Saratoga 2020

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Today is Opening Day of the 40-day summer meet.

First post for the 10-race card is set for 1:10 p.m. ET.

It is the 152nd season at Saratoga Race Course.

No spectators unless you own a horse entered to run.

Fans are locked out but jockeys are locked in.

No jock will be allowed to return to Saratoga if they travel out of town during the meet and no out-of-town riders will be allowed to invade.

Over the past week, Florent Geroux, Victor Espinoza, Luis Saez and Martin Garcia have tested positive for COVID-19.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Jockey Jose Ortiz has won the riding title at Saratoga in three of the last four seasons.

Chad Brown has won the last four training titles at Saratoga.
 
Last edited:

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
The Travers Stakes this season will serve as a prep for the Kentucky Derby.

The race, dubbed the Midsummer Derby, has been moved up three weeks from August 29 to August 8.

This year's Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, September 5.
 

fifty cint

EOG Dedicated
267 Union Av .... There is nothing like going back in time at The Spa. Great setting,,environment and racing....a few good bars as well Gonna miss gong this year
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
I miss live racing.

Nothing like being at the racetrack and watching an afternoon of action to keep the juices flowing.

Watching the races on a phone/computer or from a simulcast center/race book simply not the same as the live product.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Track announcer John Imbriale on the call for today's first race at Saratoga.

Order of finish in the opener: 2-7-6-4.
 

Valuist

EOG Master
I think quite a few tracks are adopting the 'lock-in". or lock out, depending on one's view, for riders. Pick a track. This will hurt the guys at the top like Castellano and Smith, who travel a lot for big stakes.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Jockey Mike Smith likely to miss out on riding Midnight Bisou in the Personal Ensign Stakes on August 1 at Saratoga.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law will use the Travers Stakes (August 8) as a stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby (September 5).

Should be good theatre.
 

Valuist

EOG Master
Don't be afraid to a take a swing against Pletcher and Brown 2 YOs this meet. According to DRF's Dave Grening on the Steve Byk podcast, the 2YOs for both barns likely a good month behind in development for their 2YOs due to the lengthy shutdown in NY. A guy like Asmussen, spending most of winter at Oaklawn then moving to Churchill, had no shutdown to deal with.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Opening-day all sources handle exceeded $19 million, a 21% increase over last season's numbers.

Account wagering is alive and well.
 
Last edited:

fifty cint

EOG Dedicated
JK (the real one) picks winner of First at 19-1 and Maggie suggests winner of second raced also at 19-1. At least The Saratoga cappers/coverage give the players horses at prices and they deliver their share of winners and value plays. Unlike TVG and their zombies.
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
Leading Trainer Stats as of this morning.
Chad Brown having a great start.

RANK NAME STARTS. 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS WIN % TOP 3 TOP 3%
1 Chad C. Brown. 16 6 3 4 $371,490 38% 13 81%
2 Christophe Clement 13 5 2 2 $313,731 38% 9 69%
3 Linda Rice 9 4 0 1 $124,750 44% 5 56%
4 Rudy R. Rodriguez 11 3 1 3 $92,372 27% 7 64%
5 William I. Mott 12 2 3 2 $336,610 17% 7 58%
5 Todd A. Pletcher 9 2 2 0 $105,560 22% 4 44%
5 Steven M. Asmussen 8 2 1 1 $104,888 25% 4 50%
5 Claude R. McGaughey 7 2 1 2 $102,630 29% 5 71%
5 Michael J. Trombetta 2 2 0 0 $69,850 100% 2 100%
10 Thomas M. Bush 3 1 1 1 $70,600 33% 3 100%
10 Wesley A. Ward 7 1 0 0 $57,312 14% 1 14%
10 Timothy E. Hamm 1 1 0 0 $55,000 100% 1 100%
10 Dermot Magner 2 1 1 0 $54,000 50% 2 100%
10 Orlando Noda 4 1 1 1 $53,980 25% 3 75%
10 Raymond Handal 6 1 1 1 $52,265 17% 3 50%
10 David G. Donk 8 1 1 0 $49,374 13% 2 25%
10 Bruce N. Levine 4 1 0 1 $46,870 25% 2 50%
10 Ian R. Wilkes 1 1 0 0 $41,800 100% 1 100%
10 Michelle Nevin. 3 1 0 0 $41,060 33% 1 33%
10 Albert M. Stall, Jr. 1 1 0 0 $39,600 100% 1 100%
10 Mertkan Kantarmaci 2 1 0 1 $39,390 50% 2 100%
10 Jeremiah C. Englehart 7 1 0 0 $30,411 14% 1 14%
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
Some impressive wins this weekend at the Spa.

