It's All Jardin in the Schuylerville

As expected, Ocean Colors took the lead out of the gate, but she was pestered by Cameron Crazies from the start and faded after a quarter. Collegiate (Saarland) briefly put her head in front, but she couldn't hold it. Meanwhile, Jardin was lurking in third.  She seemed to relish the muddy track and took the lead easily, drawing off at the end. Cameron Crazies held well for 2nd, while Girlfrienontheside passed Collegiate to grab 3rd. Our other horse, Renda (Medaglia d'Oro), broke slowly, but got in a good position on the rail. She seemed to take up a bit when someone was fading in front of her and made up only a little ground late.

Interestingly, Jardin and Ocean Colors had the same amount of experience (1 win in a 5 furlong race) and the same trainer, Steve Asmussen. Yet, Jardin was 12-1 and Ocean Colors was 3-2. Much of this was due to the romantic appeal of Ocean Colors' pedigree (she a daughter of Winning Colors). But, pedigree only gets you so far. On the other hand, don't give up if you are an Ocean Colors fan, she may not have cared for the muddy track. Plus, there were reports that she tied-up after the race.

Read more about the Schuylerville here.

Result: July 23, 2008 
Saratoga Race 9
Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III)

Equibase Chart

In Speight of It Derailed by Slow Start

I thought In Speight of It's 4th place finish was exceptional after he spotted the field quite a few lengths at the start (chart comments said, "broke slow, gained."). Favored and experienced Cognito took the lead soon after the start, but he was joined by Gone Astray. That one tired in the stretch, but Brave Victory took up the chase. Brave Victory was a bit green in the stretch, but seemed to figure things out late and was gaining at the end (this may have been an illusion caused by the jockey on Cognito easing up).

Result: July 23, 2008 
Saratoga Race 2

Equibase Chart

Smarty Marty Debuts at Saratoga

July 24, 2008
Saratoga Race 5
Maiden Special Weight
5.5 furlongs
2 Year Old Fillies
Post Time: 3:15 PM HRTV/TVG

Smarty Marty (Smarty Jones - Frozen Rope by Clever Trick) will try to turn our Saratoga luck around, as she debuts at the track. Let's hope that she likes the mud, as it doesn't appear as if they track will be dry anytime soon. Smarty Marty has been working at Saratoga for the past 2 months. Frozen Rope, dam of Smarty Marty, was stakes-placed as a 2-year old and has 7 winners from 7 to race, including stakes winner Knot So Clever who was also a debut winner at 2.

The most experienced horse in the race is Mine All Mine (Belong to Me - Pulcinella by Unbridled) who was also entered in the Schuylerville, but was scratched. Mine All Mine has run 3 times, finishing 4th on April 10, 6th on May 1 (in the Kentucky Stakes), and 2nd on May 26. Her dam is a half-sister to stakes-placed, Soul of the Cat.

Foxy Bailey  (Ocean Terrace - House Dressing by Conquistador Cielo) who finished 2nd in her only start at Churchill Downs on June 29, is by freshman sire, Ocean Terrace. Ocean Terrace is the sire of 3 runners who have made 4 total starts, recording 2 seconds and 1 third. Foxy Bailey, who sold for $30,000 as a yearling, is a half-sister to four winners, including 2-year old stakes winner, Taos, and stakes winner, Park Avenue Prince who has earned $159,291 through 2008.

The final experienced runner is Market At Midday (Yonaguska - Noon Time Dancer by Afternoon Deelites), who was 3rd in her only start, June 19 at Belmont (behind Collegiate). Market At Midday, who was a $350,000 2-year old is the first foal out of winning mare who is a half-sister to 2 stakes winners. 

First-crop sire Tapit is the sire of Selective (Tapit - Wednesday's Child by Storm Cat) who sold for $170,000 as a weanling. Tapit's 15 runners have made 26 collective starts, registering 2 wins, 7 seconds, and 4 thirds. Selective is out of a winning dam who has produced one winner.

