SUBSCR ER IPT IN IO A N R S T COMPLIMENTS OF T !2!4/'! O L T IA H C E E 4HE S SP ARATOGA Year 8 • No. 9 SARATOGA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER ON THOROUGHBRED RACING Saturday, August 2, 2008 TEST STAKES PREVIEW Bless Her Terranova brings Baffert star filly to Gr. I attempt BY BRIAN NADEAU John Terranova II stood outside his barn near the Oklahoma training track and thought about the first time he heard Bob Baffert mention Indian Blessing. “He called me last August and said ‘We’re sending you a really nice one,’” Terranova recalled. “She came in as a well-meant filly and was ready to go.” And go she did. The Hal and Patti Earnhardt home- bred made her debut at Saratoga Aug. 30, and coasted to a 5 1/4-length victo- ry, just missing the track record. Stabled here with Terranova, she returns to the Saratoga oval today as the prohibitive favorite in the Grade I Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Though the program lists Bob Baf- fert as the trainer, Terranova has been an integral part of the California con- ditioner’s Empire State success for more than a decade. Serving as an unofficial assistant, Terranova houses Baffert’s Tod Marks New York runners and prepares them Champion Indian Blessing brings her 6-for-8 record and nearly $2 million in career earnings to the Test Stakes today. for their afternoon assignments. The blueprint took shape in the mid ’90s Baffert shipped filly of 2007, receiving 250 of the 266 and Terranova remembered Kentucky the daughter of In- first-place votes. Derby runner-up Cavonnier as one of dian Charlie (along Indian Blessing started 2008 with a the earliest Baffert charges to enter his with about a half- pair of stakes scores, taking the Grade II Inside barn prior to the 1996 Belmont Stakes. dozen other hors- Santa Ynez at Santa Anita and the Grade “We go back a long ways. My wife, es) to Terranova III Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. She Tonja, has known him all the way back last summer after suffered her first career defeat to even- ❱ Entries & Handicapping to his Quarter Horse days and that’s he was unhappy tual Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell kind of how it started. When he started with the consis- in the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks in for Saturday. coming east, with horses like Cavonnier tency of Del Mar’s March and Baffert decided to race his and such in 1996, we started looking new synthetic rac- star filly around one-turn for the fore- ❱ Checking in with new after things and helping him out,” Ter- John Terranova II ing surface. seeable future. ranova said. “I was back in New York After her smash- Baffert shipped Indian Blessing to trainer Seth Benzel. by that time and once he started on that ing career debut, Indian Blessing jumped Terranova’s Belmont barn in advance of little Derby run he was back east a lot. straight into Grade I company for her the Grade I Acorn June 7, when she ran ❱ Any Limit captures It just kind of evolved to where he had next start, the Frizette Stakes at Belmont second to the streaking Zaftig. In her horses back here that needed to run in Park. She stretched out to 1 mile and next start she shortened to 6 furlongs Honorable Miss. some races and he would just start send- blasted home to a 4 1/2-length victory. in the Grade I Prioress July 5, and ran ing them to us. We’re all always on the Indian Blessing headed to the Breeders’ arguably the best race of her career, set- ❱ Question and Answer same page on things and they were al- Cup undefeated and untested, and left tling in fourth early before rallying on ways real nice horses and we loved tak- Monmouth Park the same way after a 3 the far turn and coasting to a 5 1/4- with Barclay Tagg. ing care of them.” 1/2-length score over the sloppy track. length victory for John Velazquez, who Indian Blessing included. She was voted the champion 2-year-old See THE TEST page 6 Select 2nd Crop Yearlings at the Upcoming Saratoga Sale Strong Hope by GRAND SLAM sss Scored 5th straight win in the Jim Dandy-G2 defeating Empire Maker Young 1st Crop 2YOs: 2 winners, 1st 5 starters Claiborne Stallions Proved Their Mettle in Top Company at Saratoga sss First Samurai by GIANT’S CAUSEWAY 1 Won Hopeful-G1 in a 4 /4-length romp over Henny Hughes 1st foals arrived in 2008 War Front by DANZIG Post Office Box 150 Paris, Kentucky 40362-0150 1 Sprinted to a 2 /2-length win in the Tel.