Monday, September 10, 2012

Juveniles at Saratoga -- September 1-3, 2012


September 1st

Race 7: Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs for 2yos

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a pair of entrants, with the more highly El Duro receiving more betting support. But in the end, that colt could only manage an even fourth-place finish behind Pletcher's other colt Micromanage, who stamped himself as a colt of very high quality with a decisive victory. Ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, the son of Medaglia d'Oro settled into fifth place early on before working his way into contention about a half-mile from the finish. He then made a bold run around the turn to take command of the lead at the top of the stretch before subsequently drawing off in powerful fashion to win by five lengths in the exceptional time of 1:23.01 seconds. Apex tracked the pace for much of the race and finished clearly second best, but was no match for the winner. Gulfport was heavily favored, but tired to finish third after setting fractions of :23.23 and :46.62 seconds.

September 2nd

Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs for 2yo fillies

There were four first-time starters in the field of eight, and in the end, they swept the trifecta. The winner was Cue the Moon, who spent much of the race in fourth place before attempting a rally in between horses and having the hole close. Then, after waiting for racing room, jockey Ramon Dominguez shifted his mount to the outside, and Cue the Moon responded with a good run that carried her to a half-length triumph in 1:24.30. Emollient was last early on, rallied well on the far outside to take the lead, but couldn't hold off the winner's run while turning in a good effort. Madgi put in a mild rally from seventh place to finish third, 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Liquid Lunch tracked the pace in third place, took over the lead at the top of the stretch, but gave way late to finish fourth.

Race 10: Spinaway Stakes (gr. I)
7 furlongs for 2yo fillies

Teen Pauline was the odds-on favorite thanks to a track record-setting debut earlier in the meet, but tired in the stretch to finish third behind So Many Ways, who brought her record to a perfect 3-for-3 with a decisive victory.

September 3rd

Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
8.5 furlongs on turf for 2yos

Noble Tune was favored for trainer Chad Brown, and the son of Unbridled's Song lived up to expectations with a dominating victory. With Ramon Dominguez aboard, the colt didn't get off to the best of starts, but soon settled into the sixth position along the rail while Bye Bye Bernie set fractions of :24.66 and :49.74. Noble Tune continued to save ground around the turn, then split horses entering the homestretch to seize command of the lead and draw away powerfully to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:43.08 seconds. Draw Too rallied from last to finish second in a good effort. Metro raced wide throughout and just missed securing the place. Bye Bye Bernie tired to finish seventh.

Race 3: Maiden Special Weight
8.5 furlongs on turf for New York-bred 2yos

West Hills Giant, with Jose Espinoza aboard, turned in a gritty effort to win this race by a head. The son of Frost Giant spent much of the race in the third position, saving ground on the first turn before switching to the outside rounding the second bend. He then moved up to take over the lead from pace-setting Holy Endeavor before subsequently finding himself in a thrilling battle with that one for the length of the stretch. In the end, West Hills Giant held tough to win by a head in 1:43.39 seconds. The runner-up set a slow pace of :24.59 and :49.36 seconds before eventually losing the stretch duel with the winner. Irish Jade rallied from ninth to secur third, beaten just three-quarters of a length.

Race 6: Maiden Special Weight
5.5 furlongs for 2yos

Seven horses went to post, with Todd Pletcher's Revolutionary sent off as the favorite. But the winner was Always in a Tiz, who tracked the pace in the second position before taking over in the at the top of the stretch and holding off a late run from Clawback to win the race by a half-length in 1:04.13 seconds. The latter colt settled into the third position early on, four lengths behind the eventual winner, then made a bold run to draw within a head of Always in a Tiz at the eighth pole. However, he failed to sustain his momentum to the wire, losing ground to the winner late while holding on to finish second. Revolutionary was bumped hard at the start and trailed the field by fourteen lengths with just five-sixteenths of a mile to go, yet rallied furiously in the homestretch to finish third, missing the victory by just 1 1/4 lengths.

Race 9: Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I)

Fortify was the favorite for owner Goldophin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, but Todd Pletcher was able to put the finishing touches on a spectacular meet by winning this race in impressive fashion with Shanghai Bobby.
http://triplecrowncountdown.blogspot.com/2012/09/shanghai-bobby-wins-hopeful-stakes.html

-Keelerman

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