SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–The chase continues for jockey Manny Franco.
For just about all of the summer at Saratoga, Franco, along with everyone else in the jockey colony, has been on the hunt, trying to catch Jose Ortiz. Ortiz has held the top spot in the Spa riding standings for much of the meet.
Now, with days dwindling down to a precious few, Ortiz is not a sure thing.
Franco, like a huge tidal wave, is coming.
Heading into Saturday's Travers Day card, Franco had cut Ortiz's lead to eight, 64-56. At one time, Ortiz had opened up a 14-race advantage.
And here' s the rub: after Saturday, Ortiz is heading to Kentucky Downs to ride. He is only scheduled to ride one more day at the Spa, that being on Sept 4.
Franco is staying put and setting his sights on his first-ever Saratoga riding title.
“That is the plan,” Franco said on the Saratoga backstretch. “(Ortiz) has a good lead; let's see how it goes. I love the challenge; that's what it is all about.”
Franco has been winning Saratoga races in bunches. He had a six-win day. He has won three races in one day on four different occasions.
Things could get very interesting in the final week of the Saratoga meet.
“If we get the right horses for the last week–and I think we have a solid book to finish here–he'll have a chance,” John Panagot, Franco's agent, said. “We are staying the course and trying to keep the momentum going.”
Panagot said he expects Franco to get quality mounts from trainers such as Chad Brown, Brad Cox, Miguel Clement and Linda Rice.
“I am going to have a good amount of horses to ride when the other riders leave,” Franco said. “I think I have a chance.”
Next Saturday, for example, besides Ortiz, Saratoga regulars Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez, Javier Castellano and Johnny Velazquez will also be riding at Kentucky Downs.
Casse Toying With Idea of Running Measure Vs Boys
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has never been one to shy away from a challenge. The next one could come in three weeks when Parx Racing has the biggest day of its racing season.
Casse is thinking about possibly running 3-year-old filly Measure (Essential Quality) against the boys in the $1-million GI Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19. When last seen, Measure was just a neck behind My Gun's Loaded (Gun Runner) in the GI Alabama Stakes.
“We will see,” Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch.
He was also looking at the $1-million GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx on the same day. The Cotillion, for 3-year-old fillies, is 1 1/16 miles; the Pennsylvania Derby is 1 1/8 miles.
“I hate to cut her back,” Casse said. “Going from 1 1/4 miles (Alabama) back to 1 1/16 … the only reason the Derby would appeal to me is the 1 1/8 miles. I would not rule it out.”
Measure (right) finishing second in the CCA Oaks | Sarah Andrew
Owned by Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Measure is winless in four starts this year, but has two seconds and a third. She rounded out the trifecta in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks and was second in an allowance race, also at Saratoga.
If Casse decides to skip Parx, Measure could be seen in the $250,000 GII Beldame Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. That race is around one turn at Belmont Park.
“Not crazy about that,” Casse said.
One other option is to put Measure in against her stablemate Counting Stars (Honor A.P.), the favorite in the Alabama, who finished third, in the $650,000 GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes for 3-year-olds and up on Oct. 4 at Keeneland.
“We have a lot of options,” Casse said. “I want to be careful. Both these fillies can have superstar 4-year-old years.”
Pletcher Looking Forward to Start of 'New' Belmont
As the days of summer dwindle down to a precious few, soon the eyes of New York racing will shift from Saratoga to the sparkling, brand new Belmont Park on Long Island.
The much-anticipated opening of the New York Racing Association's Belmont Park is set for Friday, Sept. 18 with the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup as the first feature race. And what a feature that could be with a potential matchup between 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Japanese superstar Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}).
There certainly figures to be plenty of pomp and circumstance as NYRA unveils the new Belmont, a project that cost $455 million and took three years to complete.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a mainstay on the New York circuit, is looking forward to getting back home. Pletcher has always had a presence in New York and will be back when it opens up.
“It looks like it's a tremendous facility,” Pletcher said.
He is anxious to see the new digs, but, also a little sad to see the old Belmont Park go.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “There was something cool about it. Always have mixed feelings about these major changes.”
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