(859) 233-4252 Fax 987-0008 claibornefarm.com Alfred G. Vanderbilt-G2 INQUIRIES TO BERNIE SAMS e-mail: [email protected] 1st foals arrived in 2008 PHOTOS © BARBARA LIVINGSTON, HORSEPHOTOS.COM 2 Saturday, August 2, 2008 Always looking for more money? More earning power? Look no further. Every Virginia-bred is eligible for a 100% purse bonus in every open race at Colonial Downs. Yes – 100% Be sure to check out these Virginia-breds at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Hip 19 – fi lly by Gulch Hip 66 – colt by Five Star Day Hip 78 – fi lly by Mr. Greeley Hip 171 – colt by Forestry For more information go to www.vabred.org 6À}>Ê/ ÀÕ} LÀi`ÊÃÃV>ÌÊUÊiÊ*iÌÌÞ]ÊiÝiVÕÌÛiÊ`ÀiVÌÀ (Paid for by the Virginia Racing Commission Marketing Committee) Saturday, August 2, 2008 3 Th e ARATOGA Here & There at Saratoga 100 Lake Avenue Worth Repeating Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 “It’s a long way to the quarter-pole.” At the corner of Lake and Regent Angel Cordero, blowing hard, after breezing a horse of Bobby Frankel’s Friday morning Phone: (518) 490-1175 or (302) 545-7713 or (302) 545-4424 “My diet. Can you help me find me diet?” Fax: To be Announced OTB channel producer Mitch Levitas, when asked ‘Can I help you with anything?’ E-mail: [email protected] while walking in the barn area Friday or [email protected] Internet: www.saratogaspecial.com “I loved that horse, he just wanted to go a mile and a half and you can’t find those races for them. I Published Wednesday through Sunday hope they continue that distance bonus program.” during the racing season. Trainer James Bond, on former pupil Dynaski, now 2-for-3 as a steeplechaser Every day of Sales Week Aug. 4-10. “I got an offer to get in this horse, Byanosejoe, with The Staff Joe Torre. It was a lot of money, I turned him down; Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy, Joe Clancy I don’t root for the Yankees. My buddy said, ‘Oh, Copy Chief: Jamie Santo Joe Torre, I’m in. We’ll get to go on the field for the World Series.’ To make a long story short, he never Staff Writers: Brian Nadeau, John Panagot, met Joe Torre.” Karen Johnson, Laura Pepper Bill Vidro, co-owner of Graphic Designer: Carl Hott John Morrissey winner Ferocious Fires Photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush, Barbara Livingston “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, at the three-eighths pole, his shoe went in the air, he Distribution: Barry Watson switched his lead and it went woooooosh, 30 feet, Menial Tasks Division: Ryan Clancy, way in the air. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Jack Clancy, Nolan Clancy Jockey Javier Castellano about his Advertising Sales: Contact a Clancy or call eventful trip aboard Retribution Thursday Jon Bordeau (518) 812-4545 “It could be anywhere.” Trainer Tom Voss about Friday’s training chart ST Publishing Inc. Home Office 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, “After her third margarita, Mimi realized there Elkton, MD 21921 WERE some attractive men at this party after all.” (410) 392-5867 • Fax (410) 392-0170 Slogan printed on a napkin at the home of Tom and Mimi Voss www.st-publishing.com [email protected] “Ka-ching.” Exercise rider Simon Harris, Tod Marks The Saratoga Special coming off the gap after a promising breeze HANG ON. Tale Of Ekati takes Robin Smullen for a ride earlier this week. Steeplechase/Eventing Times Thoroughbred Racing Calendar “You know what they say about advertising – half of it doesn’t do you any Name of the Day The Best of The Saratoga Special good. You just don’t know which half.” Saratoga Days and other acclaimed Wise businessman (and big fan of The Special) Henry Elser Compromise, seventh race: No arguement here. Peter Vesgo settled on a happy medium between sire Point Given and dam Mediation. products and services within the equine industry. “I still have the article when I brought Top Shoter here. He was one of all my all-time favorites. My little daughter loves him, he’s so nice around people. Ea, seventh race: Can I buy a vowel? Darley’s gelding took two, then stopped. We’ll be using this handle in Scrabble for years. Call us about your editorial needs. She comes in and he lets her pet him, he plays in her hair, she likes him.” Trainer Charlton Baker, when asked if he read The Special No More Green, first race: Perhaps we’ve seen The Godfather a few too many “Editorial excellence is not a goal to be “You don’t follow any empty wagons.” times – at first glance we thought this colt was named No Moe Greene.