New York Racing Association

Juveniles Look to Bright Future in Monday’s Hopeful
Sunday, September 5, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Wine Police Monday is closing day for the 142nd meet at Saratoga Race Course, but the connections of the seven 2-year-olds entered in the Grade 1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful are anticipating it will just be the beginning for their colts ... more

Forever Together Stretches Out in Glens Falls
Sunday, September 5, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Forever Together Champion Forever Together will negotiate 1 3/8 miles for the first time in her career in Monday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Glens Falls Handicap, the final stakes of the 2010 meet at Saratoga Race Course. Owned by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables, Forever Together ... more

R Heat Lightning Strikes in Spinaway
Sunday, September 5, 2010
By Jon Forbes

R Heat Lightning Trainer Todd Pletcher broke his own Saratoga Race Course record for wins in a single season in style, sending out R Heat Lightning to victory in Sunday’s 119th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies. Pletcher came into the Spinaway with 35 wins, and R Heat Lightning’s Spinaway score catapulted him past his previous high mark ... more

Lethal Combination Delivers Winning Punch in Saranac
Sunday, September 5, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Lethal Combination Taking advantage of fast early fractions, Lethal Combination came on strong through the final yards to outkick Turf Melody and take Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac at Saratoga Race Course by a half-length. Under Alan Garcia, Lethal Combination dawdled at the back of the pack as Devon Rock took the field of six 3-year-olds through an opening half in 46.49 and three-quarters in 1:10.79 ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Sunday, September 5, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Quality Road Trainer Todd Pletcher was delighted to report this morning that Quality Road exited his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward in excellent shape and would next return to Belmont Park to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 6 ... more

Forbes' Firsters for Monday, September 6
Sunday, September 5, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Forbes’ Firsters is a series that takes a glance at the pedigrees and sales histories of select 2-year-olds who are making their debuts in maiden special weight races at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course ... more

Quality Road Gets Back on Track in Woodward
Saturday, September 4, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Quality Road Quality Road returned to the winner’s circle Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course with an emphatic 4 ¾-length victory over Mythical Power in the 57th running of the $750,000 Woodward, his third Grade 1 win of the year ... more

Here Comes Ben Comes Away a Winner in Forego
Saturday, September 4, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Here Comes Ben Here Comes Ben continued his upward ascent in class with a late-running victory on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in the 31st running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Forego. Freshened after concluding his sophomore season with a fifth-place finish in a minor stakes at Turfway Park in December ... more

New York Watch: Winter Memories
Saturday, September 4, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Winter Memories “She was very professional and handled herself in good order,” said Jimmy Toner, who also trained Memories of Silver for the Phillips family of Darby Dan Farm. “You’re always hopeful that they’ll live up to expectations, but you never until they run. She showed us what we expected of her. Everything we could possibly ask her to do, she did it.” ... more

Zenyatta’s Half-Brother Breaks Maiden on Saratoga Turf
Saturday, September 4, 2010
By Dan Silver

Souper Spectacular Souper Spectacular, a 3-year-old half-brother to undefeated Breeders’ Cup Classic heroine Zenyatta, broke his maiden in Saturday’s fifth race at Saratoga Race Course, a mile turf maiden special weight ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Saturday, September 4, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Grand Couturier Rail Trip continued his preparations for the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on October 2 with a brisk six-furlong breeze on the Saratoga main track Saturday morning. Working in company with Eagle Strike, Rail Trip covered the distance in 1:11.25, 1.88 seconds faster than his stablemate ... more

From The Backstretch Interview with Jockey Garrett Gomez
Saturday, September 4, 2010
On The Lead Feature

Garrett Gomez Each month we’ll take a trip to the backstretch and visit with a different jockey or trainer. Garrett Gomez, the 2007 and 2008 Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey, is our featured guest in September. Gomez, who has led all North American jockeys by earnings the past four years, has won major races across the continent ... more