Volatile for Assmussen, over Whitmore, in the Vanderbilt.
Seven year old mare Starship Jubilee, over Sistercharlie, in the Ballston Spa.
Somelikeithotbrown in the Bernard Baruch, who unseated rider Gaffalione en route to the winner’s circle.

And in the 8th today, Todd Pletcher saddled a very impressive winner, 3 yr old colt, Happy Saver in a conditioned 9 furlong dirt race.
It’s rare to break a maiden at 1st asking followed by a win around 2 turns against winners in the very next start. Happy Saver achieved this today while making it look easy. I see big things in future for this guy.
...
Also noteworthy was the victorious return of Maximum Security, top weighted winner in the San Diego handicap at Del Mar Saturday for new Trainer Bob Baffert while earning a 101 Beyer for the 1 1/16 miles.
 

Valuist

EOG Master
I thought Whitmore ran giant. He broke thru the starting gate before the race, then saw the 2-5 favorite set a super slow pace, and Whitmore was maybe beaten all of a length and a half.
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
No rain in the forecast for Saratoga Springs until Sunday night soonest.
Track conditions to be fast and firm all week. For horsemen and handicappers alike, this is good.

First of 10 races tomorrow is a 2 1/16th miles steeplechase, post time at 12:50 pm EDT.
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
Huge day at Saratoga today with big purses for stakes races.

Race 5 The Personal Ensign $500,000
Race 9 The Whitney $750,000
Race 10 The Jerkens $300,000
Race 11 The Bowling Green $250,000
Race 12 The Caress $200,000

Legend and superstar mare Midnight Bisou competes in the Personal Ensign.
Her Lifetime record is 21 starts 13 wins 5 seconds 3 thirds with earnings of $7,371,520

Good luck with your selections today.
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
Leading Trainer Stats as of now.

Clement surprisingly leads Pletcher and Chad Brown.
I’ve added underachievers Donk, Weaver, Levine, Hennig, and especially Charlie Baker to my trainer watch list.

