Saratoga Race Course recap: September 1
On the final Thursday and 36th day of the 2016 Saratoga meet, the usual 10 races were held. The day was highlighted by the 12th running of the P.G. Johnson Stakes in the ninth. After Thursday, there is only four days remaining in the meet.
Race One: After a side-by-side battle for most of the race, it was Hardrock Eleven (9/2) with Brendan Crowley up taking Thursday’s steeplechase race with the pass after the sixth of eight fences. Castle Hill was second and Blue Atlantic finished third. The horse Hardrock Eleven had battled, Secret Reward, did not hit the board as a top four finisher. This was Hardrock Eleven’s fifth career win in 32 races, and second win in four races at Saratoga. It was also Crowley’s first win of the 2016 Saratoga meet in just his second race of the season.
Race Two: It was Mastic (3/1) ridden by Jose Ortiz holding off the field after leading most of the way and winning the second race of the afternoon. Lady Paradime was second and Sweetrayofsunshine winded up third. The win was Mastic’s sixth win in her 20th career start, and also her second career win in four starts at Saratoga. For Ortiz, it was his 50th win of the meet, the first to reach this at Saratoga in 2016. Additionally, this would give him a three win lead over brother Irad Jr. for the most at Saratoga in 2016.
Race Three: In a thriller, it was Warranty (2/1) with Javier Castellano up taking the third race of the day in a three-wide finish. 23/1 long shot More Than a Legend nearly pulled off the upset, finishing second. Stormy Alexis was third. The win came after an inquiry about the start of the race about a potential bump involving Warranty, but there would be no changes. It would be Castellano’s 44th win of the meet, ranking him third among all jockeys. For Warranty, it was her first win in her sixth career start, and it was also her first win in her second start at Saratoga for the three-year-old filly.
Race Four: In another three wide thriller, it was 18/1 long shot General Downs and Kendrick Carmouche holding off the field to take the win. He was there the whole way but Singleton had led it, but he took the lead at the top of the stretch, and held off a hard-charging Tale of Mist and T R Crew, who finished second and third, respectively. Singleton, who led most of the way, finished fourth. It was General Downs’ first win in just his second career start, and both of his starts have come at Saratoga Race Course in the current meet. It was also just the seventh win of the meet for Carmouche.
Race Five: Daring Duchess led the whole way, but it would be Rachel Wall (5/1) with Jose Ortiz up, winning the fifth race of the day after taking the lead in the stretch. Evidently finished second and Daring Duchess, who led most of the way, finishing third. It was Rachel Wall’s third win in 11 career starts, and first win in two starts at Saratoga. The win came after Jose Lezcano, who went unplaced, filed an objection against Ortiz in addition to an inquiry, but there would be no changes. The win would be Ortiz’s 51st of the meet and second of the day, extending his win lead to four.
Race Six: In another close race, it was Bareeqa (8/5) ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the sixth race of the day after many long shot horses had shots to win the race, including 20/1 Social Mobility and 48/1 Verona Blue, who were the top two most of the way. However, neither would hit the board. Aussie Awakening finished second, and Octacato finished third. It was Bareeqa’s first career win in 11 lifetime starts, and it was also her second start at Saratoga Race Course. Irad Ortiz Jr. would pick up win number 48 of the meet, cutting brother Jose’s win lead to three.
Race Seven: It was Game Girl (6/1) with Jose Ortiz up picking up the win after he pulled away at the end, with the lead having following them by about a length the whole way. They went five-wide for second, and it was Indygita being declared second, and Hudson River Gal was third. This win would give Jose a comfortable four-win edge in the jockey standings over brother Irad Jr., picking up win number 52 of the meet, and third of the day, finishing off the hat trick. It was Game Girl’s third win in nine lifetime starts, and second win in three starts at The Spa.
Race Eight: It was once again Jose Ortiz picking up the win, his fourth of the day. This time it was on So You Say (5/1) in the eighth. They led most of the way, and were able to hold off the field in the stretch. Know It All Anna finished second, and Callista was third. It would be Ortiz’s second straight victory, his third in four races, and fourth win of the day overall. It would be his 53rd win of the meet, giving him a five win advantage on the leaderboard. It was So You Say’s third lifetime win in nine starts, and first win in two starts at Saratoga Race Course.
Race Nine (The 12th running of the P.G. Johnson Stakes): In the only stakes race of the afternoon, the winning pass would be made in the stretch, as Coasted (5/3) with Jose Lezcano up made the pass at the top of the stretch and held off the field to win by ¾ of a length. Noble Ready finished second, and Majestic Bonnie came home third. The horse ridden by Jose Ortiz, Naifah, was fourth. Mo Promise, who led most of the way, finished last in the seven horse field. For Coasted, it was her second win in three starts, and second win in two starts at The Spa for the two-year-old filly.
“I had a little bit of a rough trip. I was tied up inside the whole way around, but she’s a nice filly. She gave me all she had,” Lezcano said. “Going forward she has a lot of potential like she showed today.”
Lezcano picked up win number 18 of the meet with the win in the ninth.
Race Ten: It was a two-horse race the whole way, but it was Haul Anchor (⅘) ridden by Junior Alvarado winning the final race of the day by 2 ½ lengths. The horse he battled all race, Mo Maverick finished second, and Can You Diggit was third. It was Haul Anchor’s first win in three lifetimes starts, and it was his second race at Saratoga Race Course, having previously run on August 8, where he finished second. He had also finished second at Belmont Park on July 10. This was Alvarado’s 11th win of the meet.
Saratoga racing will continue tomorrow for the final Friday of the meet, and it will be followed by the G1 Woodward Stakes on Saturday afternoon. There is now four days remaining in the 2016 Saratoga Race Course meet.
Jockey win leaders:
- Jose Ortiz, 53 wins
- Irad Ortiz Jr., 48 wins
- Javier Castellano, 44 wins
- John Velazquez, 40 wins
- Joel Rosario, Luis Saez, 26 wins