Have You Been to Saratoga?
So, you’ve experienced quite a bit, right? You’ve taken in baseball games at Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium, and Fenway Park. Maybe you’ve marveled at the auroras or secured a seat in the celebrity box at Madison Square Garden. You’ve camped beneath the stars at the Grand Canyon, donned cheese heads at Lambeau Field, and even got engaged on the Empire State Building. Waving that checkered flag at the Brickyard must’ve been quite the thrill. Oh, and then there’s kicking a soccer ball on the Wembley pitch, plus playing tennis at Wimbledon or climbing Mount Everest. Yeah, impressive stuff.
But here’s a thought—have you ever visited Saratoga?
As we hold onto our memories of the Aqueduct, the Saratoga summer convention kicks off its expanded 46-day, 10-week run beginning July 3rd. Yes, from “The Queen’s Graveyard” to “Favorite Graveyard,” there’s a lot to look forward to.
This season’s stakes are higher than ever—think beyond your average state fair cooking contest.
Featured Races and Horses
Take note of Luminous Beauty, who won a recent maiden race by a solid six lengths. She’s set to shine in the Schuylerville, kicking off opening day. We’re in for some explosive action this year too, celebrating our 250th with marquee events like the Belmont Derby and the Belmont Oaks.
The title contender International Traveler, fresh from wins in both Germany and Dubai, is gearing up for another Derby run. Abashiri and Kensington Lane are expected to be co-favorites in the Oaks. And let’s not count out Todd Pletcher’s Antiquarians—hopefully, they can bounce back at the Suburban after a recent loss to Nysos at the Met Mile.
July 18th marks the Diana race, followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25th, where another filly will take the spotlight once more. Not to forget, the Vanderbilt horse race lines up on the same day. I have plans to catch Jim Dandy and Saratoga Special on August 1st, though I might miss out on seeing Golden Tempo, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, thanks to some iffy weather.
Trainer Shelley Devaux mentioned, “He’s doing well, but the timeline isn’t looking favorable. We’ll keep doing what’s best for him.” When asked about Travers, she added, “It’s up to us and our team to prepare him.” There’s a lot of anticipation in the air from fans, media, and officials alike.
While Golden Tempo is on pause, the Renegades, who had a close finish in the Derby, along with a third-place in the Belmont, are likely contenders. The same applies to Commandment, who raced between these two in Belmont Stakes. Ohio Derby champion Chip Honcho is expected to kick things off at Jim Dandy. However, Emerging Markets and Chief Wallabies are in the air, leaning towards waiting for Travers.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars, August 8th is Whitney Day. Expect thrilling performances from Forster Dave and Saratoga Special as the undercard, with big names coming together for the main event. Notably, Stephen Foster Award winner Magnitude is among the lineup. Nisos clinched the Met Mile, while Nitrogen took the Ogden Phipps. White Avario is also expected, having run well in Magnitude’s wake, alongside Baeza, Sovereignty, and Foster—all heavyweights in their own right. Don’t forget, Sovereignty has won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Although, Forever Young and Skippylongstocking remain uncertain.
August 22nd is Alabama Day with Counting Stars and Always A Runner going head-to-head, plus Black Eyed Susan champ My Miss Moe joining in.
The big day, the Traverse, takes center stage on August 29th. Outcomes from Jim Dandy and Haskell’s results at Monmouth Park will shape the competition lineup. Super Saturday features names like Forego, Personal Ensign, and Ballerina.
As the tournament wraps up, two-year-olds Spinaway and Hopeful will take the spotlight.
A Quick Look Back
Reflecting on last year’s standings, Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher were neck and neck with 32 wins each. Brown bagged the highest earnings at $4,509,878. Pletcher had a slightly better winning percentage at 24.4. Meanwhile, Aqueduct’s top trainers—Linda Rice, Miguel Clement, and Bill Mott—each had their own records to boast about, while Steve Asmussen showed a higher winning percentage at 30%.
Looking at the jockey scene, the Ortiz brothers, Irado and Jose, had a notable year as well. Jose led with a 22.6 winning percentage, while Flavien Prat climbed to third with 42 wins but outpaced everyone in earnings at $5,672,620. Rounding out the top five were Ricardo Santana and Kendrick Carmouche. Jaime Rodriguez, unfortunately, saw limited success with just one win in six races. But here’s hoping for a brighter future!
Good luck to everyone involved, and may all your moments get captured just how you envisioned.
