The Saratoga Race Course continued it’s meet on Thursday. 10 races were held, highlighted by the 20th running of The A.P. Smithwick Memorial steeplechase race and The Quick Call Stakes.
Race One: In the 20th running of the A.P. Smithwick Memorial steeplechase race, Portrade led most of the way, getting through the first six of the eight hurdles cleanly before making an error on the seventh, costing him the race. It would be Bob Le Beau (5/4) ridden by Jack Doyle taking the lead on the error and holding off the rest of the field. Scorpiancer came in second and Portrade ended up finishing third. This was the horse’s fifth race at Saratoga, and fifth win, continuing his perfect performances at Saratoga. Overall, it was Bob Le Beau’s 14th career win in 49 lifetime starts for the Irish-bred horse.
Race Two: It was Cocked and Loaded (5/3) with Irad Ortiz Jr up dominating the field in race two to take the win, but that wasn’t the story of the race. The jockey of Zen Papa, Ricardo Santana Jr, was thrown off his horse at the end with the horse falling. The horse got up and ran off, but Santana Jr. was tended to on the track and walked into the ambulance with the assistance of medical personnel. He later was cleared to ride again. As for the race, Formal Simulation finished second and Two Times Rock was third. It was Cocked and Loaded’s fifth career win in 13 lifetime starts.
Race Three: Kissin Cassie (6/1) ridden by Dylan Davis won race three, but with the late scratch of horse 1A Yorkiepoo Princess, the official win went to 33/1 long shot Promise Me Tiz ridden by Angel Arroyo, who came accross the finish line second. Murrell’s Belle finished second and Hoponthebusgus finished third. Race Three of the day was Promise Me Tiz’s first competitive race. For Kissin Cassie, this was her first competitive race as well. Davis will get the prize money for his first race of the 2016 meet after sitting out last season. The wagering money, however, will go to Promise Me Tiz.
Race Four: The half-sister of Frosted, the winner of this year’s Belmont Stakes, Indulgent, led late in the race on the stretch, but it was Catsadiva (7/2) with John Velazquez up coming up from behind in the final seconds of the race to take the fourth of the afternoon. Indulgent ended up finishing second and Splashtackular came home third. This was the maiden race for Catsadiva in her lifetime.
Race Five: In a controversial race, the first to cross the line was Tizanillusion, but a post-race objection by Jose Ortiz and an inquiry overturned that win. The winner of the race was named to be Cosmic Tale (3/1) ridden by Manuel Franco, who came accross the line second. Race judges came to the conclusion that Tizanillusion caused an interference on Crystal Pier and Jose Ortiz, and disqualified the horse from first to third. Crystal Pier was second and Tizanillusion was given third to continue an odd day at The Spa. This was Cosmic Tale’s third career win in her 13th career race, and her first win in her fourth race at Saratoga Race Course.
Race Six: Passporttovictory (5/1) with Javier Castellano up dominated the race but had to hold off Tainted Angel in the stretch, but was able to pull away in the final lengths to take the victory in the sixth race of the afternoon. Tainted Angel ended up finishing second and Great Neck was awarded third place in a photo finish. This was Passporttovictory’s first career victory in her second career race, and it was the horse’s debut at Saratoga Race Course. Castellano also picked up his first win of the day in race six.
Race Seven: It’s Two Hot Benny led most of the way, but it was Same Kinda Crazy (5/1) ridden by Kendrick Carmouche that took the lead in the final stretch to take the seventh race of the day. May Flowers came in second and It’s Two Hot Benny would wind up coming in third. The race was Same Kinda Crazy’s second career victory in the horse’s seventh career start. It was also it’s debut at Saratoga Race Course.
Race Eight: Horses that get big leads early usually don’t stay out front. That was the case for Daddy’s Boo, as he grabbed a huge lead early in the race, and was nearly able to hold off the field, but his lead was taken by Promotional (11/1) with Manuel Franco up, and he would end up winning the race. Rachel Wall was second and Sky Painter was third. Daddy’s Boo, who dominated most of the race, ended up fifth. This was Promotional’s third lifetime win in her 11th lifetime start.
Race Nine: In the 7th running of The Quick Call Stakes, Holding Gold (7/5) and Julien Leparoux would not be denied down the stretch, winning the race in a photo finish at the wire after fighting off three horses down the final furlong. Commend came in second, losing by a nose. Too Discreet, who led most of the way but lost the lead late, but ended up a respectable third. The race was Holding Gold’s third win in his life in six starts. The win was also his first win in his second start at Saratoga Race Course. It was also Leparoux’s sixth win of the 2016 Saratoga meet.
Race Ten: Global Positioning led most of the way, but Bug Juice (5/2) with Joel Rosario stealing the win in a head bobbing, photo finish with More Zen Tea at the wire after they pulled ahead from Global Positioning in the final furlong of the race. More Zen Tea came in second and Global Positioning came home third after leading most of the way in the 6 ½ furlong race. For the eight-year-old veteran horse, it was the horse’s 17th lifetime win in its 55th career start. It was Bug Juice’s fourth win at Saratoga Race Course in eight starts.
For Friday, there will be 10 races, highlighted by the G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in the ninth race of the day’s card. The first post will be the usual 1 PM, with gates opening at 11 AM.
Jockey win leaders:
- Irad Ortiz Jr., 19 wins
- John Velazquez, 13 wins
- Javier Castellano, 12 wins
- Jose Ortiz, 11 wins
- Joel Rosario, 10 wins
