Year 18 • No. 20 Saturday, August 18, 2018 The aratoga Saratoga’s Daily Racing Newspaper since 2001 Striking Filly Midnight Bisou heads Alabama ENTRIES & HANDICAPPING RUSHING FALL EYES LAKE PLACID LOOKING BACK AT CARELESS JEWEL Tod Marks Tod 2 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 here&there...at Saratoga WORTH REPEATING “I read it every day. I used to be a degenerate and couldn’t wait for it to come out. I’d wait all night. Now I wait and read it in the morning.” Longtime reader and former trainer John Fahey “I’m the Sonny Taylor of The Saratoga Special.” The Special’s Dave Harmon, who has been here from the beginning “They’ve got people playing cards on TV? And people talk about soccer being boring.” The Special’s Tom Law, soccer fan “Every day you guys are bringing it.” West Point Thoroughbreds’ Terry Finley to a member of The Special’s editorial team Friday morning “She was awesome.” Trainer Mark Casse summing up Wonder Gadot’s final Travers workout Friday morning “And if we get our asses beat, it wouldn’t be the first time.” Dallas Stewart on running longshot Auspicious Babe in today’s Alabama “I was going to give you more advice today, but I ran out. Yesterday’s was good enough though, right?” Dallas Stewart offering words of wisdom to The Special’s Morgan Yaeger (Thanks Dallas, it takes a village) “I might have to put on pants once or twice.” Trainer Eric Guillot, who plans Tod Marks Her name is Face It – because, of course it is – and she finished fifth in to spend the winter in Saratoga Game Face. Thursday’s sixth race at Saratoga. Can you wait for the first Frosts of Roll on November and the debut sale winter? of Frosted foals... darleyameric a.com 859-255-8537 Darley SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL 3 here&there...at Saratoga WORTH REPEATING Trainer John Hertler, after The Special’s Tom Law offered congratulations for Thursday’s win at Saratoga: “I know who you are, you’re famous.” Law: “Not as famous as you.” Hertler: “Well, for the moment.” “Just think of the horses that have walked on that path.” Trainer Phil Gleaves, watching horses walk in the Oklahoma stable area “You’re supposed to be picking winners, right?” Now on Broadway. Owner Jim Riccio, after one of The Special’s handicappers was knocked for picking favorites “Billy Jean.” Wear What You Love™ Song, being sung by a hotwalker at Jeremiah Englehart’s barn Friday morning “Like this for the jumpers?” Jockey Jose Lezcano, while riding short and asking for advice on how to ride a steeplechase race EMBRACE THE RACE® “I wish.” 327 Broadway Assistant trainer Jackson Roberts, when asked if a horse he was ponying was Liam’s Map Saratoga Springs “Awesome.” Exercise rider, when asked how Flameaway worked Friday morning embracetherace.com “It was a nice three days.” Trainer Tom Morley, as the first drops of rain fell Friday morning Mating that produced 2006 Kentucky Derby G1 winner, BARBARO Lee Thomas © ® NICOMA® An affiliate of Contact Price Bell at 859.321.5117 or visit www.nicoma.com Portfolio Management Editors/Publishers The aratoga Sean Clancy: (302) 545-7713. [email protected] Joe Clancy: (302) 545-4424. [email protected] Managing Editor Tom Law: (859) 396-9407. [email protected] 259 East Avenue Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Writers: Ben Gowans, Sarah Newman, Shayna Tiller, The Saratoga Special, thisishorseracing.com Brandon Valvo, David Woods. (the old feed store) Thoroughbred Racing Calendar, The Best of The Saratoga Special. Handicappers: Charles Bedard, Donald Phillips, John Shapazian. thisishorseracing.com Call us about your editorial needs. Design: Todd Koch. Published Thursday through Sunday Home Office: 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921 during the racing season. (410) 392-5867 • Fax (410) 392-0170 Photographers: Tod Marks, Dave Harmon, Connie Bush. Plus Monday, Aug. 6 and Tuesday, Aug. 7. Distribution & More: Jane Crager, Kevin Murphy, Morgan Yaeger. 4 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 Keeneland September CATCH of the DAY Book 1 Yearlings MONDAY SEPT. 10 131 f. EMPIRE MAKER – Lochinvar’s Gold Full sister to multiple SW/GSP MEI LING ($522,383); immediate family of MASTER COMMAND (over $1.1M) TUESDAY SEPT. 11 335 f. MORE THAN READY – Really and Truly 1st foal out of SP Pulpit mare, she a half sister to 3 stakes horses; family of BROKEN VOW 345 f. PIONEEROF THE NILE – R Heat Lightning UPDATE: 2YO half brother ASTER PEGASUS, undefeated GSW in Japan; dam is G1 SW WEDNESDAY SEPT. 12 633 f. MORE THAN READY – All Star Heart UPDATE: Dam’s 1st foal stakes placed ECCENTRIC SPINSTER; out of G2 SW of $465,769 674 f. MEDAGLIA D’ORO – Bachata Full sister to G2 SW/multiple G1-placed GOLD MEDAL DANCER ($639,669) THURSDAY SEPT. 13 856 f. MEDAGLIA D’ORO - Dreaming of Julia 2nd foal out of G1-winning A.P. Indy mare, she half-sister to ATREIDES (by Medaglia d’Oro) 898 f. GHOSTZAPPER – Exclude (GB) 1st foal out of winning half sister to multiple GSW EXHI ($807,917) MR. & MRS. JODY HUCKABAY 566 Hume Bedford Rd. Paris, KY 40361 (859) 987-4856 Fax (859) 987-0374 elmtreefarmky.