Soldat Takes to Turf in With Anticipation
Friday, September 3, 2010
By Ashley Herriman

Soldat Soldat broke his maiden in style Friday evening at Saratoga Race Course, stalking the pacesetter and opening up in the stretch to win the sixth running of the Grade 3, $100,000 With Anticipation in his first start on turf ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Friday, September 3, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Mike Repole After going 0-36 last year at Saratoga Race Course, owner Mike Repole vowed that 2010 would be different. He’s made good on his promise. Heading into the final three days of the 142nd meet at the Spa, Repole Stables is atop the owner standings with 13 victories from 42 starters, nearly double its closest competitors ... more

Prize Pool for 2012 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship to Increase to an Estimated $2 Million, Including $1 Million to Winner
Friday, September 3, 2010
Contact: Eric Wing

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that the total prize pool for the January 2012 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas is expected to rise to an estimated $2 million, and that the grand prize will double to an estimated $1 million. ... more

Riskaverse to “Queen” as Lisa’s Booby Trap Runs Last; Awesome Maria Wins Race’s First Division
Thursday, September 2, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Queen of the Creek Queen of the Creek made it two in a row at Saratoga Race Course, going wire-to-wire to win the $75,000 Riskaverse as the fairy-tale story of previously undefeated Lisa’s Booby Trap ended with a last-place finish in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Thursday, September 2, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Castellano and Velazquez Going into Thursday’s card, Javier Castellano and John Velazquez were deadlocked atop the jockey standings, with each rider having won 49 races through 35 days of racing. Velazquez is aiming for his fourth Saratoga crown, having won the meet title in 1998, 2003, and 2004. Highlights for Velazquez in 2010 include stakes victories in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, ... more

Final Stretch Festival to Culminate in Free Admission at Saratoga Race Course on Fan Appreciation Day
Thursday, September 2, 2010
By Dan Silver,Mark Bardack

Party at the Spa, Family Fun Fest, and Labor Day barbecue to highlight closing weekend activities.The spirit of track season will permeate the region one last time this season as the 142nd meet at Saratoga Race Course draws to a close with Final Stretch weekend festivities, Friday, September 3 through Monday, September 6. ... more

Four Winning Saratoga Pick 6 Tickets at $377,883 Each
Thursday, September 2, 2010
By Dan Silver

Four winning tickets correctly selected the winners of each of the Pick 6 races Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course and were rewarded handsomely with payouts of $377,883. Wednesday’s handle of $1,925,068 was the largest single-day Pick 6 handle at Saratoga going back to 2000, and is believed to be one of the largest in the track’s history. ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Regal Ransom Godolphin Stable’s Regal Ransom is likely to return to graded stakes competition after winning Wednesday’s fourth race, an optional claimer at 1 1/8th miles on the main track, by 3 ¼ lengths in gate-to-wire fashion. A winner of the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby and Grade 2 Super Derby in 2009, Regal Ransom ... more

What’s Happening this Week at Saratoga
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
By Dan Silver, Mark Bardack

Win Wager: The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will offer three lucky fans the chance to place a $1,000 win wager on the horse of their choice in one of three races run on Wednesday afternoon. Entry forms will be issued to the first 10,000 ... more

“Party at the Spa” Block Party Kicks Off Final Stretch Festivities at Saratoga Race Course
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
By Dan Silver, Mark Bardack

Fans are invited to stay after the races as the fun continues on-track at the meet’s final “Party at the Spa” on Friday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m. The day begins with a special 2:30 p.m. post time and culminates in the last race of the day under a setting sun. Following the races, trackgoers will enjoy a block party atmosphere inside the Clubhouse gates at Saratoga’s newest after-hours hot spot – The Post. ... more

Spa Business Surges After Brilliant Weekend
Monday, August 30, 2010
By Dan Silver

