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Originally Posted by bellsbendboy
Summing up Saratoga in one word would be difficult as racing has been conducted since the civil war, but tradition comes to mind' Something that is customary, inherited, ongoing and passed from one generation to another.
One tradition for Saratoga and most opening days at other meets is the straight maiden colt race. Often split, this race offers the very best juveniles with their regal bloodlines and/or lofty sales prices.
How the owners acquired these youngsters has changed radically. Gone are the days when Leslie Coombs put real estate heiress Dolly Green on the back of an elephant, hours before she bought the sale topper with Coombs partners bidding up the price. Lately, the last ten years or so, wealthy investors have been demanding quality in their purchases often buying two year olds in training to reduce their costs. Xrays, nuclear scans, blood work and other vetting are now routine and owners want immediate returns on their investments.
Nick Zito is a good case in point. It seems he has won with more first time juvenile starters the last three years than he has in his previous thirty-five years as a trainer.
Phenomenal juvenile trainer Steve Assmussen ran three babies. A 700K that won, a 425K that won and a well bred homer that got caught on the trecherous rail, tied up and finished last at 13-10!
With all that printed, opening day at big venues brings out colts with bright futures; or at least their owners hope so. We have always enjoyed these type heats. Alas, our selection Forest Lord came onto the track a good fifty pounds over weight, showed brief speed and ran out of condition before the quarter pole. Its much tougher to get colts fit than fillies and this son of Forest Camp had a difficult to read work tab. Perhaps he did not like the surface as the days winners were on the crown or drifting noticeably.
Thanks for the comments. Aside to Philcski; 35 non NYbred 2yo's were entered the first two days and only two had a two year old champ in their immediate pedigree. BBB
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I'm not banging on your selection, I thought he looked live at a price too. He wasn't good enough first out to beat a horse that had debuted strongly, simple as that. I just don't buy the pedigree handicapping all the time. ALL of these horses are extremely well bred, which is why they're running at Saratoga instead of River Downs. Your case was made on good works and a capable trainer, which I agreed with.
In the case of Cognito, he's a half to Cool Coal Man who's a pretty damned good 3yo, that's just as strong an angle, if not stronger, as the number of champions in a pedigree, no?