#spastars

We had a horse picked out for the final edition of #SpaStars. Our progression in chronological order had taken us to a recent Jim Dandy-Travers winner who has made a splash as a Saratoga sire. However, at the last minute, we’ve decided to call an audible. Rather than giving you one more from our list, we want to hear who your favorite horses from the latest meet were. Was it one of the big Grade 1 winners like Princess of Sylmar, Cross Traffic, or Will Take Charge? Did a two-year-old catch your eye? Or was it someone more under the radar? Comment, reply, reblog, or tag your own post #SpaStars! Thanks so much to all of those who have enjoyed these profiles. We’ve got a few more prizes to give out, so make sure your ask box is open!

#SpaStars: Commentator Ch. gelding, 2001-present, Distorted Humor – Outsource, by Storm Bird When Commentator was right, boy was he right, and more often than not, he was on his game at Saratoga. The brilliant New York-bred made the first two starts of his career at the Spa, winning them by a combined 17 ½ lengths. Commentator had never won a two-turn race when he was entered in a tough rendition of the Whitney at four. Nick Zito, who would be inducted into the Hall of Fame two days later, had yet to win a race at the meet. The gelding held off that year’s Horse of the Year, Saint Liam, in a thrilling finish that Zito called, “probably the most important victory of my life.” Plagued by issues throughout his career, Commentator didn’t find the Saratoga winners’ circle again until 2008. He did it in the right race though, becoming just the third horse to take multiple editions of the Whitney. At the age of seven, he also became the race’s second-oldest winner. The popular gelding was retired a year later after finishing third in his quest for a Whitney hat trick. Expressing a sentiment felt by many, Nick Zito was quick to praise the horse who had become just the fourth New York-bred to earn $2,000,000, “He’s as gallant as he could be. He’s a real treasure.” Breeder: Michael Martinez Owner: Tracy Farmer Trainer: Nick Zito Jockey: Javier Castellano (3), Gary Stevens (4), John Velazquez (7) Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!

#SpaStars: AshadoDkb./br. filly, 2001-present, Saint Ballado – Goulash, by Marie’s Book She won eleven stakes races, including more than half a dozen Grade 1 victories. When she retired, it was as the second highest earning filly or mare in American history. Ashado stepped to the national forefront at Saratoga, and it was here that she collected her first major win. Her first foray into stakes company came in the opening day Schuylerville. She drew off to win on a sloppy track. The dark bay filly came back in the Spinaway, but bettors who thought she might have been aided by a biased track that day dismissed her as the third choice. “She's tough,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, after she dug in to pull way to a 1 ¼ length win. At three, Ashado joined the long line of “Graveyard of Champions” victims when felled in the Alabama.  However, she came back at four for what may have been her most brilliant performance. “She was unbelievable,” in the Go for Wand, said John Velazquez, who rode her to a 9 ½ length win. Breeder: Aaron & Marie Jones Owner: Starlight Racing Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Edgar Prado (2), John Velazquez (4) Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!

#SpaStars: Medaglia d'Oro Dkb. colt, 1999-present, El Prado – Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper It seems unimaginable, given the logic of the progression, that only one horse has swept the Jim Dandy and Travers at three and returned to take the Whitney at four.  It’s even more amazing that it took until the 21st century for it to happen. Medaglia d’Oro made just three starts at the Spa, won all three, and etched his place in history. The Jim Dandy was a romp to the tune of 13 ¾ lengths.  Three weeks later, the Travers was much more contentious.  Medaglia d’Oro dug in to hold off Repent on a messy track.  The Whitney was a particularly gratifying win for trainer Bobby Frankel, who was sending the four-year-old to post off of an April layoff and against the only horse to have beaten him in more than a year. “I've learned that winning is the best revenge,” he said, “If you win, you don't have to say anything. You just smile.” Breeder: Albert & Joyce Bell Owner: Edmund A. Gann Trainer: Bobby Frankel Jockey: Jerry Bailey Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!

