FREE 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 9 • No. 1 SARATOGA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER ON THOROUGHBRED RACING Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Here we go again Gate opens on Season 141 Inside Racing UK PPs Inside, Pg. 23 F Schuylerville Preview F How the city gears for the season F Entries & Handicapping F Preview of 2009 Meet Tod Marks photo New York has always embraced the thrilling sport of horse racing. That's why AEG's new Aqueduct facility was planned with meticulous attention to supporting horsemen and the www.aqueductentertainment.com racing community; we want to guarantee that racing will Proposed Aqueduct Gamingg Faca ility always be part of our landscape. The new state-of-the-art gaming and racing facility at Aqueduct will be completed by experts with deep industry roots. From world-class gaming features to a proposed Aqueduct Racing Museum, this facility will entertain, educate and enliven the community – as well as ensure the future of racing right here at home. BREEDING MAGNIFICENCE. 2 Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Client: AEG File: oLo.aeg.breeding_SS.pdf Agency: KreabGavinAnderson Publication: Saratoga Special Project: Breeding Ad Issue: 7/29/09 Date: 07.27.09 Color: CMYK Version: v.1.3 Unit: Full page Size: 10” X 13.5” Trim: Pub Contact: Sean Clancy Agency Contact: Peter Lord 212.529.2861; 917.523.3735 Here & There at Saratoga 517 Broadway, Suite 207 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] Internet: www.saratogaspecial.com Published Wednesday through Sunday during the racing season. Every day of Sales Week Aug. 10-16. The Staff Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy, Joe Clancy Staff Writers: Brian Nadeau, Karen Johnson, Ben Meyers, Katie Bo Williams, Colin Beaury Photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush, Sarah Condon Handicappers: Pete Fornatale, John Pana- got, Gaile Fitzgerald, John Shapazian Office Assistant: Jill Grant Distribution: Ryan Clancy, Jack Clancy, Connie Bush Nolan Clancy, Jane Motion “You got me. You got me. You never know, there’s some crazy stuff Advertising Sales: Contact a Clancy or call Worth Repeating going on out there.” Jon Bordeau (518) 812-4545 or Kathy Rubin “You can have your ------- rain.” The Special’s photographer Dave Harmon at (203) 650-6815 Jockey Garrett Gomez on his move to Del Mar this summer after falling for a joke that The Special was canceling the 2009 season due to the economic crisis “I’m on a couch – but close to the track.” ST Publishing Inc. Home Office The Special’s John Panagot “Walking down Broadway right now. It’s busy, you can tell some- 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, on living accomodations at Saratoga thing’s coming.” Elkton, MD 21921 The Special’s Colin Beaury in Saratoga on Friday, (410) 392-5867 • Fax (410) 392-0170 “It shows that writers and vets aren’t getting any sleep.” five days before Opening Day www.st-publishing.com Veterinarian Stow Burke to The Special’s Sean Clancy. [email protected] Burke was the first to return a text from Clancy on the birth of his son, “Stepaside in the first. It’s Saratoga.” born early in the morning and Clancy was the first to text Burke on the The Special’s Brian Nadeau The Saratoga Special birth of his daughter, born late at night when seeing the entries for Opening Day Steeplechase/Eventing Times Thoroughbred Racing Calendar “Do you have any remnant sales?” “She’s great. Went over to see the paddock.” The Best of The Saratoga Special Prospective advertiser while trying to get a deal in The Special Danielle Hodsdon, aboard champion Forever Together Tuesday morn- Saratoga Days and other acclaimed ing when asked how the big mare was training products and services “Thanks for thinking of us poor saps who can’t be up there this within the equine industry. summer.” “Awesome.” Call us about your editorial needs. Writer Jim Mulvihill, Valet Tony Millan when reviewing when asked to fill out a questionairre by The Saratoga Special the Coldplay concert Monday night “Editorial excellence is not a goal to be sought and one day acquired and then “This is the next Pride Of Summer.” retired to the trophy case. It is instead Colonial Downs-based trainer Anthony Bizelia, One Winner an ambition which must be pursued pointing to a maiden, Bizelia trained Pride of Summer Rick Violette: “Cribnote. Let’s go for two in a row. Look out to win the Daryl’s Joy (now the Fourstardave) in 1996 each day, never ending, never totally