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Woodbine Mile Day Prince of Wales Stakes Del Mar Futurity Del Mar Debutante Pacific Classic Day |
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 Owner Satish Sanan and assistant trainer Scott Blasi lead Shaun Bridgmohan and Majesticperfection to the winner's circle after the 2010 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap
Whitney Hcp. & Test Stakes |
The feature race on Sunday at Saratoga was the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1), one of the premier races for older sprinters on the east coast. A field of 7 went to post in this 6 furlong main track event, before an official attendance of 43,505, artificially inflated by the baseball cap giveaway. Majesticperfection was sent off as the even-money favorite off a 4 race winning streak including the Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows last out. In to challenge him included 4-1 second choice Big Drama, winner of the Ponche Handicap and the Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) at Calder, and 9-2 third choice Bribon, winner of the True North Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park.
 Majesticperfection draws off on Big Drama with Bribon rallying on the outside. |
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Majesticperfection Bridgmohan 4.00 2.60 2.50 4 Big Drama Coa 3.70 2.90 6 Bribon Gomez 2.60 Winning Time: 1:08.63 $2 Exacta 5-4 15.20 $2 Trifecta 5-4-6 36.00 $2 Superfecta 5-4-6-1 92.40 |
Left: Majesticperfection in the winner's circle with owner Satish Sanan on the far left. Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said, "He's been very fast, he's a very good horse, and I'm very proud that he ran this race on this level. We could all read how well he'd run in the other spots, but for him to bring it up against this level of competition, it puts him exactly where we want him to be He was away very cleanly today and you could tell Shaun was very comfortable. He had his chance to show who he is, and he got it done. I think he beat a very good group, but we've got to reproduce that performance again. It's just one of the suggestions, but (the next races) would most likely be the Vosburgh and the Breeders' Cup."
Right: Majesticperfection in the paddock before the race.
Left: Majesticperfection in the post parade.
Right: Majesticperfection returns after the race. His jockey Shaun Bridgmohan said, "He's a nice horse and a very fun ride. He broke really smart and sharp, and he really made my job a lot easier. He's a pretty quick horse and really professional. Once he got there, he felt really comfortable and we got away with some nice fractions. I knew before the (Iowa Sprint Handicap) that he was the real deal. I've known it since the first time I rode him."
Left: Second place finisher Big Drama in the post parade. His trainer David Fawkes said, "(Majesticperfection) has the perfect form. The race set up well for him. There wasn't a lot of speed in the race. He got a nice opening quarter by himself. My horse ran great. We just happened to chase the winner. I thought my horse ran a huge race by holding off (Bribon). He dug in and fought him off."
Right: Third place finisher Bribon returns after the race. His jockey Garrett Gomez said, "Pace makes the race, and there wasn't any. Bribon is a nice horse, but he is a closer and needs some help with pace. If you leave a good horse out there by himself, it's going to be hard to catch him."
 Secret Gypsy takes the lead in the stretch run of the Honorable Miss |
Anna Napravnik sent 7-1 longest shot One Smokin' Lady to the lead down the backstretch, opening up a 1 1/2 length lead after 1/4 in 22.43 while being stalked by Secret Gypsy in second. Entering the stretch, Secret Gypsy moved up alongside the pacesetter through a half in 45.19. One Smokin' Lady tired badly to finish last, allowing Secret Gypsy to open up by 2 1/2 lengths in mid stretch. 5-1 Hour Glass, who raced in third early, put in a late run 3 wide but was no match for Secret Gypsy who finished 2 lengths in front in 1:09.82. It was just a head back to favorite Warbling third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Secret Gypsy Theriot 6.10 3.70 2.70 3 Hour Glass Cohen 4.90 2.90 2 Warbling Leparoux 2.20 Winning Time: 1:09.82 $2 Exacta 4-3 29.20 $2 Trifecta 4-3-2 51.00 |
Left: Secret Gypsy in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Ronny Werner said, "Her races and her confidence have been getting better. Sometimes it's hard to get fillies back - she's had some problems in the past and we were working through that, mentally and physically. She's done well here. I wish it was a longer meet! She's changed her style of running a little bit this year. She's starting to sit off a little bit more and relax more, and that just comes with age. Older and wiser. I'd love to run her in the Ballerina but it might be a little quick. We'll just have to see."
Right: Secret Gypsy returns after the race.
Left: Secret Gypsy heads out for the post parade.
Right: Secret Gypsy in the post parade. Her jockey Jamie Theriot said, "I knew my filly would be in a good place but when (Warbling) blew the break, it put me up there. I just was, 'Well, I'm going to stay here'. From there, it was just a matter of time because I was in a stalking position and let her run through her lane. She finished very well. Her last couple of races, she really came around. I think she's back to the filly she was when she first started. I felt very comfortable and confident throughout that whole race. (One Smokin' Lady) was riding in front of me and I looked behind just to see where the others were. I just had a handful of horse. I never doubted her."
Left: Second place finisher Hour Glass heads out for the post parade. Her trainer Todd Pletcher said, "I was very pleased with her today. She's very, very honest and tries hard every time, and this was another good performance. She had a good trip. The complexion of the race changed a little bit when Warbling didn't break well, but we were still able to sit a good trip. Not sure what the future plans will be, but we'll probably pass on the Ballerina and wait on a stake back at Belmont."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Warbling returns after the race. Her trainer Eddie Kenneally said, "For whatever reason, she just didn't break today. She ran a really big race after that, and Julien (Leparoux) rode her fine, it was nobody's fault. She kind of moved as they opened the gate and she was caught with one foot in the air and didn't get away real sharp. She's fine, though."
On to the Whitney Handicap & Test Stakes from Saturday
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