#SpaStars: Summer Colony Dkb. filly, 1998-present, Summer Squall – Probably Colony, by Pleasant Colony It’s strange for a three-year-old to be the most memorable maiden winner of a Saratoga meet. Stranger still for it be one making their seventh lifetime start. Such was the case in the summer of 2001. On August 17, the first time she was given the opportunity to route on dirt, Summer Colony broke out of the maiden ranks. By 32 ¾ lengths. Thirteen days later she won again, this time by 9 ½.  When she returned to Saratoga a year later, she did so as a multiple graded stakes winner. It is only appropriate that she got her first Grade 1 victory at the track that had launched her career. Her 4 ½ length win in the Personal Ensign crowned her as unquestionably the best mare on the East Coast, and arguably nationwide. John Velazquez had high praise for her saying, "To me, she's the best horse in the country.” Breeder: Edward P. Evans Owner: Edward P. Evans Trainer: Mark Hennig Jockey: John Velazquez Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!

#SpaStars: City Zip Ch. colt, 1998-present, Carson City – Baby Zip, by Relaunch The two-year-old program at Saratoga is the stuff of legends. It is highlighted by a trio of stakes races, the Sanford, Saratoga Special, and Hopeful. In the summer of 2000, City Zip became just the fourth horse in history to sweep all three. The first two came rather easily, by a combined 5 ¾ lengths. The third was a thriller. With thunder and lightning providing an ominous setting, City Zip didn’t have an easy trip. The colt that trainer Linda Rice described as, “never show[ing] any quit down the lane,” came running anyway, and the $9,000 auction purchase caught the $1.9 million Yonaguska on the line. It was a dead heat. He came back the following summer to run his Spa streak to four, defeating Speightstown, Snow Ridge, and others in a terrific rendition of the Amsterdam. City Zip was finally bested in the King’s Bishop but his influence is still felt at Saratoga. Though he now stands in Kentucky, City Zip entered stud in New York, and his offspring are a frequently found in the Spa winners’ circle. Breeder: Adena Springs Owner: Charles R. Thompson, Carl Bowling, Becky Thomas, Lewis Lakin Trainer: Linda Rice Jockey: Jose Santos (2), Jorge Chavez (3) Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!

#SpaStars: Evening Attire Gr./ro. gelding, 1998-present, Black Tie Affair – Concolour, by Our Native On the Whitney undercard in 2000, a dark gray two-year-old hit the gate, was bumped shortly after the break, and was forced five wide turning for home. He won anyway. In a career that lasted until he was ten, Evening Attire would go on to become one of the most popular local runners in recent years. The gelding picked up his first Saratoga stakes win as a four-year-old in a quirky edition of the historic Saratoga Cup. Fellow popular gray Gander stumbled at the start, leaving rider Mike Smith behind. He bounded under the wire ahead of the field, but it was Evening Attire who collected the trophy. Despite lacking a stakes win here at five, Evening Attire had another terrific summer, winning twice and running third in a tough rendition of the Whitney. 2004 saw what would turn out to be the penultimate edition of the Saratoga Cup, a race which originated in 1865. The headliner was Funny Cide, making his local debut, but at the end it was all Evening Attire who rolled home by five. “He was one of a kind,” Tommy Kelly said when the gelding retired in the fall of 2008, adding, “he always put in his run. I’ve never seen him back once. He might have finished second, third, fourth, or fifth, but he was always running at the end.” Evening Attire now lives at Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue in Pawling, NY. Breeder: Thomas J. Kelly & Joseph M. Grant Owner: Mary & Joseph Grant, Thomas J. Kelly Trainer: Timothy Kelly (2), Patrick J. Kelly (4+) Jockey: Robbie Davis (2), Shaun Bridgmohan (4), Edgar Prado (5), Mark Guidry (5), Cornelio Velasquez (6) Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!

#SpaStars: With Anticipation Gr./ro. gelding, 1995-present, Relaunch – Fran’s Valentine, by Saros The success of Jonathan Sheppard, particularly at Saratoga, is remarkable. It’s a wonder it took him until 2000 to get his first Grade 1 winner on the flat, but it did. The horse that finally delivered the big one for him was the popular, appropriately named With Anticipation. The six-year-old led nearly every step of the way to take the Sword Dancer over a tough field that included defending champion John’s Call. He came back the following year, this time making a late move to just get there in time. Of course, he had the right rider when impeccable timing is needed. Patient Pat Day, who guided the near-white horse to both Spa wins, had done that before. A lot. In fact, the victory in the race made him racing’s all-time money earner. Breeder: George Strawbridge, Jr. Owner: Augustin Stable Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard Jockey: Pat Day Reblog, retweet, like, and favorite for a chance to win!