Cards at Saratoga

gales0678 · #1 08-08-2008, 10:15 AM

i agree with you on that gander

Sightseek · #2 08-08-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I've only taken a brief look at Saturday's card but I thought it was fantastic. Full fields, a few "stakes" races. What more do you want?

I thought so too....you have a few horses prepping for closing weekend as well so it will be interesting to see how they do.

Gander · #3 08-08-2008, 10:39 AM

Full fields are a great thing. I think people (like myself) equate Saratoga Saturdays with "star power" and have been spoiled by seeing talents like Skip Away, Ghostzapper, Formal Gold, SilverBulletDay, Bernardini, Point Given, etc. Its nice to have somebody great to see like the above, and at Saratoga its usually a "Given", no pun intended.

But I can see how as a gambler, tomorrow's card may look enticing from a betting standpoint. I just wish I found a race to be all over, but I cant.

ateamstupid · #4 08-08-2008, 10:43 AM

Jeez, guess you can't please everyone. The first two weeks were terrific, and now, because there are a few days with subpar cards, "the level of racing has dropped considerably." When you run 10-11 races a day for 36 days, not every race and not every card is going to be fantastic. It's still hands down the best race meet in the country, and things will pick back up very soon. Take it easy.

I think people have the tendency to denigrate an entire meet/track/circuit because they personally aren't doing well at it.

And I still don't understand the point about there not being many horses who have won at Saratoga in the past. What difference does that make?

#5 08-08-2008, 10:51 AM

Enjoy it now. It'll only get worse through the years.

Gander · #6 08-08-2008, 11:05 AM

Are they running the Yaddo? I cant remmeber the last time (if ever) a stakes race had to be cancelled at Saratoga because they couldnt find horses.
Have they tried the Harness Track or downtown? The Police force here have a wonderful stable of horses that would probably be free to run.

Gauchos0522 · #7 08-08-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gander

Are they running the Yaddo? I cant remmeber the last time (if ever) a stakes race had to be cancelled at Saratoga because they couldnt find horses.
Have they tried the Harness Track or downtown? The Police force here have a wonderful stable of horses that would probably be free to run.

I could be mistaken but I think the John Morrissey(sp?) was moved back a day or two last year because of the exact reason the Yaddo was moved back a day.

stonegossard · #8 08-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Racing has changed. Deal with it.

the_fat_man · #9 08-08-2008, 01:09 PM

It's starting to rain in Brooklyn. I'd play it safe if I were NYRA and take the 2 remaining TURF races OFF. We wouldn't want to ruin the turf courses for all those horses that'll need to work on them when the meet is over.

philcski · #10 08-08-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

It's starting to rain in Brooklyn. I'd play it safe if I were NYRA and take the 2 remaining TURF races OFF. We wouldn't want to ruin the turf courses for all those horses that'll need to work on them when the meet is over.

The Fat Man is BACK!!!

Gander · #11 08-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Its absolutely pouring here in Toga. Streets are flooding, rain coming from all angles, heavy winds.
The weather is at this point comical! You have to laugh.

DJK · #12 08-08-2008, 06:46 PM

I don't know why they moved the stakes races so that the Sword Dancer and Alabama would be on the same day, thus leaving this Saturday with, well, nothing much. I cannot remember a Saturday at Saratoga without a graded stakes race.

Linny · #13 08-08-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I've only taken a brief look at Saturday's card but I thought it was fantastic. Full fields, a few "stakes" races. What more do you want?

A stakes race on a Sat might be nice...

Gander · #14 08-08-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linny

A stakes race on a Sat might be nice...

At least you get to see horses who have competed in some really nice Graded Stakes in Magna Graduate, Sam P and Fairbanks.

And race 4 isnt bad. Callmetony is a nice one as are Noonmark and Most Distinguished.

Trying to see the glass as half full

Linny · #15 08-09-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gander

At least you get to see horses who have competed in some really nice Graded Stakes in Magna Graduate, Sam P and Fairbanks.

And race 4 isnt bad. Callmetony is a nice one as are Noonmark and Most Distinguished.

Trying to see the glass as half full

At the risk of seeming argumentative, which honestly, I am not...

It's SATURDAY and a graded race seems appropriate. Most Distinguished and Noonmark, Callmetony and Fairbanks are nice horses but if they were truly "graded stakes horses" right now, they'd have been in the Vanderbilt or the Whitney or pointing for the Forego or Woodward.

Accepting the fact theat they are G3 not G1 then an overnight race is fine at the Spa, but why a Saturday? Any of the "stakes" today would be fine additions to a weekday card or as supporting races for a Saturday.

Why move the Sword Dancer (which should be made a G1 MILE) anyhow? It's not like running it a week after the Arlington Million is going to alter is complexion.

Just like the daily overnight races, Saratoga is dumbing down it's stakes program. Once, if you had $16k claimers you sent them to Monmouth or rested them for the duration of the Saratoga meet. Now you bring them and their races fill. Similarly, you used to look at the very tough stakes schedule at SAR and find allowances or out of town (lesser) stakes. Now you bring them and they write races for you and call the $100k stakes.

Gander · #16 08-11-2008, 06:34 PM

I think it worked out great having 2 Grade 1's on the same Saturday. It will be a nice way to kick off the real meet. These first 3 weeks have been an utter mess. I dont think the Sword Dancer would have saved this past Saturday. Think of how green the grass will be and it should be firm by then as Friday and Saturday look great weatherwise.

If Music Note runs in the Alabama, she'll be 2/5, so we'll need a race like the Sword Dancer to provide a competitive betting puzzle.

Is Proud Spell going to run also?

Sword Dancer looks to be a rematch of the Man O War with Red Rock, Better Talk Now and Grand Courterier.

#17 08-11-2008, 06:40 PM

Keep hope alive. Saturday is an eternity away in meteorology land.

TheSpyder · #18 08-11-2008, 06:44 PM

I think the rest of the meet has the potential to be great with some good weather. There's so many horses that want to get in one or two races it should be full as well as quality.

Anyone here Steve say they may run the last Tuesday (26th) to make up races? Bonus Day!

Spyder

ateamstupid · #19 08-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gander

If Music Note runs in the Alabama, she'll be 2/5, so we'll need a race like the Sword Dancer to provide a competitive betting puzzle.

Is Proud Spell going to run also?

Last I heard, she was. Which would make Music Note much higher than 2/5.

Gander · #20 08-11-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Last I heard, she was. Which would make Music Note much higher than 2/5.

If they both run, maybe 4/5 and 7/5?

If one runs, that horse will be 2/5.

We need a good match race right about now. Would be a great thing to see to perk up moods around here. Combine that with a sunny day (no humidity) and a wide open Sword Dancer, and this could be the start of something really good leading us to the Personal Ensign, Travers and Ballerina weekend, then ending with the Woodward and Forego, salvaging what would be a good meet.