SUBS ER CRI IN pT the A IO R T compliments oF N ARATOGA S T O T L H A E I SA EC RATOgA Sp year 11 • no. 6 saratoga’s DAILY neWSPAPER on thoroughBred racing Friday, July 29, 2011 Great One Be great (8) outduels Fudgesicle in Quick call Tod Marks Tod 3-year-olds clash in today’s curlin • entries & handicapping • thursday racing recap Racing Partnerships Kept Simple • 20% Minimum Interest • McPeek Racing Retains 20% of Each Horse Magdalena Racing is operated by trainer Ken McPeek, a horseman who has been directly connected to Grade 1 horses like: Curlin Dream Empress Take Charge Lady Sweet Talker Harlan’s Holiday Noble’s Promise Hard Buck Sarava Einstein Tejano Run Wild Desert Repent Plus over 50 other Grade 2, 3 and Listed Stakes Horses (according to Blood-Horse MarketWatch). All partners will have inside access to Magdalena Farm, plus McPeek Racing divisions at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Saratoga and Gulfstream Park. NEWS UPDATE: Kenny McPeek won more races in Kentucky than any other trainer during the Keeneland and Churchill Downs Spring Meets, with 31 victories, including fi ve straight graded stakes at Churchill Downs with Salty Strike, Noble’s Promise, My Baby Baby, Scotus and Bizzy Caroline. Visit our all-new website at mcpeekracing.com Inquiries, contact Kenneth McPeek (859) 254-9969 [email protected] 33695a_McPeek_SaraSp_072111.indd 1 7/21/11 9:29 AM 2 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011 the ARATOGA here&there... at Saratoga 517 Broadway, Suite 206 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (Second Floor, around the back) phone (518) 490-1175 Sean Mobile: (302) 545-7713 Joe Mobile: (302) 545-4424 e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] www.st-publishing.com Published Wednesday through Sunday during the racing season. Every day of Sales Week Aug. 7-14. the staff editors/publishers: Sean Clancy, Joe Clancy. staff Writers: Andrew Champagne, Mike Kane, Todd Simmons, Katie Bo Williams. layout/design: Erin McNamee. photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush. handicappers: Connie Bush Charles Bedard, Erin Finley, Gaile Fitzgerald, Take a Pole. still life at allen Jerkens’ shedrow at saratoga makes you feel like counting... Dean Keppler, John Shapazian distribution: Ryan Clancy, Taylor, Hennig, Brian Badgett, The Special’s quotes from Saratoga Jack Clancy, Nolan Clancy, Worth repeating Jane Motion, Emmy Cristiano. “Nice, quiet Wednesday. Yeah right.” “Whew, this brings back memories.” advertising sales: the special’s Jack clancy, trainer tim Keefe, when entering the annex, Contact a Clancy or call after the mid-week crowd gobbled up all the papers after spending a year there one summer working for Janet elliot Kathy Rubin at (203) 650-6815. “If I was a little shorter, I would have made it under. If I was a little taller I “Who’s covering the sixth today?” would have seen it.” Keefe, when listening in on the special’s editorial meeting trainer leo o’Brien after cracking thursday morning (Keefe’s mystical terp was in the sixth) his head on a rail in the barn Wednesday morning “No tips, but I got a blueberry muffin.” “I want his job.” ryan Keefe, the latest paper distributor, Jockey edgar prado, to jock’s agent angel cordero after handing out papers thursday morning The Saratoga Special Steeplechase Times “One’s too short, one’s too long, one’s too soon, one’s not soon enough.” “This reminds me of Water for Elephants.” Thoroughbred Racing Calendar trainer allen Jerkens, trying to figure out where to run a horse rumsey Keefe, when seeing the tent stalls around the backstretch, The Best of The Saratoga Special referring to the award-winning novel by sara gruen call us about your editorial needs. “I needed that, I’m very relaxed now.” trainer Jimmy toner after Winter memories, 1-2, “Do you get anything for giving out the ‘One Winner’ in the paper?” st publishing inc. home office won the lake george Wednesday trainer Bruce Brown, who nominated Beautyinthepulpit 364 Fair hill drive, suite F, as his one winner at the meet, he obliged on monday elkton, md 21921 “He said go in 1:14 or 15 and I did my best to do it. That helped a lot today, (410) 392-5867 • Fax (410) 392-0170 other times, she’d grab the bit and go early. Today, she relaxed.” “I used some muscles that I hadn’t used in a while.” www.st-publishing.com Jockey Jose lezcano, about slowly breezing trainer mark hennig, about the trainers/jockeys [email protected] Winter memories before the lake george charity basketball game Wednesday night FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL 3 Continued from WHEN YOU FIND THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS®, here&there... previous page PLUM PRETTY ANIMAL KINGDOM KENTUCKY OAKS WINNER KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER ZENYATTA HORSE OF THE YEAR LOOKIN AT LUCKY MALE CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD BLAME BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC WINNER UNRIVALED BELLE BREEDERS’ CUP LADIES CLASSIC WINNER SHARED ACCOUNT EMIRATES AIRLINE BC FILLY & MARE TURF (they did.) Tod Marks Honk! if you like geese, the special or the 12-5 exacta. Worth repeating “I tried to tell the ref that I got fouled on the floor, not shooting, because I couldn’t make my free throws.” stable agent – and would-be basketball player John panagot “It was terrible.” trainer John Kimmel, about the quality of basketball played 25125 W. Loudon Avenue “You neither have style nor balance and if you took a photo of yourself, you’d be sick for a week.” LeLexington,exi Kentucky 40508 LIKE US ON simon harris, quoting his first boss about his riding ability (8(859)59) 25255-7602 • (800) 753-4255 FACEBOOK hallwayfeeds.com “Oh, that’s good when he does that.” trainer leo o’Brien, watching his exercise rider make the sign of the cross before entering the main track thursday morning “I like my coffee with a lot of sugar because I’m a sweet person, I’m not sour.” Jock’s agent doc danner “I learn new things every day, thanks.” maryland-based special reader ron radiascevich (surely that’s misspelled), after reading columns about awad and Jonathan Kiser thursday name oF the day tapaway, second race. What we’ve been doing all meet. Weather today: Scattered thunderstorms. High, 84. Low, 68. saturday: Mostly sunny. High, 87. Low, 63. sunday: Partly cloudy. High, 86. Low, 64. monday: Isolated thunderstorms. High, 86. Low, 64. JUST SAYIN’ “It’s why you’re in horse racing, to win races like this, here, in Saratoga. It’s the Fenway Park of horse racing, the Wrigley Field. There’s that much history. A lot of great horses, a lot of great names, a lot of great train- ers, a lot of great owners. It’s fun to be a part of it.” – Owner Mike Repole, who won the Sanford with Overdriven Sunday Main Store Downtown Store M-F 10-8 SAT 10-5 SUN 12-5 115 Round Lake Ave 80 Central Ave AMEX, VISA, MC & DISCOVER Mechanicville, NY Mechanicville, NY & Financing Available HORSE TRANSPORTATION 518-664-7385 518-664-8109 800-523-8143 www.brookledge.com www.disienafurniture.com 4 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011 SPECIAL FIRST POST: 2:30 P.M. SCHOLARSHIP GIVEN AWAY AFTER EACH RACE! $1,000$1,000 FREE GRANDSTAND ADMISSION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH I.D 1ST 1,000 STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRT GREAT GIVEAWAYS FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY NOT A COLLEGE STUDENT? ALL FANS CAN WEAR COLLEGE GEAR, GET SPOTTED AND WIN PRIZES! www.nyra.com FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL 5 QUICK CALL STAKES RECAP Great Call Firm turf, cut back help Great Mills score BY SEAN CLANCY Steve Asmussen picked out the Quick Call for three- time winner Great Mills and hoped the horse forgave him for three tough losses. Forgive and forget. Millennium Farm’s homebred ended a three-race losing streak with a complete performance in the $75,000 stakes. Great Mills stumbled out of the gate but quickly re- covered to etch out a comfortable stalking trip in fifth Tod Marks as Delaware shipper Fudgesicle took the field through great mills (8) surges for the finish line of thursday’s Quick call stakes. a quarter in 21.34. As the field hit the turn, Julien Leparoux guided Great Mills into second, just off the stakes level with a win in the Grindstone in March. lengths by Banned. Sent to Indiana Downs for the Oli- 8-1 shot leader. Fudgesicle battled from the inside all Asmussen shipped north and aimed the son of War ver Stakes June 14, Great Mills faltered to finish last. the way down the stretch but Great Mills finally edged Front at the Grade III Transylvania at Keeneland. The latter two defeats came on softened turf. As- away to score by a definitive head. Bug Juice picked up He did everything but win, cruising along on the mussen aimed at the Quick Call; hoping firm ground third, after 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.31. lead and losing a nose decision to eventual Virginia and a shorter distance would do the trick. Great Mills finished 10th in his debut at Fair Derby winner Air Support. Asmussen kept the mon- Great Mills did not hold a grudge for the losses. Grounds in March and then rattled off three con- ey on the table and tried the Grade II American Turf secutive wins, climbing from the maiden ranks to the at Arlington Park where he finished fourth, beaten 7 See QUICK CALL page 8 MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE Serving Our Clients Since 1943 DRESDEN FARM CONFETTI FARM RenounedRenowned Dresden Farm is now available.