9/6: Saratoga (Spinaway; Woodward Recap)

[Kasept]

In little more than one minute and forty eight seconds, the closing Saturday at Saratoga became one of racing's most magical, historic and unparalleled afternoons in many decades. Not only an unprecedented test of sophomore filly versus older males, Rachel Alexandra's performance in the Woodward Stakes figures to stand the test of time against any comparison for years to come.

Those in attendance, more than 30,000 who cheered themselves 'horse', will relish their presence at the unique occurence, and never forget this delightful day when a moment in time stood still. If there was anyone doubting that the Medaglia d'Oro miss was one of the best of her kind that trackgoers have seen in years, they need now acknowledge their error.

As if her victory wasn't impressive enough, the way in which she won borders on impossible. Pressed from the opening bell, Calvin Borel and Rachel Alexandra set brutal early fractions as alternately Da' Tara, Past the Point, Cool Coal Man, It's a Bird and Bullsbay took runs at them. The filly fractured them one after another. Macho Again, who was having the affair served to him on a pace plate, took his turn past the eighth pole and could not get past the remarkable poetess in motion.

The victory marks an idyllic coda to what has been a wonderful race meet at the old Spa. And for jaded consumers of the race game, Rachel Alexandra and the audacious examinations she has been subjected to at Pimlico, Monmouth and Saratoga, provide more proof that organic development of the sport's unscripted drama is the perfect tonic for whatever supposedly ails it. And notably, racing showed on this day that it is one of the few producers on the sports landscape capable of a spectacle that outperforms its' hype.


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


PRE-SCRATCHES


1st: CLM, 3+, 1m-IT (P3, DD)

Fabulous betting race.. Take prices..

Most Likely: #7 Right of Way 3-1 5th
Best Value: #2 Xodo 12-1 9th
Next Best: #8 Awesome Actor 12-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #6 Attractive Ride 15-1 2nd


2nd: MSW, 2yo-F, 7f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2e Romans entry 4-1 2nd/10th
Best Value: #6 Aialea 5-1 4th
Next Best: #5 Kind Words 3-1 8th
Exotics Use: #8 Protesting 7-2 3rd


3rd: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f (P3, DD, Super)

Playing against ML fave #1 Lowther Street within race..

Best Value: #2 Mr. Again 15-1 6th
Most Likely: #6 Luv Gov 3-1 5th
Next Best: #8 Hoopoe 10-1 4th
Super Add: #5 Birdrun 8-1 2nd


4th: MSW, 3+, 11f-IT (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Seeking the Sluice 7-2 4th
Best Value: #8 En Fuego 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #7 Left Unsaid 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #3 Chapin Beach 5-1 WON


5th: Commentator-NYB, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1e Dubb entry 2-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 Cannonball 8-5 WON
Best Value: #9 Citifest 15-1 5th
Exotics Use: #5 Karakorum Elektra 8-1 6th


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 2-5-6
3: 1-2-5-6-8
4: 7-8
5: 1-8

3x5x2x2 = $60


6th: NYB-MSW, 2yo, 6f (P6, P3, DD)

Really interesting group with some potential for price invaders..

Most Likely: #8 Make Note 5-1 WON
Next Best: #2b (POE) Stellaluce 3-1 4th/7th
Exotics Use: #7 Elsaroarin 5-1 2nd
Best Value: #1e Hernandez entry 20-1 5th


7th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 5.5f-T (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Echo in Eternity 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #10 Intercoastal 5-1 3rd
Best Value: #4 SCR
Exotics Use: #6 Voodoouthinkur 8-1 6th


8th: NYB-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 8.5f-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Superbly matched set of Empire gals.. Fire away and demand value..

Most Likely: #1a (POE) Lemon Punch 9-2 4th
Best Value: #6 Staten Island Gal 20-1 12th
Next Best: #7 Freedom Rings 7-2 7th
Exotics Use: #9 Hooked on Hope 10-1 8th


9th: 102nd Saranac (Gr. III), 3yo, 9.5f-T (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #5 Sal the Barber 2-1 5th
Best Value: #1 Uncle T Seven 15-1 6th
Next Best: #4 Armstrong Mill 8-1 3rd
Super Add: #3 Reservoir 10-1 4th


10th: 118th Spinaway (Gr. I), 2yo-F, 7f (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #1 Hot Dixie Chick 4-5 WON
Next Best: #6 Beautician 5-1 2nd
Best Value: #5 Sassy Image 10-1 4th
Super Add: #7 SCR


11th: NYB-MSW, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (Super)

Most Likely: #6 Runfromthestorm 4-1 WON
Best Value: #1e Rice entry 5-1 8th
Next Best: #4 Better Than Swiss 3-1 2nd
Super Add: #5 Idle Gossip 8-1 4th


<$100 P4 Play:

8: 1-5-6-7-9-10 (4-8)
9: 1-3-4-5-6-7
10: 1
11: 1-6

6x6x1x2 = $72 (Add 4-8 in first leg for $96)


Good luck!
Steve

[justindew]

Fantastic write up. You nailed it.

Although I had to look up "coda".

[cal828]

"Remarkable" is right. I thought she was beat at the top of the stretch, but those of her kind refuse to lose.

[asudevil]

Steve,

Tremendous recap! That was beautiful journalism!

[lazytom]

steve -well said. i watched the replays several times and it was just as exciting each time. kept feeling like she couldn't keep up that intensity ,even in the replay. that was a phenominal. what a class act.

[Cpt.Bodgit]

Excellent recap!!! What a race!!! Off to Saratoga today. Will be betting your picks!!!!!!!

[fpsoxfan]

Nice job Steve. It was a great day for the sport!