Tag: Saratoga Race Course

Brown Quartet Top Friday’s De La Rose At Saratoga

Trainer Chad Brown will have a strong hand in Friday's 17th renewal of the $85,000 De La Rose, saddling four of the eight contenders for the one mile event over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Brown, who won the De La Rose in 2018 with subsequent champion Uni, will send out a quality quartet headed by Noor Sahara, who will cut back in distance after finishing third against allowance optional claiming company going 1 1/8 miles on June 12 at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old bay daughter of Lope de Vega made her North American debut last out as the favorite, tracking a slow pace up front, put herself in winning contention but was ultimately passed up in the final strides missing only a neck to Wegetsdamunnys. The effort was her first start of 2020 and first since September 19 where she was fifth against stakes company at Saint-Cloud in France for former trainer Fabrice Chappet.

“It might have been a little far for her,” Brown said of her last effort. “She hadn't run in a while off that effort so now she has that race under her belt. Cutting her back to a mile should do her some good.”

Owned by Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone's Madaket Stable, Sienna Farm, Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, Noor Sahara was a two-time winner in France, going one mile.

Three-time Saratoga leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot Noor Sahara from post 2.

Catch a Bid, winner of last year's Riskaverse over a yielding inner turf at the Spa, will try to keep her perfect record going one mile intact.

Owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, the bay daughter of Real Solution made her seasonal debut a winning one last out when leading an easy pace at every point of call in an allowance optional claiming event on June 14 at Churchill Downs. The running style was a different one for Catch a Bid, whose other two victories came when coming from well of the pace. After winning on debut over at Belmont Park last June, Catch a Bid was second to eventual graded stakes-winner Varenka before winning the Riskaverse.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount from post 1.

Peter Brant's Blowout has never finished off the board in eight career starts and will attempt to keep her consistent record unscathed from post 9.

The daughter of Dansili out of French Group 1-winner Beauty Parlour has never been beaten more than three-quarters of a length and will make her first start since finishing second in the Grade 3 Valley View on October 18 at Keeneland.
Blowout will attempt a third stakes victory having won the Wild Applause and the Pebbles over the Widener Turf Course at Belmont Park during her 3-year-old campaign.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a three-time winner of the De La Rose, will pilot Blowout.

Rounding out the tetrad of Brown's contenders is Juddmonte Farm's Viadera, who made her North American debut last out finishing a distant fourth over a yielding turf to stablemate Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 3 Intercontinental at Belmont.

The 4-year-old daughter of Bated Breath was previously conditioned by G.M. Lyons overseas, where she won three starts, two of which took place going one mile. A Great Britain homebred, Viadera is out of the Beat Hollow broodmare Sacred Shield and comes from the same family as Group 1-winner Twice Over.

Jockey Joel Rosario, who sported Juddmonte's signature turquoise and pink colors when guiding Filimbi to a De La Rose win in 2014, will guide Viadera from post 6.

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables' Clara Peeters will be making her North American stakes debut in the De La Rose after a half-length allowance optional claiming score going seven furlongs over Belmont's Widener turf course on June 4.

Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old daughter of Epaulette won twice in Great Britain for former conditioner Gary L. Moore and has placed in her last five outings. She made her United States debut at Fair Grounds on March 19 going one mile and finishing second beaten a neck after a slow start.

Completing the field are Passing Out [post 3, Jose Ortiz], Hogans Holiday [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] and Xenobia [post 8, Manny Franco].

Bridlewood Cat is entered for the main track only.

The De La Rose pays homage to Henryk de Kwiatkowski's 1981 Champion Grass Filly who won six graded stakes races over five different tracks, including the Diana at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby against colts at Hollywood Park. The daughter of English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky was trained by Hall of Famer Woody Stephens.

The De La Rose is slated as Race 7 on Friday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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NYRA To Highlight Non-Profits With Virtual Community Outreach Booth At Saratoga

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will celebrate the work of non-profit organizations by taking its popular Community Outreach Booth program online during the 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which begins on Thursday, July 16 and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

The Virtual Community Outreach Booth program will highlight a total of 40 non-profits throughout the season by sharing information about their work and fundraising initiatives at NYRA.com/community. NYRA will also prominently feature its Community Partner of the Day in the Post Parade racing program, which will be available for purchase at select retail locations across the Capital Region as well as throughout the New York City metropolitan area.

