Between Saratoga and Del Mar the racing this summer has been nothing short of fantastic. If we are not treated to a historic performance, then we get to see competitive battles between horses, riders, and outfits all geared up to be at their best. It seems to happen every day on one coast or the other.
Honor Code erased any doubt he could be effective in Grade 1 company at two turns with a smashing win in The Whitney on Saturday. Ridden perfectly by Javier Castellano who kept him pretty far back off of a fast pace, while saving ground the entire way, got up in the last jump. He had to really motor to catch Liam’s Map, who ran a career race and entirely too good to lose. To Honor Code’s advantage was the hot pace set by Mike Smith and Liam’s Map to get away from Moreno early, and the fact every dirt race on the card Saturday was won by horses coming from off the pace. Taking nothing away from Honor Code, who followed up his devastating win in The Metropolitan Mile to score just as dramatically in The Whitney, Liam’s Map was great too. Honor Code fired a loud warning shot he’s one to be reckoned with come Breeders’ Cup Classic time. As for Liam’s Map, he’s got some Breeders’ Cup options but there aren’t a lot of faster horses around.
Mike Smith took some undeserved criticism following his ride in The Whitney. Some race watchers just don’t get it or see what’s happening and why and are quick to blame a rider. In reality, Mike rode a great race and nearly won it over a track and pace scenario that were both playing against him. Sure he set some fast splits, but he had to to clear Moreno and discourage him. It was doubtful he wanted to go head and head with Moreno who backed up. Had he taken back and let Moreno go, he would have quite possibly been the one to back up. He rode a good and aggressive race and just got beat. He put his horse in position to win which is all you can ask. There were also comments he only hit Liam’s Map once or twice. That was also savvy of Mike. He was in a strong hand ride in the stretch and his horse was all in. Rest assured Liam’s Map left nothing in the tank regardless of how many times Mike went to the stick.
I thought Honor Code and Hartford were the two best three year olds I saw at Gulfstream in 2014. Both got hurt and didn’t make The Kentucky Derby. Things might have been different had they made it. Hartford finally made it back after over a year on the sidelines, and as in his debut win and only other race, he showed grit and courage getting up for the win. While Honor Code is delivering on his promise, we are not sure how much tread is on Hartford’s tires after such a lengthy lay off, but his return race was pretty game.
If you enjoy watching race riders as much as I do, you have to love watching Irad Ortiz Jr. on a daily basis. He’s riding as good as anyone in the country right now and is getting better every day. He’s doing everything right and has no weakness in the saddle. He’s good at everything and is very strong. He’s a talent to be dealt with for a long time to come.
The $99,000 question may have been answered Sunday. Bob Baffert comes to Saratoga for the Fasig Tipton sales, tours the backside and visits John Terranova’s barn, which is where he houses his horses when they ship in. The next thing you know NYRA is building a new barn on the backside near the Oklahoma training track. Things that make you go hmmmmmm, or make Travers reservations.
A lot of thought has to go into American Pharoah’s next start and very little of it probably has to do with where they think they can win. It’s all timing at this point, and how many times you want to run before The Breeders’ Cup Classic, and how many weeks off you want leading in. It goes without saying you want to remain undefeated on the year and peak in October, but you have go to give timing considerable thought at this point given the end goal of The Classic.
With the exception of the pick six at Saratoga on non-carryover days, there is value to be had and plenty of opportunities at both tracks. The pick six in New York sure has changed. I am not sure you can entirely blame the pick five for that either. For many years the pick six was my main wager and I hit my fair share of them. Saratoga was a meet where you could go after it almost daily. You used to get about 100-125k in there on weekdays with no carryover. Weekends even more and on the non-carryover days you always had a chance to do what I’d call snake the pool. You could wind up with the only ticket on a reasonable investment, avoiding having to play against the syndicates and very large tickets. Today with 25-30k in the pool with no carryover that really isn’t an option. I miss those days.
Patrick Valenzuela was finally given a license to exercise horses again. I’ve been a fan of P Val for a long time. I think they made the right decision and I hope he’s finally licked the demons that have plagued him and his career a long time. Despite them, he’s built up quite the resume in the saddle. P Val could ride with the best of them. His Preakness win aboard Sunday Silence was one of the best rides ever. Next I’d like to see Rick Dutrow and Norberto Arroyo get their licenses back.
If you’ve never been to the sales it is definitely something you should try and do at least once. Just don’t go with a cold, as a sneeze at the wrong time could leave you with a pretty large invoice and new race horse. It is a treat to listen to the auctioneer and watch the spotters. They don’t miss much. If you can’t go in person, most are live streamed on the internet.
Watching Fasig Tipton this year, one thing jumped out at me. We have a lot of nice stallions and most are very capable of getting middle and long distance runners. This is refreshing as so much of our commercial breeding the past few years seemed focused on speed as opposed to distance and longevity. With the exception of The Factor and Uncle Mo, who I’d say the jury is still out on as far as distance goes, we have Bodemeister, War Front, Tapit, Gemologist, Pioneerof the Nile, Blame, Union Rags, Hansen, Stay Thirsty, and so many others who are exciting and capable of getting middle to long distance runners. Racing’s not dead.
You can also observe all the experts at work checking out the horses and studying their pedigrees. You never know, you just might get to watch them all miss another American Pharoah, who went through the sale at $300k.
With all the great racing we’ve seen already this summer, the best is yet to come and a lot of it. Racing’s not dead. Not by a long shot.
Racing’s not dead. Not by a long shot.
High 5
We may have to call this a High Ten, or devote a column to it but none other than Adam Rice takes down the high five again. Speaking of warning shots, Adam has fired another one loud and clear that his barn is not one to take lightly. We all know how tough it is to win at Saratoga and how everybody points their best to this meet. It’s even harder with a small head of horses. Adam struck again on Whitney day on the big stage with second time starter Monster Bea. This horse was live in the betting from the get go and Adam showed fine stats in all the relevant categories. His horse had a nice prep and was really ready for a big one. Ridden again by his sister Taylor Rice, who again could be seen smiling on the monitors and with good reason, as Taylor and Monster Bea rolled home for a smart win. This sharp barn came ready and knows what they’re doing.
Low 5
If you agree or come forward to help someone who has had a misfortune, or even volunteer to, and then inexplicably don’t, after taking all the thanks, that’s different than not being able to help, not wanting to help, or just not saying anything. To those who said they’d help Norberto Arroyo and didn’t, the low five’s all yours this week.
