Author Archives: Peter Applebee

Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Day – Take 2!  The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was planned for last weekend but the record rainfall downstate meant the turf course at the Big A was not available, so the race has been redrawn for today.  As a result, we now have a “Super Saturday” card with six graded stakes including three Grade 1s.   These are the last Grade 1 races in New York for the year. The next Grade 1 in New York will be the Carter Handicap run on Wood Memorial Day six months from now. But wait, what about the Cigar Mile that’s run in December?  That great race…

Note: According to a NYRA press release, “The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has moved Saturday’s 11-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack to Sunday and pushed Sunday’s 10-race program to Wednesday due to torrential rainfall causing widespread flooding and hazardous conditions in the New York metropolitan area.” Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day!  We have four graded stakes at Aqueduct headlined by the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic along with three Grade IIs; the Woodward, the Vosburgh, and the Gallant Bloom. Plan for off going as it appears the NYC metro area will get several inches of rain Friday into Saturday.  Trivia Question: Only two fillies have…

Happy Jockey Club Gold Cup Day!  While the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup is the feature race today, the real feature is the former Lucky Coin Stakes, which has been renamed for the late, great Harvey Pack.  For decades Harvey held many important roles promoting and covering New York racing, but if you are of my vintage then you fondly remember Harvey hosting the DRF Siro’s handicapping seminars.  They were by far the best handicapping events I ever witnessed and eventually they generated so much interest that Capital OTB televised them. Harvey was the master of ceremonies each morning on the stage outside at Siro’s in his…

Happy Travers Day!  Today is the big day with five Grade I stakes. The Travers field contains the three winners of the Triple Crown races as well as Forte, who took control of the division with his narrow (and controversial) win in the Jim Dandy. This race could very well settle divisional honors.  Trivia Question:  Which jockey has won the most Travers Stakes?  Race 11 – Sword Dancer Stakes – Grade I  One Mile And A Half On The Inner Turf For Four Year Olds And Upward  Soldier Rising: In the Bowling Green as he was significantly impacted by Rebels Romance clipping heels and he had to check…

Happy Alabama Day!  The Grade 1 Alabama Stakes has is a deep field that includes the top three finishers from the Coaching Club American Oaks. The Lake Placid has four Chad Brown entries, per usual.  Trivia Question:  Why is there a major historic stakes race at Saratoga called “The Alabama”?  Race 7 – Lake Placid Stakes – Grade II  One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf for Fillies Three Years Old  Heavenly Sunday: Won the Edgewood Stakes two back at Churchill via a front running trip (86 Beyer) and then came back in the Tepin at Ellis six weeks ago where she set the pace but…

Happy Fourstardave Day!  The Fourstardave Handicap is named for “The Sultan of Saratoga” who won a race at the Spa for a record eight consecutive years from 1987 to 1994.  He was a New York bred, a blue collar horse, and was beloved by all Saratoga race fans. Dave is forever with us at Saratoga as he is buried on the backside at Clare Court.  Trivia Question: Who won the first running of the Fourstardave Handicap in 1996?   Race 8 – Saratoga Special – Grade II  Six and One Half Furlongs on the Dirt for Two Year Olds  This Grade II is a prep for the Hopeful Stakes…

Happy Whitney Day!  This is a fantastic card with four graded stakes races including three Grade 1s.  While the Whitney and Test headline the day, don’t overlook the Troy Stakes where the awesome mare Caravel takes on the boys again as she aims to continue her domination of the turf sprint division.    Trivia Question: Only two horses have won the Whitney Stakes three times – who was the most recent horse to achieve this feat?  Race 8 – The Test – Grade I  Seven Furlongs on the Dirt, For Three Year Old Fillies  Pretty Mischievous: Divisional leader of three year old fillies after narrow wins in the Kentucky…

Happy Jim Dandy Day!  For the fifth year in a row a different horse won each leg of the Triple Crown and we arrive at the Jim Dandy with the three year old division totally wide open.  Mage, National Treasure and Arcangelo each one a leg of the Triple Crown trail and then Geaux Rocket Ride upset the field in the Haskell. Given those results Forte probably retains a tentative hold on the division lead from his performances earlier this year – but much will be determined today and in the Travers.  Trivia Question – who was the last horse to win more than one leg of the…

Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day!  It is ladies’ weekend at the Spa with all three graded stakes for the fillies and mares.  Today’s card is headlined by the Grade III Caress Stakes and the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks. Sunday’s card features the Shuvee Stakes with Clairiere and Nest facing off.  Trivia question: The CCA Oaks began running in 1917 but was moved to Saratoga in 2010. Which trainer has won the most renditions of the CCA Oaks since it has been run at the Spa? Answer below.  Race 6 – The Caress Stakes – Grade III  Five and a Half Furlongs on the Mellon Turf…

Happy Diana Day!  The first Saratoga Saturday card is headlined by the Grade I Diana Stakes and the Grade III Sanford for two year olds.  Chad Brown trains four of the five Diana starters today – but it is a competitive field and not a slam dunk for In Italian. Remarkably, Chad has won six of the past seven renewals of the Diana.  Trivia Question: In Italian looks to repeat today in the Diana Stakes – who was the last horse to win two renditions of the Diana? Answer below.  Race 4 – The Diana Stakes – Grade I   One Mile and One Furlong on the Mellon Turf…