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Saratoga: A Heat Index Of 105 Will Launch Conversation About Race Safety

With the National Weather Service predicting “uncomfortable” temperatures for Thursday in upstate New York, the Times-Union revealed Saratoga's heat management protocols and what it would take for the track to cancel racing. An excessive heat warning is in place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, with the heat index projected to reach 107.

Developed by Dr. Scott Palmer, the New York State Gaming Commission's Equine Medical Director, the protocols indicated that when the heat index reaches 105, the “racetrack veterinarian should contact the stewards or judges and track management to advise them of the presence of dangerous weather conditions.” This then launches a discussion about whether racing should be allowed to continue.

Racing was last cancelled due to excessive heat on July 20, 2019, when the heat index reached 110.

Doctor Jeff Faces 11 Talented Juveniles In Saturday’s Saratoga Special

Doctor Jeff, fresh off his debut win last month at Belmont Park, will take the step up in class and face stakes company for the first time as part of a 12-horse field of talented juveniles in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite at Saratoga Race Course.

The 116th running of the Saratoga Special, contested at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in Race 9, is one of two stakes on the 11-race card that will be bolstered by the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap for 3-year-olds up going one mile on the inner turf in Race 10 that is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile.

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's Doctor Jeff won first out in a six-furlong sprint taken off the turf at Belmont on July 10. The Street Boss colt earned a Saratoga Special field-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure for his 2 1/4-length victory for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and subsequently shipped to Saratoga, where he recorded three breezes over the main track, including a bullet five-furlong work in 59.61 seconds on Sunday.

“I'm just very happy with the way he's training over here,” Rodriguez said. “He beat some tough horses the first time and he did it the right way. We just take it day-by-day, but he's been training over here for a while. If he doesn't like the track now, he's never going to like it.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for Doctor Jeff's win and the winner of last year's Saratoga Special riding Jackie's Warrior, will have the return call from post 8.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, fresh off a whirlwind week in which he broke the record for most wins by a North American thoroughbred trainer, will have a strong chance to add to that total in saddling a pair of Winchell Thoroughbred homebreds in Gunite and Red Run.

The duo are both sons of Gun Runner, who Asmussen also trained during a stellar career that netted two Eclipse Awards, including 2017 Horse of the Year honors as well as that year's Champion Older Dirt Male.

“It's extremely exciting. All a part of what makes racing great,” Asmussen said. “We're fortunate to have horses like that and then have the chance for them to prove it. It's amazing how he stamps them just with their attitude. Obviously, he gave them a tremendous amount of ability to find more than what matters. Winning and losing is usually the amount of effort willing to be applied.”

Gunite has given that effort through his first three starts, improving in each race, culminating with a maiden-breaking win last out on June 26 going six furlongs at Churchill Downs. Gunite ran third on debut in April over a sloppy and sealed track at five furlongs and stayed at the same distance in following with a runner-up effort on a fast Churchill course in May.

Asmussen said stretching Gunite out in his last start was beneficial.

“The distance had everything to do with it,” Asmussen said. “Going from five-eighths, five-and-a-half, three-quarters and go third, second and first. That's how it felt to us.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr. will have the mount for a third consecutive time, drawing post 2. Gunite will add blinkers.

Red Run also could be a colt who might appreciate added distance. He boasts an impressive pedigree out of the Tapit mare Red House, who is a full-sister to 2014 Kentucky Oaks winner and Champion 3-Year-Old filly Untapable.

Red Run won going five furlongs on a sloppy Churchill track on May 9 before running fifth in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor on June 26 at Churchill stretched out to six furlongs.

“He's going to need considerably further. The pedigree suggests it also with his female side of the family,” Asmussen said. “I chose him to run here for his next step; he's needing one.”

Manny Franco will be in the irons from the outermost post 12.

Fellow Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will also send out a couple of talented colts, including Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Double Thunder, who won the Bashford Manor by 4 3/4 lengths under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez. The son of Super Saver is 2-for-2 to start his career, winning on June 5 at Monmouth before graduating against stakes company later in the month.

After drawing away at Churchill and improving his career earnings to a field-high $116,850, Double Thunder will compete at Saratoga for the first time, teaming again with Velazquez in breaking from post 7.

