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 The entire scratch depleted field of the Ballston Spa passes by for the first time. Travers Weekend Stakes King's Bishop Fourstardave Handicap Ballston Spa Personal Ensign Handicap |
The two turf handicaps on the Travers Day undercard, the Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup for the older fillies and mares, and the Fourstardave for the older males, were taken off the turf due to the heavy rains the area experienced. The announcement was made at 1:14 PM when the rain intensified, which immediately led to trainers scratching their horses and the races being downgraded. The Ballston Spa went from Grade 3 to ungraded, and the Fourstardave from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Due to Saratoga's main track configuration, the two turf races, which had been scheduled for 1 1/16 miles, were stretched to 1 1/8 miles over the sloppy going.
The Ballston Spa took the worst hit. A field of ten was drawn to start but a whopping seven horses were scratched out of the race, including morning line favorite Voodoo Dancer, leaving a near match-race with just three facing the starter. Bobby Frankel decided to leave his morning line second choice Surya in the race, and she went off at 0.85-1.
In the early going, second choice Shooting Party got away well, leading the procession through fractions of 23.82, 46.86, and 1:11.61, with Surya three lengths off down the backstretch. At the head of the stretch, Jerry Bailey asked Surya for her run, and she didn't disappoint, collaring Shooting Party by mid stretch and drawing clear to win by 9 1/4 widening lengths in a time of 1:52.29. Solvig, the third horse in the race, trailed throughout and obviously did not like the wet surface, finishing 51 lengths back by the end of the race but still collecting a nice check just for showing up.
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Purse: $200,000 Distance: 1 1/8 miles off the turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Surya Bailey 3.70 10 Shooting Party Samyn 3 Solvig Smith
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Run away winner on the slop Surya returns to the winner's circle. Jockey Jerry Bailey said, "It was very easy. She made the lead.
She looked at the grandstand. I had to tap her a couple of times to keep her
looking straight instead of to the right. Everything else was easy. She
handled (the slop) fine." Trainer Bobby Frankel added, "The race wasn't that easy. I really wasn't sure if she would handle the mud. She did and I'm happy she got to that pace-setting horse (Shooting Party).You'll see her at Belmont in the fall. I haven't planned anything out for her."
The Fourstardave also had ten horses drawn but the field scratched down to five, of which Pure Prize was a main track only entrant. No surprise he was sent off as the 1.25-1 favorite, inheriting jockey Pat Day who was slated to ride Baptize before he was scratched.
When the gate opened, Pyrus was sent immediately to set the pace saving ground on the rail and setting initial fractions of 23.49 and 47.21. Capsized pressed him to the outside and jockey Jose Santos sent him to the lead after 6 furlongs in 1:11.97. Favored Pure Prize, who raced in last early, made a wide bid for the leader but by mid stretch Capsized had opened up an insurmountable 5 length lead, and he went on to an easy win. Pure Prize was 3 1/4 lengths back by the finish, and it was another 4 1/2 lengths back to the early pacesetter Pyrus. The final time was 1:50.90.
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Purse: $200,000 Distance: 1 1/8 miles off the turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 6 Capsized Santos 8.80 3.80 2.70 10 Pure Prize Day 3.00 2.20 1 Pyrus Chavez 3.10
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Surya in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Jose Santos said, "I was sending from the start. I knew Chavez (on Pyrus) was sending and I didn't want him to get too easy a lead. My horse had a perfect trip. And at the 3/8 pole, I knew I would win. He's very strong. I kept on asking him and he kept on giving it to me. He's got great potential. Like a good bottle of wine, he is going to get better with age."
Trainer Lisa Lewis said, "He's six years old. The horse was on `Derby Watch.' It's been a long time coming. I'm excited. It's nice to get the job done. The horse has been training well. Obviously, I was afraid of Pure Prize and Frankel's horse (Kappa King, 4th), but I knew I could compete. The race went the way I thought." The race was Lewis' first Saratoga stakes winner since 1991, and the win improved her record at the Spa to four wins in nine starts.
The Phipps Stable's favored Pure Prize could only get up for second.
Jockey Pat Day said, "I never had any horse at any time. He broke well, but he immediately fell back. I don't think he cared for the footing. He couldn't get into the off going."
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