“As we look ahead to a unique racing season, it is important to NYRA that we continue to highlight the work of non-profit organizations both in our industry and the Saratoga community,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “We encourage fans to visit our website throughout the season to learn more about the impact that these organizations have on our community.”

The digital edition of the program will serve as a temporary replacement to the Community Outreach Booth's traditional on-track location, which sits prominently alongside the Jockey Silks Room near the Union Avenue main entrance and is a mainstay of the summer meet.

Throughout the summer, NYRA will direct racing fans to its community partners page to learn more about the featured non-profits, which represent a mix of industry partners and Saratoga Springs-based organizations.

The program will kick off on Opening Day by highlighting The Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund, which is bringing the attractions of the Spa City to the family table with a limited-edition City of Saratoga Springs MONOPOLY® game. NYRA is one of several local sponsors. All proceeds from game sales benefit the Community Fund, which serves as a source of philanthropic support for local charities. The game will be available for purchase beginning Friday, July 10 at www.atccf.org.

“We are honored to be the featured nonprofit for the Virtual Community Booth on Opening Day. At a time when local nonprofits need our support more than ever, the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund is excited to introduce a first-edition, authentic City of Saratoga Springs MONOPOLY® game,” said Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund Chairman Brian Straughter. “This game has been made possible through the support of local community members, many of which are featured on the game board.Proceeds of all games sold will go directly to the ATC Community Fund and our Lend-A-Hand grant program.”

The Belmont Child Care Association will be highlighted on Whitney Day, Saturday, August 1, as a lead-up to its Racing for the Children week-long virtual party August 3 through 9. The fundraiser is in celebration of the forthcoming Saratoga Child Care Center, which is set to debut in 2021 and is designed to care for the children and families of the Spa backstretch.

The Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) will serve as the designated non-profit of the day on Saturday, August 8 in conjunction with the 151st renewal of the Runhappy Travers. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) will be highlighted on Saturday, September 5, which will feature two popular graded stakes: the Woodward and the Jim Dandy which will be contested on the same afternoon as the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Additional Saratoga Springs-based community partners include the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, The Wesley Community, Saratoga Arts District, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Automobile Museum and Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council.

For a complete list of community partners during the 2020 season, please visit NYRA.com/community.

The 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will begin on Thursday, July 16 and run through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Following the four-day opening weekend, live racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. The summer meet will conclude on Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

Under current New York State guidelines, Saratoga Race Course will open without spectators in attendance. The 40-day meet will be highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 8 and the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on Saturday, August 1.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

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Antonio Sano Readying Pair Of Promising 2-Year-Olds For Saratoga Meet

Trainer Antonio Sano started making plans for the upcoming Saratoga Race Course meet after saddling his fourth 2-year-old winner of the Spring Meet at Gulfstream Park Saturday.

The popular Venezuela native has been particularly impressed with Papetu, a five-length winner in his Saturday debut, and Hara, a filly who also graduated with a five-length victory Friday.

“The two horses are the best horses in my barn,” said Sano, who has saddled 21 winners, five fewer than leading trainer Todd Pletcher, during the Spring Meet. “I'm going to send Papetu and Hara to Saratoga.”

Papetu was always in control over his nine rivals under Leonel Reyes. Purchased by Magic Stables LLC for $80,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale, Papetu is by Dialed In, the sire of Sano-trained multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera. The first-out win hardly surprised his trainer, but the manner in which he dismissed his rivals was a bit of a revelation.

“I expected him to come from behind and close. The race came up different. It was a surprise to me,” Sano said. “He is a good horse. I told the owner that this was a very good horse.”

A day earlier, Sano sent out Hara, who scored a dominating front-running triumph in a 5 ½-furlong dash for fillies. The daughter of Hard Spun, who is owned by Briannjenn Racing LLC, was purchased for $30,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale.

Sano has enjoyed success in the past while sending promising 2-year-olds from South Florida to Saratoga, most notably with Gunnevera, who scored his first graded-stakes victory in the 2016 Saratoga Special (G2) on his way to earning $5.5 million.