Pletcher's other contender, Repole Stable's Midnight Worker, showed an affinity for Saratoga already, edging Bourbon Heist by a head for a debut win going six furlongs at the historic track on July 24.

Midnight Worker, a son of Outwork, will pick up the services of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., departing from post 5.

Nakatomi added to trainer Wesley Ward's ever-growing list of first-out winners in April at Keeneland with a victory in a 4 1/2-furlong contest over a sloppy and sealed track. That set up the Firing Line gelding's cross-Atlantic trip to Ascot, where he ran eighth in the Group 2 Norfolk going five furlongs on June 17.

Owned by Qatar Racing, M. Detampel and D. Howden, Nakatomi registered a breeze on the Saratoga main track on Thursday and will see Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will pick up the mount for the first time, exiting the inside post.

Greg Tramontin's Ottoman Empire was a debut winner, topping an 11-horse field in a five-furlong sprint on June 20 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Tom Amoss then moved the son of Classic Empire up in class early in the Saratoga meet, where he ran fourth in the six-furlong Grade 3 Sanford over a main track rated good on July 17.

Ottoman Empire, a $120,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will look to parlay his graded stakes experience into black type, picking up the services of jockey Dylan Davis from post 3. He will also add blinkers.

Robert Masterson's Glacial won his first race for trainer Norm Casse in May at Churchill before running third in the Bashford Manor in his previous start. The son of Frosted, a $140,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training will pick up the services of Tyler Gaffalione in breaking from post 10.

Rounding out the field is High Oak, a first-out winner for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on June 26 at Belmont [post 11, Junior Alvarado]; Stolen Base, a debut victor on July 23 at Saratoga for meet-leading trainer Mike Maker [post 6, Jose Ortiz]; Dance Code, third in the Grade 3 Sanford after winning his debut in June at Parx for conditioner Juan Vazquez [post 9, Jose Lezcano]; and Kitodan, who broke his maiden at fourth asking in July at Gulfstream Park, for trainer Jorge Delgado [post 4, Chantal Sutherland].

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

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Sea Foam Goes Gate To Wire In Evan Shipman; First Win For Trainer Michelle Giangiulio

Ten Strike Racing and Four Corners Racing Stable's Sea Foam made every pole a winning one to provide trainer Michelle Giangiulio her first career win in Wednesday's $100,000 Evan Shipman Handicap, a nine-furlong test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Claimed for $45,000 out of a winning effort in a nine-furlong state-bred optional-claiming route on July 30 at Saratoga, Sea Foam provided Giangiulio her first win in just her sixth career start.

“My mind is blown right now,” Giangiulio said. “It's just epic. My first starter was in [February]. I actually got my trainer's license right at the end of 2020. This is only my sixth start; I have five horses. I've had one win, three seconds and two thirds, so they've been running really, really good.”

Sea Foam broke sharply from post 3 under Joel Rosario and led the five-horse field into the first turn with 3-2 mutuel favorite Mr. Buff pinned to the rail by Three Jokers as the opening quarter-mile elapsed in 24.10 seconds on the fast main track.

Sea Foam dictated terms down the backstretch through a half-mile in 48.10 and three-quarters in 1:12.27 as Three Jokers continued to press with Mr. Buff unable to stretch his significant frame.

Danny California, an optional-claiming winner on Saturday at the Spa, advanced outside rivals through the final turn, but Sea Foam opened up a two-length lead at the stretch call and drew off to a five-length score in a final time of 1:50.91.

Three Jokers completed the exacta by three lengths over Danny California. Rounding out the order of finish were Winston's Chance and Mr. Buff.

Giangiulio said the classy Sea Foam exited his recent win in good order.

“He came out of his last race really well and this race came up a light field. We said we might as well take a shot,” Giangiulio said. “I figured we'd have a huge chance and we might as well run him if he's good, and it worked out.

“I just told Joel to break and go,” she added. “The horse runs best on the lead and that's how he wins. He gave him a perfect trip.”

Giangiulio said she was impressed with the way Sea Foam extended his advantage out of the final turn.

