Welcome to Stabile’s Saratoga Special. Throughout the 36 day meet at America’s most revered racetrack, VegasInsider.com writer and handicapper Anthony Stabile, dubbed “King of the Spa” after his record setting ROI for a public handicapper at the 1999 Saratoga meet, will take a look at the stakes action for the day as well as give you a free play in one of the stakes that day. For all of Stabile’s daily Saratoga selections and plays, CLICK HERE!!!
We’ll get to the Wednesday Spa feature, the Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the grass briefly a bit later on. For now, let’s talk about week 2 at Saratoga.
Two performances really stand out in my mind and they were both turned in by New York breds, though only one of the two is an equine. He, of course, is Commentator.
He tried valiantly to join Discovery and the legendary Kelso as the only three time winners of the prestigious Whitney but couldn’t get it done at the ripe old age of eight. It was great to see him try though in an age where the best horses in the sport are shipped off to the breeding shed at three or four years of age.
His being a gelding obviously played a key role in keeping him in training but the fact that he’s even able to compete at the top level of the sport at this stage of the game is remarkable in itself. Kudos must be given to owner Tracy Farmer and to Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito for a job well done. Along with Funny Cide, Commentator will go down as one of the greatest New York breds of all time. Enjoy the good life, buddy.
The other New Yorker is Brooklyn’s own Rich Migliore. It’s been a tough year for the Mig since his return from the West Coast. The topper had to be the fact that he was working impressive filly-against-colts maiden winner Babai Baby for trainer John Kimmel and didn’t get to ride her because he was at Delaware riding Unbridled Belle, the even money favorite in the $1 million Delaware Handicap, where she wound up third.
On Saturday though, Migliore gave Flashing a picture perfect, off the pace ride to win the G1 Test for the powerful Godolphin Stable. Richie had been getting on her in the morning and played a big role in getting her to rate as opposed to blasting out of the gate and it all came together Saturday.
Outside the Spa, Gio Ponti won his fourth consecutive G1 in the Arlington Million at Arlington Park under Ramon Dominguez, who rode him brilliantly. If I had a vote, he’d be my older horse of the year as far as the Eclipse voting goes even though he’s done all his work on the lawn. Trainer Christophe Clement has plenty of options and may even wind up having him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic over the synthetic ProRide surface out at Santa Anita.
Finally, Zenyatta amazingly found a way to remain undefeated when she got up in the final strides of the Clement Hirsch out at Del Mar. Easily her most precarious victory, could another undefeated entity in Father Time finally be catching up to the sensational five-year-old mare that is one win shy of Personal Ensign’s perfect 13 for 13 record? And, off that last start, is there any doubt as to what would happen if she knocked heads with superfilly Rachel Alexandra? There isn’t in my mind but I doubt it’ll ever happen anyway. Maybe it shouldn’t and we should just enjoy both of them for what they are. I think that’s a good story for another day.
As for today, while the rest of the card is solid – there is a 2 mile allowance contest on the card!! - , it’s tough to real get up for the stake. So here’s a small play and we’ll see you tomorrow.
THE PLAY
Short and simple. Play $50 to win on Scientist. Good luck!!!
BANKROLL: minus $112