Earlier in the meet, Sano saddled Swaggy George, a son of Not This Time, for a four-length triumph in a five-furlong maiden special weight race taken off the turf. The Sano-trained Espia, a son of Creative Cause who finished third behind Swaggy George, came right back to capture a 5-furlong maiden special weight event on turf.

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Saratoga Releases 2020 Stakes Schedule; Travers Set For Aug. 8

The 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will feature 71 stakes worth $14.45 million, encompassing 39 graded stakes and 18 Grade 1s from Thursday, July 16 through Monday, September 7.

“We're thrilled to be racing at Saratoga this summer, and we thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for his support and the support of horsemen who have worked with us to navigate the many challenges,” NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke said. “While this will be anything but a traditional Saratoga season, we hope to provide a semblance of normalcy for both the local community as well as racing fans across the country.”

Under current New York state guidelines, Saratoga Race Course will open on July 16 without spectators in attendance. The 40-day meet will feature at least one stakes race every live racing day, highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on August 8 and the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on August 1, as the anchors of two of the biggest racing days in North America.

After opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays.

Whitney Day, set for Saturday, August 1, will feature three Grade 1 events, led by the historic Whitney, a handicap at 1 1/8 miles with an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland on the line.

The card is bolstered by the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff in November; and the Grade 1, $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs.

The stakes-laden card also includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green for 4-year-olds and up on the turf and the $200,000 Caress, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares.

The Runhappy Travers, traditionally contested at the end of August, will be held this year on August 8 to properly account for the schedule adjustments and overall calendar for 3-year-olds in training due to the health and safety measures instituted to mitigate risk and combat the spread of COVID-19.

The “Mid-Summer Derby” will still be contested at 1 1/4 miles for the country's most talented 3-year-olds and is one of three Grade 1s on the day, joining the $300,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going seven furlongs in a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The day will also see sophomore fillies compete in the prestigious Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Test at seven furlongs, with the card bolstered by the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for older males, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Waya , a 1 ½-mile turf route for older fillies and mares.

The Saratoga meet will commence on Thursday, July 16 with a strong Opening Day card fortified by the Grade 3, $100,000 Peter Pan. The 1 1/8-miles test for sophomores was moved from its traditional home at Belmont Park to the Spa. Also on tap for the Saratoga lid-lifter is the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville for juvenile fillies going six furlongs.

The meet's first Grade 1 will be on the opening Saturday, July 18, when the $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for sophomore fillies going 1 1/8 miles takes center stage, supported by the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

A pair of graded stakes feature on Saturday, July 25, topped by the Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a handicap for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs, and including the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa for older fillies and mares on the turf.

New to the Saratoga stakes schedule are a pair of New York-bred races for older grass horses with the Lubash set for July 22 and the Dayatthespa for fillies and mares on July 29, both offering a purse of $85,000 for the 1 1/16-mile turf tests.

The $100,000 Perfect Sting, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mares, moves from Belmont to August 14 at the Spa.

The Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama for 3-year-old fillies going 1 ¼ miles is slated for Saturday, August 15, which will also see the second running of the $500,000 Saratoga Derby, part of the Turf Triple Series for 3-year-olds. Its filly counterpart, the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks for sophomores, will be run the next day.

Saturday, August 22 will run the Grade 1, $400,000 Fourstardave, a handicap for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on the turf. The Grade 1, $500,000 Diana for fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf will be the feature on Sunday, August 23.
A pair of stakes for sophomore state-breds originally scheduled at Aqueduct Racetrack, the NYSSS Times Square and NYSSS Park Avenue, will now be contested at Saratoga on August 27 and September 3 respectively, both offering a purse of $100,000 for the 6 1/2-furlong main-track sprints.

The Grade 1, $300,000 Forego, presented by America's Best Racing, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up, shares center stage on Saratoga's penultimate Saturday on August 29, with the day also offering exciting racing action with the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer, a 1 ½-mile turf route for 4-year-olds and up that serves as a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The final weekend of the 2020 Saratoga meet will have six graded stakes. Four of those contests will run Saturday, September 5, led by the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward, a handicap for 3-year-olds and up going 1 ¼ miles. A trio of Grade 2 races will make for a strong card, including the $150,000 Jim Dandy for sophomores at 1 1/8 miles; the $200,000 Prioress for sophomore fillies going six furlongs; and the $200,000 Glens Falls for older fillies and mares competing at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

Sunday, September 6 will be the date for the Grade 1, $250,000 Spinaway for sophomore fillies going seven furlongs, along with the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss, a handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at six furlongs.

