SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Smiles, hugs and handshakes–especially the smiles–were the currency Thursday for opening day, the annual lovefest at Saratoga Race Course.
While the New York Racing Association (NYRA) served up 10 races on the first of the 40 days of the 155th season at the Spa, the crowd of 29,102 celebrated the past, greeting old friends, as well as the present at the historic track. With a line of thunderstorms approaching from the west on a hot, humid and windy afternoon, NYRA sped up post times and was able to complete the program before the heavy rain arrived.
In a perfectly Saratoga performance at the track that was dubbed the “Graveyard of Favorites” 90 years ago, the first-time starter Becky's Joker (Practical Joke) won the 105th running of the GIII Schuylerville Stakes at 21-1. The big bay filly won by 3 1/4 lengths under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.
Gary Contessa had trained a public stable on the NYRA circuit for decades, but was absent–except for a single start in 2021–from Saratoga for three seasons because of COVID-19 in 2020 and while working as a private trainer in Delaware. His small stable has been based at Saratoga since May and Becky's Joker delivered him his first victory of 2023. It was a memorable comeback for Contessa, who has been training since 1985. Contessa said he told owner Lee Pokoik that Becky's Joker would definitely win a maiden special weight race and probably would win the stake, and Pokoik opted for the Schuylerville with its $175,000 purse and black type.
Larry Sigler, who operates as Winning Move Stable, smiled and nodded when it was pointed out that for the moment he was the leading owner at Saratoga when his Linda Rice-trained Bustin Bay (Bustin Stones) won the first race of the day under Jose Ortiz.
“I actually never concepted that thought,” Sigler said. “You revel in the win. They're rare up here. They're incredibly special and so you don't really reflect on it, on anything. You just enjoy that moment, especially to be able to share it with my wife and my grandson. That's what makes the moment more special.”
Sigler has raced as Winning Move since 2005, has been part of many partnerships and knows his way to the winner's circle at America's oldest race track.
“There's nothing like Saratoga,” he said. “I'm not the first one to tell you that. I'm echoing what hundreds of people have told you. There's just something special here. If we invite friends of ours to spend a weekend with us, when that weekend's over, they get it. They understand what a great racing experience is. It's the heritage, the tradition. The best trainers. The best jockeys. The best racing. That combination makes everything so special.”
First race of the meet | Sarah Andrew
Apprentice jockey Jason Huayas was no stranger to Saratoga when he rode Honey Money (Central Banker) in the first race. Huayas, 30, said he worked as a groom for Ralph Nicks at Saratoga in 2015 and later was an exercise rider for Robert Ribaudo. He started his apprenticeship in 2022, is based at Monmouth Park and had a pair of mounts on Thursday.
“I never imagined to ride here,” he said.
Huayas was thankful for the mounts, both of which finished off the board.
“It's the best place to be,” he said. “You get to ride with the top dogs in the world. And hopefully I can learn from that and get more opportunities.”
New track announcer Frank Mirahmadi said he first visited Saratoga in 1997 when he was the announcer at the Great Barrington Fair, part of the Massachusetts fair circuit. He called a total of five days at Saratoga as a fill-in during the past three summers. As the horses left the for the first race he led the crowd through what has become a Saratoga tradition: “….and they're off at Saratoga.”
“It's been an incredible adrenaline rush,” he said. “Thankfully, I'm still rolling. It's been a long day. I was here early this morning talking to a lot of news stations and just sharing the passion that everyone has for Saratoga Race Course.”
Trainer Chad Brown, who is bidding for his third-straight Saratoga title, has a perfect understanding of what the start of the Saratoga season is all about. He grew up in Mechanicville, about 17 miles from the front gate of the track.
“On opening day we were in the picnic area every year,” he said, “so I really fell in love with horse racing and that's why I chose this career path.”
Brown noted that opening days at Keeneland and Del Mar are fun, too, but that Saratoga is distinctive.
“It's very special. It's very unique,” he said. “I think the vast picnic area here makes this track and the history associated with the track makes it in a group of its own. I've said before, one of the most special things about this meet and about Saratoga, really, for the fans is not only getting up close with some of the greatest horsemen and jockeys in the world, is using this facility as a meeting place for friends and family where you have your annual checkup on each other. Your annual time spent together. That's what's most important about Saratoga, I can tell you that having grown up in the community.
“If there is anything that may have changed over the years with racing schedules, some added features, like the 1863 Club, the one thing that's never changed is that this is a meeting place. In the picnic area in particular, people have their same trees, their same spots, their same routine of where they stay and that is the most special thing about it.”
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