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The names and faces we all expected to do well are off to a robust beginning. We offer notes from our first week journal and important stats that are aiming towards trends to follow for this years meeting. ..... Story by MC_Excelsior "The Stick"
*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !* 8/01/05 - Saratoga First Week trends, The Stick Studio, New York The racing has been absolutely incredible. We have viewed multiple stakes races, enjoyed the Diana(Sand Spring/Johnny V) and Jim Dandy(Flower Alley/Johnny V), and been thrilled with huge payoff's(7/31 - $26,000+ Super) and enourmous crowds each day. The Jockey Colony Notes
It's Johnny Velasquez's World, all the other jockey's have to learn to live in it ! Huge Kudos to the heir apparent - Johnny V. We told you about him in years past that he was poised to be #1, and it looks as though JV will be the one to beat for this years title. Riding for his main trainer, Todd Pletcher(see trainer's notes), JV has laid down the gauntlet and a challenge to the jockey colony, beat me if you can ! Aside from winning almost ALL the major stakes races this first week, JV has 10 wins from 27 starters. Very impressive ! No one comes close to JV in money earned, probably because he had the major stakes run, the $500K Diana, and Jim Dandy. With 1/2 the number of winners, and in second place by 1 second place finish is Javiar Castellano. Javiar made the big move from Florida racing to NY a few years back and is now coming into his own with a powerful riding style and a special talent to get every ounce of strength out of his mount through the final eighth. If Javiar has horse, and a clear path, he will be rolling through the stretch. A threat on almost any mount, we have to give Javiar our "jock to watch" at Saratoga. Javiar has 5 wins and 4 seconds from 23 starts. This guy would be a leader at almost any other racing track, and he has his sights set on proving himself. There is nothing more focused and determined then a jockey with the desire to shine and the ability to back it up. Javiar Castellano can make a big impact this meeting, and if not for his momentum being slowed in the KY Derby, this jock would be the one everyone wanted to use. Hot on Javiar's heels is long time Florida sensation, Eibar Coa. Eibar has 5 wins also, and one less second place finish, so those two are static for 2nd place. Eibar made a very big name for himself in Florida and then tried the NY colony a few years back to limited numbers of mounts and success. While many other jockey's would have just accepted that they could not do any better, Eibar fought back, and he fought back hard. After a short return to Florida, eiabr set his sights on the Monmouth Park riding title, where he showed his talents and ability in being a dominant rider and at the top of their standings. Eibar decided to give NY another shot, and this time, he is loaded for bear. With more top trainer's using him, and his all around ability and drive, Eibar has been putting together a solid record of wins from mounts, and I think I can safely say, Eibar is with the NY colony to stay. In years past we had so many talented rider, Eddie Maple, Jorge Velasquez, Robbie Davis, and others. It just seemed as though the NY jockey colony had no bottom. As the years passed and our stars went into retirement, we thought, who could possible replace them ? Well, when you think of Eibar Coa, he is much more then a replacement, he's a star. We are very happy to see EC's star shine so brightly in NY, he certainly did it the old fashioned way ... he earned it ! Another World Class jockey to watch is that pack is Edgar Prado. Prado, can do what only Angel Cordero, jr. was capable of doing. They can add 2-3 lengths to a horse's best performance. Call it a 'super power', and be sure, less then 5 riders in history ever had this talent. We call is 'Arcaro-kai'. *please note us if you use this phrase ! Thanks ! Behind the top 3, we have the luminaries of the sport .. Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, Jose Santos. JD has been openly talking possible retirement at the end of this years racing. Gary has won every big race in the World, and is already a shoe in for the Racing Hall of Fame. While being known primarily for being a California rider, Gary Stevens has ridden in NY before, and has shown his talent in meeting from France to The Sha Tin in Hong Kong. Its a real treat watching Gary ride, and he is one of the greatest riders(along with JD) of All Time. Jose Santos, many years a leader and top jockey in NY shows a skill that many others can only hope to learn as they try to improve their talent. Fresh young bloods include Raphael Bejarano, and Ramon Dominguez. You should also watch out for Robby Albarado from Kentucky. These three riders all have the idea in their head that they can win on ANY horse ! Sometimes they pull off amazing upsets, and when they have a favorite to ride, you