Hope Springs Eternal at Saratoga

By Christie DeBernardis 
    As the oldest race track in the country, Saratoga Race Course has been the setting of some of the greatest moments in racing history. It is the place where the great Man O’ War suffered his first and only defeat at the hands of the aptly named Upset, and where 100-1 shot Jim Dandy defeated Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in the GI Travers S. It is also where Whirlaway became the first and only Triple Crown winner to capture the Travers, and where Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to win the GI Woodward S. as a three-year-old facing older males. Opened in 1863, the Spa celebrates its 151st birthday this year with its 146th summer race meet that runs from July 18 to Sept. 1. 
    “It reeks of tradition,” remarked Cot Campbell, president of Dogwood Stables, which owns last year’s GI Belmont S. and GII Jim Dandy S. winner Palace Malice (Curlin). “You can practically see Diamond Jim Brady and Lillian Russell walking through the box section. It’s been there a long time and every great horse, jockey and trainer has gone through Saratoga.” 
    Jeff Treadway, owner of multiple Grade I winner Sweet Reason (Street Sense), expressed similar sentiments. “Saratoga is a beautiful town and the race meet brings a festival atmosphere that you just don’t get anywhere else,” he commented. “It’s a bit like stepping back in time when you look at the architecture of the town and particularly the racetrack. It’s a very special place.” 
    With 68 stakes races worth $17.45 million, the upstate New York venue hosts one of the most highly anticipated and competitive meets of the year, highlighted by the $1.5-million GI Whitney S. Aug. 2 and the $1.25-million Travers S. Aug. 23. (Click here for full stakes schedule) 
    “It’s a tough meet,” said conditioner Chad Brown, who grew up in near by Mechanicville, N.Y and finished second to Todd Pletcher in the Saratoga trainer standings the past three years. “There are a lot of top trainers and top horses there. It is never easy to win races at Saratoga. You have to work for every win.” 
    Known as the Midsummer Derby, the Travers–and its traditional prep race, the Jim Dandy–will likely attract some of the best 3-year-olds in the country, including Belmont winner Tonalist (Tapit), GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) and GI Kentucky Derby runner up Commanding Curve (Master Command). 
    “To be in the Jim Dandy and Travers is very exciting because they are the best 3-year-old races of the summer,” said Tonalist’s conditioner Christophe Clement. “Regardless of my turf success, the Travers and the Jim Dandy are great races to win. They are very tough races to win.” 
    This year’s Whitney also promises to provide plenty of excitement with the one-two finishers from last term’s Jim Dandy Palace Malice and champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song) aiming for a rematch. Undefeated this term, Palace Malice most recently captured the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont June 7. He is also targeting the Woodward Aug. 30. 
    “It would be a dream,” said Campbell in reference to winning the Whitney or Woodward. “It would be a wonderful thing. There has never been a bad place to have a win, but Saratoga is the best place.” 
Campbell added, “This past spring I bet $5,000 in Las Vegas that he would be named Horse of the Year. That is not the primary object to win that bet, but it would be fun to win Horse of the Year and winning the Whitney would push him along that route considerably.” 
    While Saratoga is often referred to as the “Graveyard of Champions,” it is also the site where many of them are born. Will Take Charge is no exception. Winner of last season’s GII Rebel S., the handsome chestnut was unplaced in all three legs of the Triple Crown, but really came into his own at Saratoga beginning with his runner-up finish in the Jim Dandy. He followed that effort with a thrilling victory in the Travers (video), which was not only his first step towards champion 
3-year-old honors, but was another important mark on the reemergance his Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. 
Oxbow (Awesome Again) got the ball rolling for “the Coach” with an upset win in the GI Preakness S. The spotlight shined even brighter on Lukas at Saratoga when he scored his third Travers win–and first since Thunder Gulch in 1995–just three months later. 
    Lukas received the perfect birthday gift on the Spa’s closing day in the form of Strong Mandate (Tiznow)’s 
9 3/4-length win in a sloppy renewal of the GI Hopeful S. It was the famed conditioner’s seventh win in that event and the first Grade I victory for jockey Jose Ortiz. 
    Saratoga was also the venue where GI Acorn S. winner Sweet Reason got her start last season. The bay surprised everyone, including her owner, when she came flying from last to first over a muddy main track to score a 6 1/4-length debut graduation at the Spa last August. Facing a wet track once again next out, she repeated that performance with a dazzling victory in the GI Spinaway S. (video) 
    “It was all a bit surreal last year when Sweet Reason won the Spinaway,” Treadway remarked. “We had no expectations that she would be that precocious prior to her first start and then it rained [the day of the Spinaway], and she got bet down and ran such a huge race. I was a bit stunned. Hopefully, if all works out, I can give a better account this year.” 
    Sweet Reason is scheduled to return to Saratoga for her next start in the GI Test S. Aug. 2. Treadway will also be represented at Saratoga by GII Jerome S. victor Noble Moon (Malibu Moon) and impressive debut winning juvenile Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful), who romped by 14 1/2 lengths in Belmont’s Lynbrook S. July 6, good for J “TDN Rising Star” J honors. 
    “The waters will get a lot deeper at Saratoga, but Wonder Gal certainly ran a visually impressive race,” Treadway said. “With her being a New York-bred we have a lot of options, but if we decide to go the open company stakes route, the [GII] Adirondack [S. Aug. 10] would seem like a logical spot.” 
Treadway added, “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing Noble Moon back at the races. We’re looking for a 7/8 or a mile as a tune-up for a bigger race–hopefully at Saratoga.” 
    The GIII Schuylerville S.–a six-furlong dirt race for 2-year-old fillies–will kick things off at the Spa as the third race on the opening day card. Attracting a short field of five, the test still offers plenty of excitement with two impressive debut winners and J “TDN Rising Stars” J signed on. Lukas sends out Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), who hails from the family of Will Take Charge and opened her account at Churchill. His star student, and last year’s top Spa trainer, Todd Pletcher saddles Astoria S. winner Fashion Alert (Old Fashioned). 
    With an exciting group of 2-year-olds, some of the best sophomores and older horses in the country, and the highly anticipated return of two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry), no matter the results, there is something for everyone.