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL 5 QUOTE OF THE DAY here&there...at Saratoga “It was just every day with great people.” WORTH REPEATING Trainer Rodolphe Brisset, “Pedigrees are a puzzle. Some people like the New York Times crossword, I like trying to figure about his fondest memories working for Bill Mott out pedigrees.” Dr. Edward Messina, co-owner and co-breeder with William Butler of John Hertler’s winner Tradeable “I’m glad I rode my bike here.” The Special’s Joe Clancy when it started to rain heavily Friday night 800-523-8143 LICENSE PLATES OF THE DAY SHEEPDQG, New York (Ford Explorer was also accompanied by 25 sheepdog stickers). DLY DBL, New York. Maryland, My Maryland BY THE NUMBERS Country Life Farm 700: Dollars worth of sausage ordered by trainer Eric Guillot for today’s backside jambalaya feast after training hours. I’m a big, strong 1: 55-gallon metal drum, apparently sealed or at least upside down, in a former phone booth Maryland-bred filly near the Horse Haven-to-Oklahoma track horse crossing. by War Front’s 12: Sunflowers in front of the rec hall The Special’s Joe Clancy was disappointed to hear were plastic. son Mosler. My mom is a Dixie Union mare 1: Andre Dawson jersey at Jeremiah Englehart’s barn Friday morning. from a great NAMES OF THE DAY Ned Evans family. End Of An Era, first race.Elizabeth Voss’ 5-year-old gelding is out of History. She’s in foal to hot young sire Rushing Fall, eighth race. The e Five Racing filly is by More Than Ready out of Autumnal. Jimmy Creed. Italian Charm, 10th race. The 5-year-old gelding is by Gio Ponti out of Voodoo Dancer. PHOTO: ELLEN B. PONS POETRY CORNER Look for me at the sales next summer, as part of the WONDER GADOT, by Pete Finley Country Life ‘Raise You’ Broodmare Partnerships. For fillies at Travers there’s been plenty to doubt, But Wonder Gadot could end that drought, Josh Pons 443-807-0644 v Mike Pons 410-459-8517 She has solid credentials and fans galore, Christy Holden 410-808-1325 v Bel Air, MD 21014 And many of whom want to even the score, While the Travers isn’t just any race, 410.879.1952 v [email protected] v countrylifefarm.com The winning horse could be wearing lace. Undefeated in 1st Five Starts Fountain of Youth-G2 • Holy Bull-G2 • Remsen-G2 • Nashua-G2 1st Foals in 2019 MOHAYMEN by Tapit Kent Barnes, Stallion Manager 859-224-4585 www.shadwellfarm.com 6 THE SARATOGA SPECIAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 The Top 10 Presented by The Special keeps up with a list of the meet’s best – performances, achievements, Photo of feats of wonder. We’ll update it daily, or try to anyway. Bold means they’re new. the Day Imperial Hint. Vanderbilt July 28. 1 Special, small sprinter won Grade 1 with speed, style, simplicity. And we wrote about him 18 months ago. Going to the whip Pinhooking Diversify. Whitney Aug. 4. Best old- Partnerships 2 er horse on grounds breaks on top and rips it up – winning in hand and stretching streak to three. 2-year-olds Voodoo Song. Fourstardave Aug. 3 11. Turf star finally earned a Special in training sales cover with a Grade 1 triumph and a 5-for-5 mark at the track. Monomoy Girl. C.C.A. Oaks July 22. Yearling to 4 Unquestioned queen of the meet. As Dylan sang, somebody get her a 2-year-old prep brand new leopard skin pillbox hat. Weekend Hideaway. John Morrissey (859) 312-3414 5 July 26. Who you callin’ old? He won kirkwoodstables.com the N.Y.-bred stakes for the second time – four years after the first one. Proud to support Chad Brown. Ahead 27-14 through Thoroughbred aftercare 6 Friday, meet’s leading trainer is run- www.thoroughbredaftercare.org ning away with it. The races for place and show could be fun. Irad Ortiz Jr. Every time somebody 7 gets close, the meet’s leading jockey pulls away. He leads by nine through The Chief . Day 20 Friday. “I don’t remember them paddocking them like they do now. Fitzsimmons did when they were bad. Made them stand still over there. Whittingham started a lot of that.