“I didn't think he was going to open up like that,” Giangiulio said. “With Three Jokers coming up to him a little, I guess he just needed to see another horse to kick back in, and he did. It was awesome.”

A 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, out of the graded-stakes winning Unbridled's Song mare Strike It Rich, Sea Foam captured the 2017 Notebook at Aqueduct and a year later won the New York Derby at Finger Lakes and the Albany at Saratoga.

Rosario said Sea Foam was traveling comfortably throughout.

“He took the lead and he likes to do that. He was going nice and easy and past the three-eighths [pole], he kind of got away a little bit and he ran big again,” Rosario said. “He showed that he improves when he goes to the lead. He's a really nice horse and he tries hard all the time.”

A former assistant to trainers such as Joe Sharp and Tom Morley, Giangiulio boasts a perfect in-the-money record though six starts, sporting a ledger of 6-1-3-2, dating to a third-place finish by Parade Field in February at Aqueduct.

Subsequent starters for Giangiulio include Easy Shot [2nd, June 17 at Belmont Park], True Castle [2nd, July 4, Belmont], Wagon Boss [3rd, July 15, Saratoga], and Joey Loose Lips [2nd, August 5, Saratoga].

Bred in the Empire State by Waterville Lake Stables, Sea Foam banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 23-9-3-2. He paid $12 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race card highlighted by the 17th running of the $100,000 Saratoga Dew. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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Raging Bull Headlines Talented Field Readying For ‘Win And You’re In’ Fourstardave

Peter Brant's Raging Bull will be out for redemption against an all-graded stakes winning field for Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave for 4-year-olds and upward going one mile over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Raging Bull, who finished second in 2019 and fifth a year ago, will look to give trainer Chad Brown his first win in the Fourstardave, a “Win And You're In” event offering an automatic entry into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on November 6 at Del Mar.

Four of the last ten editions of the Fourstardave were captured by the subsequent winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile with World Approval [2017], Tourist [2016] and Wise Dan [2012-13] securing the Fourstardave-Breeders' Cup Mile double.

This year's Fourstardave field has won a cumulative 22 graded stakes races, which will see Raging Bull attempt a fourth graded stakes triumph.

Raging Bull, a three-time Grade 1-winner with earnings in excess of $1.5 million, secured his top-flight triumphs over three different ovals. At three, he shipped to Southern California to capture the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar after earning graded stakes triumphs at the Spa in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and the Grade 3 Saranac. The French-bred 6-year-old son of Dark Angel commenced his last two seasons in Grade 1-winning fashion with victories in the Shoemaker Mile in May 2020 at Santa Anita and the Makers' Mark Mile on April 9 at Keeneland.

Raging Bull enters off a troubled second in the Grade 3 Poker on June 20 at Belmont Park, racing in fifth along the rail down the backstretch while four horses battled up front. Lacking racing room in upper stretch, he made an inside rally at the eighth-pole but was unable to catch in-the-clear outside runner Oleksandra, losing by a head.

“I'm hoping he can stay off the inside with a better trip,” Brown said. “His turn of foot seems to be his best characteristic. He's in as good of form as he's ever been in. I love the way he's been training. He's a remarkable horse, very consistent.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 1.

Raging Bull will face seven other challengers, including stablemate and fellow Peter Brant color-bearer Blowout, who is one of three accomplished distaffers taking on males in the Fourstardave.

Known for her frontrunning fashion, Blowout was a last-out pacesetting winner of the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Never worse than third – and never beaten more than three-quarters of a length in 11 lifetime starts – the daughter of Dansili made her lone Grade 1 start when second beaten a nose to stablemate Viadera in the Grade 1 Matriarch in November at Del Mar.

Both Raging Bull and Blowout were bred by Dayton Investments. Raging Bull is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Rosa Bonheur. Blowout is out of the Group 1-winning Deep Impact mare Beauty Parlour.

Jockey Joel Rosario, a two-time Fourstardave winner, rides Blowout from post 8.

Jim and Susan Hill, who owned 2015 Fourstardave winner Grand Arch, will be represented by four-time Grade 1-placed Daddy Is a Legend, who makes her first start against males for trainer George Weaver.

