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 Americanrevolution returns after winning the Albany Stakes |
The day before Travers Day at Saratoga was New York Showcase Day, which is restricted to New York-bred horses and features six stakes on Friday afternoon worth $1.15 million in total. Weather conditions were excellent with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80's, with the main track rated fast and both turf courses firm.
The $250,000 Albany Stakes featured a field of 6 three-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles, one lap of the Saratoga main track. Jockey Flavien Prat sent 5-2 second choice Bobby Bo to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.49, 47.33, and 1:11.89 while pressed by 37-1 It's Gravy and stalked by 14-1 Joey Loose Lips. Turning for home, 7-10 favorite Americanrevolution, 4th early under Luis Saez, swept 3 wide to the front and drew off under a hand ride to win by 5 lengths over Bobby Bo in 1:49.94. It was a long 11 1/2 lengths back to 24-1 It's a Gamble third.
Left: Americanrevolution heads back to the barns. Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "He put me in a nice spot, right there. He's a nice horse. He can run anywhere. Dirt in the face is no problem with him. When we came to the stretch, we found the room and he just started running pretty quick. I knew he was going to be in that spot. That's the spot I was looking for. I tried to cover up and everything came so well. I'm very happy."
Right: The horses break from the gate for the Albany Stakes.
Kicking off the stakes sextet was the $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes featuring a field of just 4 two-year-old fillies (after 2 scratches) sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Jockey Jose Ortiz sent 4-5 favorite November Rain to the front out of the chute through fractions of 22.47 and 45.98 while pressed by 3-1 third choice Velvet Sister and stalked by 9-5 second choice Laoban's Legacy. The quartet held those positions the whole way, as November Rain cruised to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Velvet Sister in 1:17.74. It was a long 19 1/4 lengths back to Laoban's Legacy third, and 3 1/2 more to 17-1 longest shot Succulent fourth.
November Rein gets heads back to the barn after the race. Winning jockey Jose Ortiz said, "She recovered quickly [after stumbling at the start] and it was a short field, so I let her run through to the chute and ended up on the lead anyway. She was very good. She relaxed well and when I asked her, she was there for me. She switched leads perfectly [turning for home], but inside the eighth pole, she switched back to the left. It was a little bit of tiredness; a little bit by herself. She's a nice filly and she tried hard."
A field of 8 two-year-olds contested the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes, a 6 1/2 furlong main track sprint. Jockey Manny Franco sent 8-1 Senbei to the lead through fractions of 22.00 and 44.88 while pressed by 9-2 third choice Run Curtis Run and stalked by 9-1 Happy Happy B. Turning for home Senbei opened up a 4 1/2 length lead through 6f in 1:10.97, and held on to win by 2 3/4 lengths over late-running 3-1 second choice Montebello on 1:18.09. It was a nose back to Happy Happy B third, while 5-2 favorite Daufuskie Island checked in 6th.
Senbei enters the paddock before the race. Winning co-owner Dean Reeves said, "He didn't break as quick as he has, but he ran right up there which is what Manny wanted to do, is to get him up on the lead. But when they were going in 44 and 4, I thought, 'Wow.' I was hoping for maybe 46. Manny said when he got off that he had plenty of horse. He's just a runner. Mentally, he gets in there and he gets wound up in the paddock and he wants to go. That's an impressive run right there. We're very excited. Dr. [Jerry] Bilinski stayed in on the horse, and he was the breeder. It's been a lot of fun with him. To win here in Saratoga, it doesn't get any better."
The $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes featured 7 three-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Jockey Eric Cancel sent 10-1 Pay Grade to the lead through fractions of 23.41, 48.30 and 1:13.24 while pressed by 4-1 second choice A Bit o'Irish Sass and stalked by 7-2 second choice Coffee Bar. Turning for home, 4-5 favorite Make Mischief gained a short lead through 1 mile in 1:38.78 but 13-1 Byhubbyhellomoney, 4th early under Joel Rosario, came through on the inside to win by a neck in 1:52.07. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Pay Grade third.
Left: Byhubbyhellomoney heads back to the barns. Winning trainer Bob Dunham said, "I was confident she could get the mile and an eighth when I claimed her because she is bred to do it. She's been training very good. We breezed her and she breezed outstanding, so we decided to run her the 1 1/8. I've been training horses all my life. I'm from Lexington, Kentucky. I won the Eclipse Award [Champion Sprinter] in 1972 with a mare called Chou Croute. She won the Fall Highweight at Belmont Park. I was the assistant trainer of Round Table, Delta, Doubledogdare, Nadir, all very good horses. And here I am today winning a stake a Saratoga."
Right: A Bit o'Irish Sass broke in and bumped at the start.
The $150,000 West Point Stakes featued a field of 7 older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. Jockey Luis Saez sent 4-5 favorite Rinaldi to lead first time by through fractions of 22.99, 46.35, and 1:11.19 while pressed by 24-1 Microsecond and stalked by 6-1 Mo Ready. Turning for home Rinaldi as 9-2 second choice City Man, 4th early under Joel Rosario, swept to the lead 4 wide and outfinished 6-1 Therapist late to win by a nose in 1:41.30. It was another 3 lengths back to 18-1 Sanctuary City third.
City Man in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Joel Rosario said, "It was the perfect trip. Going into the first turn, I was exactly where I wanted to be and it looked like there was the speed going in front. I was just waiting for the turn for home to let him loose and he responded very well. I was in a stretch duel with [stablemate Therapist] and he was really coming. They both ran well and my horse ran his race very well today."
Closing out the stakes sextet on Friday, a field of 8 older fillies and mares went 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf course in the $150,000 Yaddo Handicap. Jockey Flavien Prat sent 12-1 Kilkea to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.91, 48.47, and 1:12.74 while pressed by 8-1 Dancing Kiki and stalked by 13-1 Mike's Girl. Turning for home, the pacesetters tired as 9-1 Giacosa, 7th early under Luis Saez, circled the field 4 wide to gain the lead through 1 mile in 1:36.46. Confidently handled by Saez, Giacosa held off late-running 3-1 second choice Myhartblongstodady by 3/4 length in 1:42.54. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 5-1 Classic Lady third, while 5-2 favorite Chocolate Cookie trailed early and passed tired horses to finish 5th beaten 3 1/2 lengths.
Left: Giacosa in the paddock before the race. Winning trainer H. James Bond said, "I think she's probably a little better two-turn horse. She gets lost at Belmont. I don't know, a lot of my horses get lost at Belmont the way the spring was. Saying that, she's got a nice pedigree. Her sisters can run; her mother was a good filly. Now we're just blessed to have her. She was telling me she was right. I've got her sisters all in foal to really good stallions. This seals the [deal]. She's got a home for the rest of her life at our farm."
Right: The horses break from the gate for the Yaddo Handicap.
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