Saratoga Maidens Presented By Keeneland

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The photo had just been taken in the winner's circle after the second race at Saratoga Race Course Thursday afternoon and before Cadenza (Charlatan) even left, Blake Cox was on the phone. It was his dad, Brad Cox, checking in from Kentucky. Brad Cox is the trainer of record for the stable, but it's 24-year-old son Blake, his top assistant, who runs the show in Saratoga. "I told him she ran good," Blake Cox said after walking out of the winner's circle and making his way...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - If In Her Glory (Constitution), a 2-year-old filly, were a boxer, she would be in the flyweight division. Not big enough for the varsity; start her out on the JV. Ok, you get the idea. In Her Glory is not a big-robust looking young horse. In Saturday's sixth race at Saratoga Race Course--a $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course--In Her Glory looked 10 feet tall as she ran professionally down the stretch and won the race...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In the category of "Can You Top This Story?" Elza Mitchum and his son, Alex, have a solid contender for the prize. Their aptly named colt 'TDN Rising Star' It's Our Time (Not This Time) produced the Mitchums' tale Saturday with a 17 3/4-length victory in the seventh race at Saratoga Race Course. Under Luis Saez, the Virginia-bred colt was the Mitchums' first career winner in their, yes, second start as owners. It's Our Time and Saez turned in their smoking performance in the $100,000 maiden...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As 'TDN Rising Star' Tennessee Belle (Yaupon) proved Saturday, flattery can come from both directions, who you beat and who you have lost to. When handicappers and bettors took a look at the past performances for the fourth race at Saratoga Race Course, $100,000 maiden special weight 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs, they saw that Tennessee Belle was a 3 1/4-length second in her debut on July 26. And that loss was to 'TDN Rising Star' Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), a most impressive maiden winner this...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As the 2-year-old colt Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) was charging down the stretch at Saratoga Race Course Saturday afternoon, his owner, Vinnie Viola, up in his clubhouse box, was eyeballing him and the finish line at the same time. "I was holding my breath the whole way down," Viola said. Soldier N Diplomat had to hold off a late charge by Accost (MacLean's Music) to win the second race, a $100,000 maiden special event weight for 2-year-olds. At the end of the six furlongs, Soldier...

Ned Toffey, the general manager of Spendthrift Farm, was confident going into Saturday's seventh race at Saratoga. The Spendthrift homebred Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) had been training lights out for Todd Pletcher and the entire team was expecting a big effort. They got something more. "Some of us were discussing what we saw in her back in Ocala when she was being broken and her early breezes there," Toffey said. "She was one that gave some sore backs to the exercise riders down there. She's been really forward and always...