Linda Rice wins five races on Saturday's card at Saratoga Race Course
Trainer Linda Rice posted a five-win day on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, winning in 5-of-6 races she entered, including with first-time starter Scramjet in Race 2, a six-furlong maiden for New York-bred juveniles.
“It's the toughest place in the world to win a race,” said Rice, who improved her meet win total to 21. “Some days are very tough and frustrating, but we all come over here with excitement and hoping our horses will run well.”
After a misfire from Salming in Race 1, Scramjet [No. 6, $18.96] set the pace under Jose Ortiz, was challenged by Mindfield to his inside in the lane before shaking that foe en route to a 1 1/2-length victory in a final time of 1:11.27. The Uncle Mo bay, campaigned by SJB Stable, was entered on July 30 here, but was a late scratch after unseating jockey Manny Franco in the post parade.
“He was in 10 days earlier and Manny got dropped in the post parade and I was so disappointed because it looked like a race we could win,” Rice said. “When I got him back in - this race was a split division - and I thought this was the much tougher half. It was a war, but he ran great."
Rice had two entries in Race 4, a one-mile state-bred allowance, and Lady Rose [No. 2, $4.24*] dominated by five lengths under Jose Lezcano, with Top of the Table landing seventh. The conditioner sent out two more in Race 7, a 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer moved off the turf, with the Lezcano-piloted Bite and Strike [No. 5, $10.60] leading a Rice-trained exacta over Vettriano.
In Race 11, a one-mile state-bred starter allowance, Calling Card [No. 2, $5.66] dominated a seven-horse group for jockey Manny Franco’s third consecutive win on the card after taking the Grade 1 Christophe Clement Turf aboard Survie and Listed Galway with Cadenza.
Rice’s fifth win came in the Race 12 finale, an off-the-turf maiden claimer for state-breds run at one mile, with Maximum Heat [No. 11, $3.50*] cruising to an easy win under Ortiz.
“When it comes together like today did, it's very rewarding for me and my staff,” Rice said. “They work tirelessly day after day and I have to give them a lot of credit. My office team is here at the races today with their families, so it was really fun."
Five wins on a single card is a Saratoga record shared with five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown [2019, 2021, 2024], and Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who won five on August 1 here this year and also accomplished the feat in 2004, according to statistics provided by Equibase dating to 1976.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card headlined by the Grade 3, $225,000 Mahony in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Saratoga Live presents daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
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