The $250,000 Runhappy Hopeful, at seven furlongs for juvenile sprinters as the traditional final Grade 1 of the Saratoga meet, brings the curtain down on Closing Day Monday, September 7.

DATE
RACE
GR
PURSE
AGE
DISTANCE
Thurs., July 16
Schuylerville
III
100,000
F2YO
6 F
Thurs., July 16
Peter Pan
III
100,000
3YO
1 1/8
Fri., July 17
Shine Again
85,000
F&M 4&UP
7 F
Fri., July 17
De La Rose
85,000
F&M 4&UP
1 Mile (Turf)
Sat., July 18
Coaching Club American Oaks
I
350,000
F3YO
1 1/8
Sat., July 18
National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame
II
150,000
3YO
1 1/8 (Turf)
Sun., July 19
Lake Placid
II
150,000
F3YO
1 1/8 (Turf)
Wed., July 22
Lubash (NYB)
85,000
4&UP
1 1/16 (Turf)
Thurs., July 23
A. P. Smithwick (Steeplechase)
I
100,000
4&UP
2 1/16 (Turf)
Thurs., July 23
NYSSS Statue Of Liberty Division
100,000
F3YO
1 1/16 (Turf)
Fri., July 24
Quick Call
III
100,000
3YO
5 1/2 (Turf)
Sat., July 25
Alfred G. Vanderbilt (Hdcp.)
I
250,000
3&UP
6 F
Sat., July 25
Ballston Spa
II
200,000
F&M 4&UP
1 1/16 (Turf)
Sun., July 26
Bernard Baruch (Hdcp.)
II
150,000
3&UP
1   1/16 (Turf)
Wed., July 29
Dayatthespa (NYB)
85,000
F&M 4&UP
1   1/16 (Turf)
Thurs., July 30
John Morrissey Hdcp (NYB)
85,000
3&UP
7 F
Fri., July 31
Coronation Cup
100,000
F3YO
5 1/2 (Turf)
Sat., Aug 1
Whitney (BC)
I
750,000
4&UP
1 1/8
Sat., Aug 1
Personal Ensign (BC)
I
500,000
F&M 4&UP
1 1/8
Sat., Aug 1
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial
I
300,000
3YO
7 F
Presented by Runhappy
Sat., Aug 1
Bowling Green
II
250,000
4&UP
1 3/8 (Turf)
Sat., Aug 1
Caress
200,000
F&M 4&UP
5 1/2 F (Turf)
Sun., Aug 2
Birdstone
100,000
4&UP
1 3/4
Wed., Aug 5
Summer Colony
85,000
F&M 4&UP
1 1/8
Thurs., Aug 6
NYSSS Cab Calloway Division
100,000
3YO
1 1/16 (Turf)
Fri., Aug 7
Saratoga Special
II
150,000
2YO
6 F
Sat., Aug 8
Runhappy Travers
I
1,000,000
3YO
1 1/4
Sat., Aug 8
Ballerina Hdcp. (BC)
I
300,000
F&M 3&UP
7 F
Sat., Aug 8
Longines Test
I
300,000
F3YO
7 F
Sat., Aug 8
Troy
III
200,000
4&UP
5 1/2 F (Turf)
Sat., Aug 8
Waya
III
150,000
F&M 4&UP
1 1/2 (Turf)
Sun., Aug 9
Alydar
85,000
4&UP
1 1/8
Wed., Aug 12
Adirondack
II
150,000
F2YO
6 1/2 F
Thurs., Aug 13
Union Avenue Hdcp (NYB)
85,000
F&M 3&UP
7 F
Fri., Aug 14
Perfect Sting
100,000
F&M 4&UP
1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Aug 15
Saratoga Derby Invitational
500,000
3YO
1 3/16 (Turf)
Sat., Aug 15
Alabama
I
500,000
F3YO
1 1/4
Sun., Aug 16
Saratoga Oaks Invitational
500,000

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