Selling for $875,000 as a yearling was Cats (Storm Cat - Blissful by Mr. Prospector) whose dam, Blissful, is a full-sister to champion Fusaichi Pegasus. Cats is a full-sister to 2 winners, both of which won as 2-year olds. Cats was previously entered in a race at Churchill on June 22 where she was a late scratch.

Venado (Unbridled's Song - Swearingen by Deposit Ticket) was a $150,000 yearling. Her dam, Swearingen, won or placed in 14 stakes including a victory in the La Senorita Stakes as a 2-year old. Overall, she earned $673,233 and has produced one winner.

Siren Serenade (Unbridled's Song - Versailles Treaty by Danzig) is out of grade I stakes winner and millionaire Versailles Treaty, which makes her a half-sister to Saarland. Saarland, who won the Remsen Stakes at 2, earned $595,250 and won or placed in 6 stakes including a 2nd in the Met Mile (gr. I).

Imandra (Menifee - Lady Quatorze by Louis Quatorze) is a half-sister to 2 winners including 2-year old winner, Dawn Before Dawn, who has earned $67,580 through 2008.

2-Year Old Works

New to this blog

July 23

Working 3 furlongs in :37.80 at Keeneland was Class Flirt (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Flirtatious by A. P. Indy). Flirtatious, dam of Class Flirt, was a 2-year old winner and earned $171,266 in her career. She is the the dam of grade I stakes winner Wait a While. Wait a While's current earnings are $1,819,917. As a 2-year old, Wait a While won the Miss Grillo Stakes.

Mindy Sue (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Drifa by Tabasco Cat) worked 3 furlongs at Arlington in :40.80. Mindy Sue, who sold for $35,000 as a yearling, is out of a winning mare who has produced one winner from one to run.

Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

July 22

Fufty Too (colt; Speightstown - Cape North by Capote) - Arlington Park, 4 furlongs, :51.20. 

July 23

Birdrock (filly; Birdstone - Eternal Glory by Danzatore) - Thistledown, 4 furlongs, :51.20. 

Breakwithtradition (colt; Birdstone - Princess Penny by Joyeux Danseur) - Woodbine, 5 furlongs, 1:02.80. 

Midnight Break (colt; Congaree - Twilight Spectre by Imp Society) - Keeneland, 5 furlongs, 1:02.00.

Wiggle and a Wink (filly; Congaree - Friendofthefamily by Wild Rush) - Woodbine, 5 furlongs; 1:02.40.

Causin' Havoc (colt: Medaglia d'Oro - Degenerate Gal by Degerate Jon) - Keeneland, 5 furlongs, 1:01.40.

Pearl of Valor (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Maderia M'dear by Black Tie Affair (IRE)) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :38.17.

Signet Ring (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Runaway Royalty by Runaway Groom) - Churchill Downs, 5 furlongs, 1:03.20.

Herrand (filly; Peace Rules - Kelly's Lake by Salt Lake) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :49.20. 

Live the Dash (colt; Peace Rules - Western Resolve by West by West) - Laurel, 4 furlongs, :48.60.

Peace Roll (filly; Peace Rules - Roulette by Storm Bird) - Hollywood, 3 furlongs, :39.00. 

Peace Town (colt; Peace Rules - Darnestown by Williamstown) - Laurel Park, 4 furlongs, :49.00.

Sweet Kristen (filly; Peace Rules - Puddy Cat by Mountain Cat) - Calder, 4 furlongs, :50.80.

Valid Rule (colt; Peace Rules - Valid Bonnet by Valid Appeal) - Arlington Park, 4 furlongs (gate), :49.40.

Saarbright (colt; Saarland - Lady Sabrina by Patton) - Arlington Park, 4 furlongs, :49.40.

Hey Smarty (colt; Smarty Jones - Miss Seffens by Dehere) - Louisiana Downs, 3 furlongs (gate), :35.40. 

Second Glance (filly; Smarty Jones - Worth a Look by Sword Dance (IRE)) - Laurel, 4 furlongs, :48.80.

Congor Bay (colt; Speightstown - Pico Teneriffe by Red Ransom) - Winding Oaks Farm, 2 furlongs, :25.40.