Comebacks and Other Notables
Summer Bird enjoying a celebratory post Travers carrot from owner Dr. Jayaraman (Sarah K. Andrew)
In addition to the already mentioned inter-generational two-peat, Travers Day 2009 was also a day of come backs and other notables.
Wow. Vineyard Haven might come down but Godolphin is cashing all those supposed clunkers in today!
Indeed, Godolphin owned Sara Louise, Vineyard Haven and Music Note all had fabulous comebacks, but they weren’t alone. Bob Baffert finally got a win on the card with 2yo Bulldogger in the 8th.
It’s also notable that Ian Wilkes got his first Grade 1 win with Capt Candyman Can in the Kings Bishop and Javier Castellano took both turf races, both of which were first time rides for him. Castellano (19) and Johnny V (20) had 3 wins a piece while Prado (19) had 2.
For the most part the meet leaders didn’t fair so well. Dominguez (36), the current leader, only had one win and current #2 Garcia (30) didn’t have any wins, however they’re both still safely ahead of the rest of the gang with Leparoux being the next closest with 23 wins. Linda Rice (14) also didn’t have any wins on the day but Pletcher’s (14) 2 wins bring him neck and neck with the queen. They both have plenty of chances to over take the other today with her 7 entries to his 6, is any wonder they’re the meet leaders?
There’s a reason why I wait until the parade to make my final picks on the first race of a pick 4 or pick 6, and Salve Germania in the Ballston Spa is the perfect example of that reason. I put that crazy, only previously so-so German invader in all of my P4 tickets and she won at 24-1. She was my parade play of the year! Music Note was the only thing that kept me from cashing what would have been the biggest ticket I had ever cashed, and I only have myself to blame to cheaping out and not including her when I had a chance to make a score a like that. On the bright side I had a nice win bet on der crazy invader and the cold exacta as I put her over Rutherienne, My Princess Jess and Captain’s Lover, too bad I didn’t think to key her in a tri as well!
another glimpse of what’s to come for #BC09 re: so-so euros wiping up the turf with our runners
And lastly, a big shout out to Andy Serling on this notable call:
Maybe I’m crazy but I will try to at least get Hold Me Back in the number. I feel like the race could collapse late.
Posted by dana on Aug 30 2009
Filed Under: Sarah K. Andrew, Alan Garcia, Pick 6, Wrap Up, Rutherienne, Travers, Twitter, 2009, Pick 4, Turf, Todd Pletcher, Saratoga, That's Why They Call it Gambling, Ramon Dominguez, Edgar Prado, Come Back, Javier Castellano, John Velazquez, Racing
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Baffert needed that firster. Very quiet meeting.
Amazing call with Salve Germania. You didn’t even have her to win?
Yeah, he really hadn’t run that many but it was surprising that he hadn’t had a win yet.
I did have Salve Germania to win + the exacta, and it made my day!
That german horse was absolutely insane in the paddock and started sprinting as soon as she hit the track. I played a p3 ticket with all but her. A later p3 included munnings but not capt candyman. I saved about $6 by leaving them off. Duh! Lesson learned. “Cheaping out” will make ya sick. But anyway, still a great day of racing.
I saw a little bit of her paddock antics as they were leaving but when she sprinted down the track was when I knew I was using her, she looked freakin’ awesome. Music Note looked great too so I put in a saver P3 but cheaped out and didn’t use Summer Bird… hopefully I’ve learned this lesson.
But yes, stunning day of racing!! Looking forward to the fall at Belmont!
E - the only other horse that was that much of a jaw dropper for me in the parade was Well Positioned’s first race. Same thing, sprinting from the first hoof on the track.
Actually, considering Linda Rice has 14 wins out of 37 starters, far less than Pletcher (93), Contessa (84), Mott (67), Lukas (53) and Mclaughlin (50) it is very amazing that she is up at the top.
I called Summer Bird/Hold Me Back Exacta in my Friday Blog post –hopefully my 5 loyal readers all read the post and cashed some tickets. :)
good point about Rice and nice call! hopefully you cashed some tickets too!
Great you made money with your bionic eye. Paddock plays can be HIGHLY rewarding, literally and figuratively.
I took a whuppin’!!!!
Not so sure it was the bionic eye in this case as much as thinking her behavior was a plus instead of a minus. Most of the chatter I saw on twitter was about her being a toss but I had cartoon dollar signs in my eyes.
Had it not been for Salve Germainia I would have taken a whuppin’ too. Who’d you like in the Travers? I liked Warrior’s Reward…
Well I am glad someone caught her, her paddock antics made me cut her from my tickets, and I did have Music Note so it did cost me big.
Seems like everyone played it a little off. I put in a saver P3 with Music Note when I saw how good she looked in the parade and left off Summer Bird. Just brutal.