Attendance and handle rebounded sharply following a weekend of glorious weather and spectacular racing, according to statistics through five full weeks at Saratoga released today by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Monday, August 30, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Persistently Phipps Stable’s Persistently appeared well the morning after her one-length upset victory over reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign Invitational. “She’s doing well, I’m tired, but she seemed to come back fine,” said Persistently’s ... more

NYRA Releases Third Video in ‘Time Machine’ Series: Holy Bull Holds on in the 1994 Travers
Monday, August 30, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Holy Bull The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has added a new installment to its “Time Machine” video series, this time featuring Holy Bull’s victory in the 1994 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Holy Bull, later named the 1994 Horse of the Year, ... more

Persistently Pays Off as Phipps Filly Upsets Rachel Alexandra in Personal Ensign
Sunday, August 29, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Persistently Persistently waited patiently behind a speed duel and made an inexorable rally in the stretch to upset Rachel Alexandra by a length on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course in the 63rd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares ... more

Personal Ensign (G1) Quotes
Sunday, August 29, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Persistently Shug McGaughey, winning trainer of Persistently (No. 3): “Obviously with a filly like Rachel Alexandra in the race, we knew we were a long shot. But we did think she’d run a mile and a quarter. It was Mr. Phipps’ decision. He said to me, ‘If it’s going to be a short field; I’d like to give it a try.’ The only time she had ever run two turns on the dirt was when she won here earlier in the meet ... more

On-Track Attendance and Handle Up on Travers Day
Sunday, August 29, 2010
By Dan Silver

Afleet Express On a picture-perfect day that saw a thrilling finish to the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers, on-track attendance and handle continued an upward trend at Saratoga Race Course. ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Sunday, August 29, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Afleet Express The Travers appears to have taken more out of trainer Jimmy Jerkens than his colt Afleet Express, who yesterday prevailed by a nose in the “Mid-Summer Derby.” “I was tired,” said Jerkens, moments before saddling Luxury Appeal to a second-place finish in Sunday’s third race. “I was knocked out. I slept pretty good.” ... more

New York Watch: Uncle Mo
Sunday, August 29, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Uncle Mo Repole Stable maintained a 12-7 lead in the Saratoga owner standings going into the final eight days of racing, so it’s all too appropriate Uncle Mo is the name of the operation’s latest impressive 2-year-old winner. ... more

Saratoga Race Course to Feature Labor Day Barbecue
Sunday, August 29, 2010
By Dan Silver, Mark Bardack

Annual family-style barbecue expands to two days during Final Stretch festivities. Saratoga Race Course will provide horse racing fans with one last chance to indulge with a classic Labor Day barbecue on Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6. ... more

Afleet Express Noses Out Fly Down to Win Thrilling Travers
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Afleet Express Galloping out after the oh-so-close finish of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers at Saratoga Race Course, jockeys Javier Castellano, aboard Afleet Express, and Jose Lezcano, riding Fly Down, looked questioningly at each other. “What do you think?” asked Lezcano. “Either way,” replied Castellano. ... more

Travers (G1) Quotes
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Afleet Express Jimmy Jerkens, winning trainer of Afleet Express (No. 7): “He broke with the field and they went on pretty well ahead of him. He was tucked in pretty good behind him, and he was able to get through at a crucial time. I thought around the turn he was going to give himself a little breather, but he got to a certain spot and didn’t drop back any. Javier wasn’t moving his arms on him like he was in the Jim Dandy, and I felt we had a hell of a shot after that. ... more

Discreetly Mine Blazes to King’s Bishop Victory
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By John Scheinman

Discreetly Mine In an electrifying display of speed, Discreetly Mine roared through an opening quarter-mile in 21.90 seconds and a half in 44.11 on his way to a 1 ¼-length victory in the 26th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 King’s Bishop on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. ... more

