Godolphin's mud-loving
filly by Street Cry won the Go For Wand.
But the filly on television in the Haskell had the fans tipping their
"Hats Off to Saratoga"
caps in approval.
The tan Alabama Stakes ball cap that was given to all paying
patrons on Sunday was the first of only four giveaways that Saratoga horse racing fans have a chance at
this season. Perhaps that's why the item
was being sold on Ebay.com even before it was made available at the racecourse.
NYRA is wise to plus the racing and minus the
promotions. Souvenir hunters may boost
the attendance numbers by spinning through the turnstiles but they rarely
remain for the show and the show is what you come for. Regardless, it was a fun day at Saratoga for everyone, no
matter his level of interest.
Marta Glazen, the owner of a millinery shop in Cleveland, Ohio,
walked away with the top prize in the Fashionably Saratoga hat
competition. Some may cry foul that her ownership
of the Busy Broad boutique made the winner an unfair contestant. But there was no topper as elegant as Glazen's
traditional black riding hat with black netting bow and albino peacock feathers
in back and cameo brooch at the front.
The three judges - Betsy Senior, Barbara Stevenson and Sally
Hill - all believed that Glazer's outfit contributed to the presentation. "Wearing a hat correctly is not just wearing
a hat," Glazen noted, who dressed in period attire. In her case, that attire would be a smart
black blazer, matching vest, floor-length striped skirt and black lace scarf. To place her achievement in perspective,
Glazen was also one of seven finalists in a hat contest held at Royal
Ascot.
The judges pronounced Glazen the winner right before a $3.1
million Keeneland yearling purchase named Chimayo tasted ugly defeat in the
fifth race. A race later, another well-meant runner named Al's Deputy did
better. Darley's Justenuffhumor finished
first of nine in the seventh. The
4-year-old Distorted Humor colt, stepping up into stakes competition for the
initial time, beat Cowboy Cal, Cosmonaut and Kip Deville among other
stakes winners in the grade II Fourstardave.
Rain obliterated the crowd and the track by the time the Go
For Wand rolled around. The grade I,
$300,000 handicap for fillies and mares went to Seventh Street, who entered the fray
three for four in the mud with a 431 Tomlinson.
The Edward Evans-owned Spritely trained by Todd Pletcher appeared headed
for an upset before she folded like origami.
Monday's just got to bring sun. It's been sun followed by rain followed by
sun followed by rain - each good day alternating with a bad one. Regardless of the weather, however, this is
certain - Mine That Bird will be here. Still, after sticking around to watch
the Haskell Invitational on television, fans must be wondering if the Kentucky
Derby winner will stay for the Travers if Rachel Alexandra is entered.
