Saratoga opens its doors for opening day of the historic track's 40-day summer stand Friday, with the GIII Schuylerville S. and GIII Lake George S. anchoring the initial card. The premier meet, which runs through Labor Day, will host a total of 69 stakes events worth a record $18.85 million in purses.
As has been the case in past years, much attention will be devoted to the race for the trainers' title, which once again features an expected battle between the powerhouse stables of Todd Pletcher and Mechanicville, New York native Chad Brown. In 2017, Pletcher's 40 wins bested Brown's 39, turning the tables on the results of the 2016 season, which saw Brown put a brief halt to Pletcher's prevailing dominance at the Spa. The Texas native emerged victorious at Saratoga in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 prior to reclaiming the title in 2017. Brown, meanwhile, is considered by many to be the favorite in 2018 with a stable loaded with talent, particularly for the meet's ample turf opportunities. That forte figures to be on full display in Saturday's featured GI Diana S., where Brown will send out the trio of Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) and A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
The jockey's race could prove equally intriguing, with the Ortiz brothers–Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz, Jr.–establishing themselves as mainstays atop the New York Racing Association standings in recent years. Younger brother Jose Ortiz has captured the Saratoga title each of the last two seasons, but his older brother claimed a title of his own in 2015. As a preface to this year's Saratoga meet, Irad claimed the riding title at the 54-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet.
Saratoga Stars
by Mike Kane
While we know that Saratoga is an important meeting, since we keep score in sports, a quick review of the numbers shows that a high percentage of North America's champions and elite performers compete at the Spa every summer. Last year, eight of the 11 Eclipse Award winners–including Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg})–made at least one start at Saratoga Race Course. Two of the no-shows were injured when the 40-day meet was held, and Sprint champ Roy H (More Than Ready) did not leave California in 2017.
An ankle issue will keep Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy)–certain to be the 3-year-old male titlist and Horse of the Year–from Saratoga, but it is a very safe bet that plenty of other champs will race at America's oldest track before the meet closes on Labor Day, Sept. 3. They certainly did last year:
–53 of the 159 horses that competed in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar–33%–made at least one start at Saratoga.
–Six of the 13 Breeders' Cup winners–46%–went to the post at the meet. A seventh, GI Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), trained at Saratoga by Chad Brown and was scheduled to make her debut on the final day of the season, but was scratched when the race came off the grass.
–11 of the 13 Breeders' Cup races had at least one Saratoga veteran finish in the top three. Fourteen of the 39 horses–36%–that hit the board in the Breeders' Cup raced at Saratoga.
–Eight of the 20 horses that started in this year's Kentucky Derby had “Sar” in their past performances. Half of the eight Preakness runners and three of the 10 in the Belmont came through Saratoga, as well.
–Gun Runner was the 10th of the 17 Horses of the Year this century to race at least once at Saratoga during the year they were honored. Three others competed at the Spa at some point. And Gun Runner, who won the GI Whitney S. and GI Woodward S. last summer, was the eighth straight winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic to run at the Spa.
Making the Most of It
The quality of racing at the 40-day Saratoga meet is arguably unparalleled, and although it only spans less than a month-and-a-half on the calendar, it is possible for in-form horses to register multiple wins at the meet. Last year, trainer Linda Rice's charges Voodoo Song (English Channel) and New York's Finest (City Zip) posted records of 4-for-4 and 3-for-3, respectively, over the Saratoga turf. Both 4-year-olds return for this year's meet off winning efforts: Voodoo Song captured the Forbidden Apple S. at Belmont last Saturday, while New York's Finest dominated a Monmouth allowance event July 13.
In total, 28 horses won multiple races at Saratoga in 2017, with GI Diana S. entrant and 'TDN Rising Star' Proctor's Ledge (Ghostzapper) among the most prominent names, having won both the Lake George and GII Lake Placid S.
“Live” Racing Returns
The 2018 meet also marks the return of NYRA's widely acclaimed “Saratoga Live, Presented by Claiborne Farm,” which features 2 1/2 hours of live coverage from the Spa on nearly every day of the meet. The program airs nationally on Fox Sports 2 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. ET.
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