to secure so far, where’s Ramon when you need him? Another week of visi-tors, you know the ones who come to Saratoga for two days and play their get-out-of-jail-free cards and expect you to be right there with them. An ex-tra week, more importantly an extra dark day every week to get to Cooperstown, Woodstock, the alpine slide or that funny farmer’s market in Vermont.
Another week of stories. Another week of mem-ories.
Eight Weeks cupofcoffeeBY SEAN CLANCY
Brown Advisory is an independent investment and strategic advisory firm committed to our clients’ success.
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