Fourstardave.” achieved. That striving, that ambition is Phil Serpe: “Now, that’s a catalogue.” “Come on, I can’t do that again. It never works.” an essential part of our newspapers, a Tom Bush: “I’m looking for one right now.” cornerstone of what we have been, Darby Dan Farm’s John Phillips what we are, and what we will be.” when looking at the Saratoga Select Yearling Sales catalogue Rick Schosberg: “We’re hoping it’s Dantastic.” (In today) Keith O’Brien: “I don’t want to jinx myself. OK, Cash Value.” – Lee Hills, Pulitzer Prize winner, “I could ride with these jockeys.” Knight Ridder chief executive, in 1974 George Weaver: “I’ve got to think about that one, stop by after the Retired jockey Bobby Ussery next set.” HAMMERTOWN INSURANCE AGENCY Call to discuss “Fall of the Hammer” coverage for the upcoming sales. “PROTECTING EQUINE INVESTMENTS” s&5,,%15).%-/24!,)49 s34!,,)/.!6!),!"),)49!.$).&%24),)49 s"!22%..%33!.$02/30%#4)6%&/!, s./'5!2!.4%%#/.6%23)/.3 s%15).%,)!"),)49 s&!2-0!#+!'%3 Contact: Anya Sheckley PO Box 90, Pine Plains, NY 12567 Tel: 646-872-6843 Email: [email protected] Fax: 518-398-5143 Web: www.hammertowninsurance.com Tod Marks photo Tod Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3 Here & There at Saratoga Favorite Racetrack Movie Mike Hushion: “Boots Malone. I’m cornering the market on them on Ebay, they’re up to $30.” By The Numbers 1: Horse van parked at P.J.’s Barbeque at 12:31 on Sunday afternoon Vineyard Haven (Gr. l) 9:55: The first time Jack Clancy, 13, asked how much longer on the trip to Saratoga. The Zensational (Gr. l) five-hour ride started at 7:30. 7:01: Time of day the first Brook Ledge horse van drove past on Sean Clancy’s trip to Go Go Shoot Saratoga 6:44: Wakeup call on Monday morning from Mark Hennig and Toadie to the Special’s Sean Bustin Stones (Gr. l) Clancy Macho Again (Gr. l) Name of the Day Late Night Hookup, fifth race: Gary Contessa’s colt by Hook and Ladder out of Tizalittle- Icabad Crane (Gr. l) later is looking to have a little fun later after the races . Awesome Gem (Gr. l placed) Weather Today: Partly cloudy in the morning. Afternoon thunderstorms. High of 83. Buddy’s Humor (Gr. III) Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms. Thursday: Scattered thunderstorms. High of 84. Dashing Debby Friday: Scattered thunderstorms. High of 78. Little Nick Forty Thieves Sky Mystic Ten Most Wanted (Gr. l) Stately Character (Gr. I) Hopeful Image (Gr. II) Toccet (Gr. l) Soto (Gr. ll) Coach Jimi Lee (Gr. II) Bella Bellucci (Gr. l) Fagedaboudit Sal Galloping Grocer Mazhilla (Gr. lll) Connie Bush LEFT HANDED URGING. Agent Tony Micallef goes to the whip early to help 2008 leading jockey Acey Deucey (Gr. l) Alan Garcia get mounts. Limited Moon Catcher (Gr. l) Edition Bronze Jan Sculptures CRUPI’S NEW CASTLE FARM 4625 N.W. 110th Avenue WoodsExhibiting in Saratoga for the Ninth Year Ocala, FL 34482-1833 with Phone: (352) 840-5400 Anthony M. Alonso Cell: (352) 427-1600 Welcoming to the exhibit in 2009 Shawn Faust clay model Fax: (352) 840-0661 Works in Oil Contact Jim Crupi Exhibit: 518-584-8713 Cell: 501-960-2440 New for 2009 : ‘ Flashing Past the Wire’ 1 (866) 313-5400 Studio: 501-225-7296 Gideon Putnam Hotel Blue Room Gallery Spac Grounds www.newcastlefarm.com August 1 - August 30, 2009. 10 AM to 1 PM & 5:30 PM. to 8:30 PM - Open Daily - janwoodsartstudio.com 4 Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Wednesday, July 29, 2009 5 Sitting on Go As usual, Saratoga spurs optimism from management, horsemen, fans BY KAREN JOHNSON 2009 SEASON PREVIEW Optimism? Yes. Bold predictions? No. the 2-year-olds will be there. If you put That is the prevailing attitude among those three together, you have a nice horsemen and management with regard mix of races.” to the 2009 Saratoga meet, which gets Campo said the meet already has the underway today. The first of 36 cards feel of being a winner in light of what is bursting at the seams. Ten races (six has been going on at other racetracks oversubscribed), 137 horses entered, across the country. including the 13-horse field of 2-year- “I think Del Mar going to a five-day old fillies ready to tussle in the tradi- schedule this year was a big shock,” tional Opening Day stakes, the Grade Campo said. “Churchill was cutting 3, $100,000-added Schuylerville. days at their meet. These are big, pri- The weather, always unpredictable in mary racetracks, not even year-round the Adirondack region, calls for 60 per- meets, but seasonal meets that are cut- cent chance of scattered thunderstorms, ting days. That is a huge deal.