The feature race this Saturday at Saratoga Race Course is something entirely new for the acclaimed upstate New York track. The 103rd running of the Jockey Gold Cup Stakes will be held for the very first time at Saratoga after primarily being held at Belmont Park over the course of the past century (it was held at Aqueduct several times between 1958 & 1974). Through the years, the Jockey Club Gold Cup has … Continue reading The Jockey Gold Cup Stakes
In an age when too many horses are either retired abruptly or are unable to retain their form, hard-nosed ESSENTIALLY QUALITY showed why he is standing the test of time, in the 152nd edition of the Travers Stakes. He became the 29th horse to complete the Belmont-Travers double. He stands as the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner to capture the Travers since STREET SENSE in … Continue reading ESSENTIAL Talent
The Travers Stakes is listed as race 12 on a marathon card of 13 at Saratoga Race Course, with a scheduled Post Time of 6:15. Here is a look at the field for tomorrow’s feature event. 1. MIDNIGHT BOURBON [ML 9-2] Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. In 10 career starts, he has hit the board in eight, with the exceptions coming in the Kentucky … Continue reading The Travers Stakes
Saturday is the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. It is by far the most popular day of the entire meet. It features six Grade 1, Stakes races, totaling 4.6 million dollars in purses. So perhaps a little background on the race itself is in order: THE NAME: When the Saratoga Racing Association named the Travers Stakes for William R. Travers (one of the founders … Continue reading Travers Tidbits
This Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, the $1.25 million dollar, Grade 1 Travers Stakes will be contested for the 152nd time. Some of North America’s fastest 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will have-at-it in the Mid-Summer Derby. The Travers is typically a tough race to handicap. But delving into the recent history of the race reveals trends and tendencies that past Winners have in common. These data-driven pearls of wisdom … Continue reading The Mid-Summer Derby
The 3-year-old filly division will race at the classic distance of a 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday. All but one of this year’s field of seven are Graded-Stakes Winners. The Alabama is listed as race 10 on a card of 11 with a scheduled Post Time of 6:15. Here then is a look at this years field. 1. CRAZY … Continue reading Alabama Is Up For Grabs
This Saturday (August 21st) is the 141st running of the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse. The prestigious stakes race for 3-year-old fillies is one of the oldest races for females in the United States, with its first edition taking place in 1872- Won by WOODBINE a horse owned by August Belmont. Apologies to all the Roll Tide fans, but the race was not precisely named … Continue reading Sweet Home
Just like the horse for which it’s named, the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga has come a long way since its inaugural running in 1985. Originally known as the Daryl’s Joy Stakes, the race was renamed in 1996 to honor FOURSTARDAVE, a Saratoga legend who visited the local Winner’s Circle every year from 1987 through 1994. That Winning streak earned him the nickname The Sultan … Continue reading The Fourstardave
As horseplayers focus on Saratoga more than any track this summer, it pays to know the different trends at every distance and surface. Also, keep in mind that Saratoga has two turf tracks, and they can play differently from one another because of their differing configurations. Main Track Is Playing To Speed Through the first 19 days of the Saratoga meet, a majority of the … Continue reading Track Trends And Post Position Stats
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is now North America’s most Victorious trainer. In the 5th race at Saratoga on Saturday Asmussen surpassed Dale Baird’s old record of 9,445 Wins. The record, which was a foregone conclusion the past few weeks, became reality on Saturday as Asmussen climbed all the way to the top of the training mountain. The 55-year-old trainer now owns the record … Continue reading All-Time Top Trainer
