Saratoga Horses To Watch

By Greg Melikov

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won eight races and finished second three times since Aug. 13.


SARATOGA

Imperial Reign: Raced fifth in second tier more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a quarter-mile, boxed at three-eighths of a mile into stretch, looked for room, split rivals in fourth at three-sixteenths pole and gained second by 1 ¼ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 10. (Broke on top, dueled between rivals to upper stretch and drew clear by 1 ¾ lengths under steady urging at 6 ½ furlongs on a good surface Sept. 2.)

Keen Lassie: Raced sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out five wide at the quarter pole, finished strongly to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths in stretch and lost by two necks at a mile on the turf Aug. 6. (Steadied entering fist turn, race seventh more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide on final from sixth and won by a half-length at a mile on the turf Sept. 2; returned $12.80 on the front end.)

See more Horses To watch from different Race Tracks >>

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Premium Tap, Long Shot, Wins $500,000 Woodward at Saratoga

Long shot Premium Tap pulled a upset victory against a strong field and held off Second of June by one-half length to win Saturday’s running of the 1 1/8-mile Grade I $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

From the outside, Premium Tap pulled away a bit at the 16th pole under jockey Kent Desormeaux for his first graded stakes win - and perhaps the biggest upset in the history of the event.

A 31-1 shot, he clocked 1:50 3/5 and returned $64, $27.60 and 9.40 as he outgunned a field of 10 that included Sun King (third), Flower Alley (seventh) and Funny Cide (eighth).

“All I tried to do was keep him between the fences; he did the rest,” Desormeaux said. “Second of June really took a good run at him and (Premium Tap) was really brave turning him back.”

A 4-year-old son of Pleasant Tap, Premium Tap gave no indication he was capable of this type of showing. He ran fifth in the Grade I Whitney and was 4-3-1 in 12 career starts.

Under Garrett Gomez, Second of June set the early pace with Premium Tap on his heels. He was caught on the stretch, where it was a two-horse race.

Sun King, the 2-1 choice with Julien Leparoux in the saddle, made a late charge but was 3/4-length behind Second of June.

Flower Alley was favored in the Whitney and finished seventh. With John Velazquez in the irons, he again performed below expectations and never made his mark on the race.

“I don’t know what happened,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He never fired at all. He went into the first turn and got fanned out a bit, but the fractions were pretty moderate and he didn’t keep up.”

Third favorite Suave finished last.

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Bernardini Races To Victory at 2006 Travers Stakes Saratoga

Top 3-year-old, Bernardini ran away from Bluegrass Cat in the stretch en route to winning Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. With this win, Bernardini could be on his way to winning the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year.

Bernardini won the Preakness but overshadowed by Barbaro’s near-fatal injury. He then backed up that performance with an impressive nine-length win in the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes on a sloppy track here July 29. On Saturday, Bernardini again looked like a superstar.

“To have a horse of this caliber, I think it’s great for racing,” Bernardini trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Great to have people cheering for a horse. That’s what it’s all about. Cigar got the attention of a nation and hopefully this horse will, too.”

Javier Castellano took Bernardini to the front where the heavy favorite stayed throughout. Castellano went to the whip in the stretch and Bernardini responded on his way to reaching the winner’s circle by 7 1/2 lengths.

The margin of victory was the largest in the Travers since General Assembly won by 15 lengths in 1979.

Bernardini covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.60 and paid $2.70, $2.10 and $2.10.

The runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and an impressive winner in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth three weeks ago, Bluegrass Cat finished second with John Velazquez in the irons and returned $2.50 and $2.60.

Dr. Pleasure, with Cornelio Velasquez aboard, returned $4.70 to show. Hesanoldsalt was fourth, followed by High Cotton and Minister’s Bid.

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Is The 2006 Travers Stakes Bernardini's Race?

The $1 million 2006 Travers Stakes in Saratoga, oldest stakes race for 3-year-olds in the country, has attracted a formidable field, including Preakness winner Bernardini.

Trainer Tom Albertrani made this observation on Aug. 11: “Depending on who shows up, this might be a little tougher challenge for him. But he’s been training well.”

The son of A. P. Indy, ridden by Javier Castellano, has reeled off four straight wins in stakes by an average margin of nearly 6 ½ lengths. He is coming off a convincing nine-length victory in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 29.

