On Track
SPA TRIP INVIGORATES
We just returned from a long weekend at that track quaint, old track in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. It wasn’t long enough.
For a horseplayer who spends hours viewing a television set and computer monitor while wagering from a keyboard, it was invigorating to get out to the track for some live racing; to see the sights, to hear the crowd, to smell the popcorn, burgers, beer and manure. In fact, it felt good just to get out from behind a desk. And when the jailbreak takes you to Saratoga for Travers weekend and a bonus appearance by 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra…well, it doesn’t get much better than that.
The most perfect weather imaginable made the entire experience much more enjoyable. Saratoga, on occasion, can get a bit steamy. They don’t call it the Spa for nothing. On hot, humid days, while seated in the crowded confines of that ancient grandstand, a player easily can schvitz a pint or two throughout the afternoon as horses and bankroll fade in the stretch.
Not the case this year. No sweat and a couple of winners to boot!
One of the weekend’s outcomes that eluded us came in the main event—the 141st Travers Stakes. Our money went on Derby winner Super Saver, who turned out to be neither ‘super’ nor a ‘saver.’ We had hoped he would bounce back to his May 1 form, but he didn’t. Not even close. Perhaps we had underestimated how much he adored that sloppy Churchill Downs strip? Maybe the Preakness two weeks later really did cook his goose? Maybe he’s sick or hurt? Or, maybe he’s just not all that and a box of Cracker Jack?
Minus the Derby winner running a lick, the Travers actually lived up to its billing and pre-race hype as a wide-open crapshoot; poster boy for a season in which a different 3-year-old seems to win nearly every big race. On that count the Travers ultimately didn’t disappoint. Afleet Express made sure of it—by a nose over another relatively unheralded foe in Fly Down. At least Fly Down had won the Grade II Dwyer and had subsequently finished second in the Belmont Stakes. But Fleet Express, what had he done to signal his Travers readiness? True, he was third in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga. But two other Travers foes—A Little Warm and Miner’s Reserve-- had finished in front of him. Before that Afleet Express had won the Grade III Pegasus at Monmouth, but that’s about it. No matter, his upset victory melded perfectly into a division picture featuring lots of different faces in winner’s circle.
Earlier on the Travers-day card, Discreetly Mine ran away and hid from the King’s Bishop lineup like he had stolen something. It was his third consecutive win and third tally in four starts over the Spa surface. It would be difficult to imagine a more impressive sprint performance.
Long after the Spa crowd had exited the track and had filled local establishments with merriment, the Pacific Classic was run at Del Mar. Also billed as a wide-open race, defending race champ Richard’s Kid proved that a year really doesn’t make that much difference. The win capped a huge day for trainer Bob Baffert, who proved beyond a doubt that he’s bi-coastal. By the time the Classic had been run, Baffert horses had also won the Grade III Victory Ride at Saratoga (Rapport) and the Grade I Pat O’Brien at Del Mar (El Brujo). The Hall-of-Fame trainer was at Saratoga Saturday in person for Rapport’s win, perhaps scouting out a lakeside cottage for next season. He has voiced displeasure with the Del Mar artificial surface and has pretty much vowed not to return next season with his A-team. His pair of Grade I wins there Saturday causes one to wonder how many races the Great White Father might win if his horses actually liked the Del Mar surface.
Sunday it was Rachel Alexandra’s turn to wow the crowd in the Personal Ensign. And from early on in the afternoon it was clear that the majority of attendees had come specifically to see her. Demographically speaking Sunday’s Saratoga swarm was skewed—younger and more female, polite and gracious. Before the race the paddock was packed with fans, cameras and cell phones snapping images of Rachel. There were post parade cheers for the star and generous applause afterwards for Persistently, upset winner of the race, and for Rachel Alexandra, the vanquished favorite.
It’s clear that Rachel permanently has captured many hearts and minds. Following the race, as she was walked up the long Saratoga stretch toward her stall and a nice meal, a wave of sincere cheer and applause accompanied her. That display existed in sharp contrast to the fabricated versions we’ve witnessed at so many sporting events. It was the greatest evidence yet that horse racing indeed is a sport with non-wagering fans like any other.
Now that we’ve returned to our television, computer monitor and keyboard for business as usual, something’s different. We feel invigorated, ready to attack the year’s final quarter. But, more pressing, is the urge to do Saratoga again, as soon as possible.
Race On!
E-mail: Johnnyd@XpressBet.com