Rightly So Struts to Grade 1 Victory in Ballerina
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Rightly So Rightly So led every step and earned her first Grade 1 win Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course with a front-running, four-length victory over Warbling in the 32nd running of the $250,000 Ballerina Stakes. The consistent daughter of Read the Footnotes, never worse than third in 11 lifetime starts, immediately shot to the front when the gates opened for the seven-furlong dash and sashayed unthreatened through opening fractions of 22.46, 44.80 and 1:09.29. ... more

Rapport Goes Wire-to-Wire in Victory Ride
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By Mike Kane

Rapport Rapport grabbed the lead coming out of the gate and never looked back as she streaked to a 3 ½-length victory over My Jen in the 8th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Victory Ride on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. ... more

Dynaslew Rallies to Win Ballston Spa
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By Jenny Kellner

Dynaslew Dynaslew collared front-running Silver Reunion with a furlong to go and went on to post a half-length victory Saturday afternoon in the 22nd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Saturday, August 28, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Life at Ten Get Stormy, who smartly followed last month’s Fourstardave victory with a win in Friday’s Grade 2 Bernard Baruch, seems to have come out of the race in good order, trainer Tom Bush said Saturday morning. “I don’t know what we’re doing, but it’s working!” Bush said. “It was a really exciting performance, for sure, and he’s doing well this morning.” ... more

Get Stormy Seeks Another Win at Spa in Bernard Baruch
Friday, August 27, 2010
By Jon Forbes

Get Stormy Get Stormy improved his record to four wins from five starts at Saratoga Race Course with a 2 ¾-length victory on Friday in the 52nd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on the turf ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Friday, August 27, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Rightly So Ernie Reichard, racing manager for owner Robert LaPenta, confirmed this morning that Miner’s Reserve will join stablemates Ice Box and Fly Down in Saturday’s 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes. “He’s going to run,” Reichard said. “He’s in great shape. He ran a great race last time. Personally, I think with post 1, it’s an advantage to him, because he’ll just go right out and give it his all.” ... more

Trainer Hopes to Make Travers History with Maiden Winner
Friday, August 27, 2010
By Tony Podlaski

Admiral Alex On Saturday, Leon Blusiewicz will be trying to do what no trainer has done in the 140 previous runnings of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers: win the race with a horse who’s made but one start ... more

Sheppard, Pape Extend Streak in Turf Writers
Thursday, August 26, 2010
By Phil Janack

Sermon of Love Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and owner William Pape kept their perfect meet record intact when Sermon of Love came from off the pace to win the 69th running of the Grade 1, $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase on Thursday at Saratoga Race Course. ... more

El Real Madrid Wins Second Race in 68 Hours
Thursday, August 26, 2010
By John Scheinman

El Real Madrid Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. has a penchant for wheeling horses back on short rest, but rare is it to hear of any runner capturing two races in the same week at Saratoga. Three days after an easy 8 ¾-length score in a $20,000 claiming race on Monday, the Dutrow-trained El Real Madrid was sent back ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Thursday, August 26, 2010
By NYRA Press Office

Friend Or Foe In nine starts in top company, Travers starter First Dude has earned $562,160. It’s hard to complain about that kind of money, but with just one victory on his resume – a maiden score in his third start – the powerfully built son of Stephen Got Even has left trainer Dale Romans a little frustrated and perplexed. ... more

MSG Plus Set to Telecast Historic Travers Stakes this Saturday Live at 5:00 pm
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Contact: Dan Silver

Saratoga Race Course’s Marquee Event Will Include Kentucky Derby Winner Super Saver. MSG Plus’ “Saturdays at Saratoga” continues its weekly coverage Saturday, August 28 at 5:00 p.m. with the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes live from historic Saratoga Race Course. ... more

Saratoga Race Course Announces Plans for Double Day Spectacular of Racing
Monday, August 23, 2010
By Dan Silver, Mark Bardack

Charlie Hayward Travers Festival to culminate in back to back blockbuster events: The Travers Stakes and Rachel Alexandra’s return to Saratoga. The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA), the city of Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce ... more


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