The 6-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy was a late-closing third in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 at Belmont Park behind the Godolphin-owned Althiqa and Summer Romance who replicated said exacta in the Grade 1 Diana on the Spa's opening weekend.

Also third in the 2019 Just a Game behind Rushing Fall and Beau Recall, Daddy Is a Legend notched Grade 1 black type with runner-up efforts in the Matriarch at Del Mar in 2018 and 2019.

“I think a mile is her best distance,” Weaver said. “We were looking at this race after she ran big in the Just a Game and those two fillies came back and ran well here. If she takes another step forward, we're hoping that Saturday can be her day.”

Daddy Is a Legend made the grade in December 2017, capturing the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante in November 2017 at Del Mar. She won the following year's Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga.

“She's a very good racehorse. She's talented but the other thing she has that all good racehorses have is the fact that she shows up. She gives what she has,” Weaver said. “Right now, she's doing well, she's happy and she's all business. We're looking forward to running her.”

Jockey Manny Franco rides from post 3.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out Got Stormy, who seeks a non-consecutive victory in the Fourstardave. Owned by MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm, the outstanding daughter of 2010 Fourstardave winner Get Stormy faced males for the first time off one week's rest in the 2019 Fourstardave, which she won by 2 ½ lengths in a track record 1:32 flat while recording a career best 109 Beyer. A six-time graded stakes winner, Got Stormy boasts the highest bankroll in the field with earnings in excess of $2.1 million.

A victory would make Got Stormy the first dual Fourstardave winner since two-time Horse of the Year and recent Hall of Fame inductee Wise Dan [2012-13].

Breaking from post 6, Got Stormy will be ridden by regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione.

Trainer Brad Cox will carry momentum from recent victories with Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Essential Quality and Grade 1 Whitney winner Knicks Go when saddling Juddmonte's Set Piece for his Grade 1 debut. The Dansili homebred brings three straight wins to Saturday's engagement. After Churchill Downs stakes victories in the Opening Verse on April 29 and the Douglass Park on May 29, Set Piece defeated graded stakes winners Somelikeithotbrown and Ride a Comet in the Grade 2 Wise Dan on June 26 over the Louisville oval.

“He's a Grade 2 winner and obviously he has a good pedigree that all Juddmonte horses do, and it helps some of the siblings that come up from the broodmare band as well,” Cox said. “He deserves the opportunity to take a swing at a Grade 1 and we'll see what he can do.”

Florent Geroux returns to the saddle from post 5.

Following a victory in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur on June 5 at Belmont Park going six furlongs, Casa Creed will stretch back out to one mile for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay, third in last year's Fourstardave, took the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in August 2019 going one mile over Saratoga's inner turf.

Owned by LRE Racing and JEH Racing, Casa Creed looks to became a fifth Fourstardave winner for Mott, who campaigned Hap [2000], Silver Tree [2007], Seek Again [2014] and Tourist [2016].

Jockey Junior Alvarado will ride from post 4.

Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass is a four-time graded stakes winner at four different tracks for trainer Mike Maker. The gray or roan son of Lemon Drop Kid won the Grade 3 Baltimore Washington International Cup on July 24 at Pimlico last out. During his sophomore season, he won the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and the Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine – both over synthetic surfaces. He also won the Grade 3 Transylvania last July over the Keeneland turf.

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. rides from post 7.

Rounding out the field is Electric City Racing, Madaket Stables, Christopher Dunn and Jeremy Peskoff's Whisper Not, who won the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile two starts back for trainer Richard Baltas.

Jockey Jose Ortiz picks up the mount from post 2.

The prestigious Fourstardave honors the “Sultan of Saratoga” who earned his nickname by winning at least one race at the Spa from 1987-94. Trained by Leo O'Brien and owned by Richard Bomze and Bernard Connaughton, Fourstardave's signature Spa wins included the 1988 Albany Handicap as well as two non-consecutive wins in the West Point [1989 and 1991]. Fourstardave secured two triumphs in his namesake race when run as the Daryl's Joy [1990-91].

The Fourstardave is carded as Race 9 on Saturday's 11-race program at Saratoga Race Course, which also includes the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for juveniles over the main track. First post is 1:05 p.m. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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