RANK NAME STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS WIN %. TOP 3 TOP 3 %
1 Christophe Clement 44 15 5 7 $927,529 34% 27 61%
2 Todd A. Pletcher 39 11 8 5 $591,415 28% 24 62%
3 Michael J. Maker 38 10 6 1 $676,188 26% 17 45%
4 Chad C. Brown 52 9 11 13 $723,666 17% 33 63%
5 Linda Rice 30 7 4 5 $343,645 23% 16 53%
6 Steven M. Asmussen 26 5 3 3 $634,020 19% 11 42%
6 H. James Bond 19 5 1 3 $209,072 26% 9 47%
8 Wesley A. Ward 20 4 3 3 $208,822 20% 10 50%
8 Orlando Noda 13 4 2 2 $192,331 31% 8 62%
8 Rudy R. Rodriguez 33 4 3 8 $185,883 12% 15 45%
8 Raymond Handal 16 4 1 1 $145,490 25% 6 38%
12 William I. Mott 34 3 8 6 $504,452 9% 17 50%
12 Claude R McGaughey III 12 3 2 3 $220,630 25% 8 67%
12 Ian R. Wilkes 6 3 2 0 $153,600 50% 5 83%
12 Jack O. Fisher 7 3 0 1 $134,200 43% 4 57%
12 Jorge R. Abreu 9 3 1 0 $121,184 33% 4 44%
17 Jack Sisterson 5 2 0 0 $328,700 40% 2 40%
17 Albert M. Stall, Jr. 7 2 1 2 $183,040 29% 5 71%
17 Danny Gargan 17 2 3 4 $152,437 12% 9 53%
17 John C. Kimmel 15 2 1 3 $138,454 13% 6 40%
17 Brad H. Cox 21 2 1 2 $135,294 10% 5 24%
17 David G. Donk 29 2 1 2 $125,164 7% 5 17%
17 Jeremiah C. Englehart 20 2 1 4 $117,987 10% 7 35%
17 John P. Terranova, II 10 2 1 1 $110,310 20% 4 40%
17 Michelle Nevin 15 2 1 2 $107,390 13% 5 33%
17 Bruce N. Levine 17 2 0 1 $100,291 12% 3 18%
17 Thomas Albertrani 11 2 1 0 $97,019 18% 3 27%
17 Michael J. Trombetta 9 2 0 0 $84,682 22% 2 22%
17 Mertkan Kantarmaci 8 2 0 1 $82,246 25% 3 38%
17 Robert N. Falcone, Jr. 7 2 1 2 $71,315 29% 5 71%
31 Bob Baffert 4 1 1 0 $472,700 25% 2 50%
31 George Weaver 14 1 2 5 $174,170 7% 8 57%
31 Kevin Attard 1 1 0 0 $110,000 100% 1 100%
31 Horacio DePaz 8 1 5 1 $103,605 13% 7 88%
31 Thomas M. Bush 11 1 1 4 $97,218 9% 6 55%
31 Thomas M. Amoss 10 1 3 2 $95,540 10% 6 60%
31 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 4 1 0 1 $73,080 25% 2 50%
31 Michael Stidham 6 1 1 1 $66,292 17% 3 50%
31 Dermot Magner 3 1 1 1 $59,760 33% 3 100%
31 Timothy E. Hamm 1 1 0 0 $55,000 100% 1 100%
31 Rob Atras 8 1 2 1 $54,573 13% 4 50%
31 Mark A. Hennig 9 1 0 1 $53,007 11% 2 22%
31 Kenneth G. McPeek 3 1 1 0 $52,800 33% 2 67%
31 Bruce R. Brown 6 1 1 0 $51,726 17% 2 33%
31 Michael Miceli 7 1 2 0 $49,481 14% 3 43%
31 Gary Sciacca 10 1 1 0 $42,275 10% 2 20%
31 Kelly J. Breen 2 1 0 0 $41,950 50% 1 50%
31 Karl M. Grusmark 1 1 0 0 $34,100 100% 1 100%
31 Eduardo E. Jones 5 1 0 1 $31,245 20% 2 40%
31 Derek S. Ryan 2 1 0 0 $26,950 50% 1 50%
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
Another big day at Saratoga tomorrow with big purses for stakes races.

Race 7 (3:42pm) Ballerina 7 Furlongs Dirt | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up | G1 STAKES | PURSE: $300,000
Race 8 (4:22pm)Troy 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up | G3 STAKES | PURSE: $200,000
Race 9 (5:02 pm)Waya 1 1/2 M.Inner Turf | Fillies and Mares | 4 YR Olds And Up | G3 STAKES | PURSE: $150,000
Race 10 (5:39 pm)Test 7 Furlongs Dirt| Fillies | 3 Year Olds | G1 STAKES | PURSE: $300,000

Race 11 (6:15 pm)Travers 1 1/4 Miles Dirt | Open | 3 Year Olds | G1 STAKES | PURSE: $1,000,000

Travers Field:
1. First Line (30-1): JOCKEY: David Cohen; TRAINER: Orlando Noda
2. Country Grammer (6-1): JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Chad Brown
3. Uncle Chuck (5-2): JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
4. Max Player (6-1): JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Linda Rice
5. Shivaree (30-1): JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Ralph Nicks
6. Tiz the Law (even-money): JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Barclay Tagg
7. Caracaro (10-1): JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Gustavo Delgado
8. South Bend (15-1): JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Bill Mott
 
Top