The likely favorite on Aug. 17 breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at Saratoga, the second fastest of 20 works at the distance last Saturday. “The track was deep,” Albertrani told Bloodhorse.com.

“He went the last three-eighths in 36 2/5, galloped out in 1:13 3/5 (for six furlongs) and pulled up seven furlongs in 1:27. He’s a very special horse. If he stays at this level and stays healthy, he’s going to be very tough to beat.”

The field for Saturday’s 137th renewal of track’s showcase event, run as the Travers Mid-Summer Derby from 1927 to ‘32, includes horses on the improve like Bluegrass Cat, an easy seven-length winner of the Haskell Invitational.

“He’s been doing well since the Belmont Stakes,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after a record stakes victory in Monmouth’s signature race on Aug. 6. “Although you never envision something as dominating at this. His performance was as good as any 3-year-old’s this year.”

The son of Storm Cat drilled five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 and gallop out six furlongs in 1:13 at Saratoga. Bluegrass Cat, with John Velazquez up, finished second to Jazil in the Belmont Stakes and was runner-up to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby.

Continue Reading: Bernardini Race for the 2006 Travers Stakes Title >>

[Bet on Bernardini's chances at the 2006 Travers Stakes thru our Summer Horse Racing Contest from All HorseRacing!]

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Bernardini Wins Jim Dandy

The brilliant 3-year-colt, Bernardini, outclassed the field in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, proving to just about everyone that his victory in the Preakness Stakes was no fluke.

“I guess there was a lot of doubt in people’s minds about the Preakness,” winning trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Today, he showed us what a really good horse he is. I wasn’t really surprised.”

Bernardini, with jockey Javier Castellano along for the ride, took the lead around the first turn and was never challenged by Minister’s Bid or Sunriver. By the time the six-horse field reached the turn for home over a track turned sloppy by an early afternoon rainstorm, Bernardini was just warming up.

With his fourth victory in five starts, Bernardini has to be considered the nation’s leading 3-year-old and a contender for Horse of the Year honors. The next stop for the son of A.P. Indy will be the Travers Stakes on Aug.

26. And then it’s likely on to the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 7 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

“If he stays at this level, he’s going to be a very tough horse all year,” Albertrani said. “When I saw him come around the quarter pole it just confirmed my hopes that he was going to run this race very well and come back and have something left for the Travers.”

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, returned $3.10, $2.40 and $2.10 and earned $300,000 for Darley Stable, operated by Dubai’s Sheik Mohammed. The colt boosted his career earnings to $1,010,480.

The winning time for the 1 1-8 miles was 1:50.50.

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Scat Daddy Takes Sanford; Bernardini Favorite To Win Jim Dandy S.

Favorite Scat Daddy blasted to the front with a late run and beat Teuflesberg by a neck Thursday to give trainer Todd Pletcher his third career victory in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

It was the second stakes win in a row at the Spa for Pletcher, Saratoga’s leading trainer for the past four years.

Meanwhile, on Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes, 3-year-old colt Bernardini makes his first start since winning the May 20 Preakness Stakes, a race everyone remembers as the one in which Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in the opening strides.

Bernardini went on to win the Preakness with an impressive performance that was all but forgotten in the wake of Barbaro’s fight for survival, which continues at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.”

With three victories after a career-opening defeat, Bernardini was installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite Thursday in a six-horse field going 1 1/8 miles. The winner’s share of the $500,000 purse is $300,000.

Get complete Jim Dandy Stakes Race Entries, Post Position, Jockeys & Odds >>

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2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Cotton Blossom Takes Saratoga Opening Feature Schuylerville

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Todd Pletcher-trained Cotton Blossom rallied in the stretch to win the 88th running of the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Wednesday, opening day at Saratoga Race Course, New York.

Cotton Blossom settled in good position early, stalking the leaders along the backstretch. She made a big move on the far turn and fought to a hard-earned lead to take the first stakes win of her career. She was 1 3/4 lengths in front of Desire To Excel in the field of seven.

He said Cotton Blossom will be pointed toward the $250,000 Spinaway on Sept. 3.

Continue reading Cotton Blossom Takes Saratoga Opening Schuylerville >>

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2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006