know they are going to be in the lead at the 1/16th pole. Cornelio Velasquez is a friend of Eibar Coa's, and along with Javiar Castellano, and So.Cal star, Rene Douglas, all share a Floridian domination in the past. Cornelio has the ability and talent to be the 'Jefe' or 'Top jockey' at any track. One has to look at his performance in light of the depth of this colony. In CV, you have a world class rider who will give his all every time he rides. Its just a matter of time before we see CV at the top of the standings, maybe not this year, but sometime soon. Longtime NY regular's, Richard Migliore, and Mike Luzzi are both riding their best this year. You should also view their performance in a more global view. "The Mig" has all the tools : Talent, strength, experience, and chutzpah ! Mike Luzzi showed us a very good meeting at Aqueduct, and while he is up and coming, there is no reason to think he can't win his share at The Spa. The Trainer Colony Notes
Where do we start with this talented group of stars ? Todd Pletcher has continued his winning ways, and has 8 wins from 19 starts. TP's barn has size and depth with many runners, and many incredible stars. Flower Alley looks very well poised to take home the Travers Stakes in 3 weeks. With Afleet Alex, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner out with an injury, Flower Alley looks like the horse to beat in the Travers stakes. With a smashing victory in the Jim Dandy, Todd Pletcher has also laid down the gauntlet and said, Im the Big Dog at this track. You want to beat Pletcher, you better be at the top of your game and have the best horse in that race. TP so smooth and professional, its like watching a clinic when his horses hit the track, they all run big ! Veteran Bill Mott(Cigar and many others), has taken up the running from second place with 3 wins from 13 starts. Mott has been known to team up well with Jerry Bailey, especially on the turf. While you might look at Johnny V and Todd Pletcher and say no one can down them, don't forget that JD and Bill Mott were in the very same position just a few short years ago. Veteran's like JD and Bill Mott never lose their desire to win, and while Pletcher's barn has jumped out to a big advantage in the first week, it would be no surprise to see Bill Mott make a race out of this year's Spa title. Richard Violette, Linda Rice and Patrick Biancone are all hungry and capable. This group is right behind Bill Mott, and they all have the ability to be at the top. he question for this group will be WHO will break out and make a run at Pletcher ? Veteran Hall of famer's D.Wayne Lukas, and Bobby Frankel both have yet to unveil their big guns. Lukas one of the greatest trainer's that ever lived, does not appear to have as many horses in each division as Pletcher does, but remember, he was Pletcher's teacher for many years. D.Wayne one of the best around, and he really has nothing to prove to any of us. Lets hope he can enjoy the meet and not feel pressured from it. Bobby Frankel is not to be taken lightly just because his first week only had 1 winner. In fact, from 4 starters, Frankel is 1-1-1. Also, last year's runner up trainer to Pletcher, has every reason in the world to want to be #1 at Saratoga. Frankel will make a run for the big stakes races. We have to question from the small # of starters in the first week, if Frankel is going to race the bulk of his massive stable at other tracks, and aim his stakes stars at the big purse races ? Do not discount Frankel trained horses, they may all jump up in the next 2 weeks to give us all some exciting stretch runs and fantastic finish's. Notable trainer's to watch include Carlos Martin, Jimmy Jerkens, Steve Asmussen and Kiarin McLaughlin. Lets not forget 'Rusty' Arnold, David Donk, George Weaver and Randy Shulhofer. Again, as with the jockey colony, any one of these trainer's on their own has already shown themselves to be leaders at other tracks. They all have the capability of being on top here, the question for them is how deep does their barn go, and how many horses can they field in the face of the larger outfit's ? There is no question however, when it comes to drive and talent. This group of trainers is one of the greatest in the World. Its a shame we cannot see them run against each all year long ! Stick Racing Fans, we wanted to remind you of something ... Enjoying the races. In everyone's desire to pick out the best horse and root for them like you own them, please don't forget to enjoy the races. You are watching something very special when you watch the racing at Saratoga. You are seeing History in the making. Living History being presented each and every racing day. Enjoy it, Horse Racing is a true sport, its not all about the gambling. Its all about having fun, and forgetting your troubles for a few precious hours. Be well, and wager responsibly. Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior
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