Saratoga Race Course: Counting Stars Dazzles, Irad Sizzles

Saratoga Race Course rode a wave of good weather again last week to produce goodcrowds and even better athletic efforts – both equine and human. 

Counting Stars

The equine star of the week was West Point Thoroughbreds’ striking filly Counting Stars. The Mark Casse trained filly established herself as the top three-year-old filly in the land with a dominant victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday. Showing her affinity for the spa oval, Counting Stars (a reasonably priced yearling purchase at $135,000) dominated the field and increased her earnings to more than $1.6 million. She is set to move onto The Alabama Stakes August 22nd. (In my opinion her effort was so impressive that her connections should take a serious look at challenging the colts a week later in the Traves Stakes on August 29th.) 

Irad Ortiz

The human star of the week was jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who won a record-tying six races on Saturday and another pair the next day. Three jockeys – Flavien Prat, Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz, Jr. monopolized the winner’s circle last week winning a majority of the races and having some combination of those three often finishing one-two.  It is rare that a rider colony as talented as this one finds itself at the mercy of three riders.  We will see whether that continues.

Racing Stewards 

Long-time horse players and fans have become acutely aware of a drastically different approach by New York’s three racing stewards this year. After a controversial disqualification early in the meet that generated significant criticism, the stewards recently have initiated many more inquiries into races but for the most part have decided to let the results stand after long deliberations. The old rules of thumb that – stewards’ inquiries usually resulted in disqualifications and the longer the deliberation the more likely a disqualification – have now been completely reversed. The new approach seems to be eagerness to post an inquiry but reluctance to make a change (no matter how long the deliberation). If the intention of the new methodology is to show ‘the Sherrif is watching” thereby producing cleaner riding without disqualifications, it does not appear to be working as the riding has continued to be rough. For now most bettors are puzzled – which is never a good thing.

Strange Doings

One foul claim that either was made and reviewed or was not made and reviewed (a little unclear which) came on Friday in the Rick Violette Stakes. Jockey Manny Franco onboard the runner up Caroline Street Beat, asked the outriders to “hold the race” when galloping out alleging interference near the finish line but the outrider in question did not deem that to be a foul claim and the information was not effectively conveyed to the stewards. When Franco came back for unsaddling, first he and then trainer Miguel Clement, spoke to the stewards on the phone pleading their case.  Meanwhile, the first-place finisher was ushered into the winner’s circle. The racing public was never informed of the goings on but there was a long delay before declaring the race “Official”.  The contact between the first two finishers was significant but the public was not shown the replay until after the race was official and shown only once. An unforced error.

Another strange (and dangerous) occurrence took place on Saturday immediately past the finish line in Race 7 where Jockey Flavien Prat’s mount was bumped hard by the second-place finisher unseating Prat. The displaced passenger first clung onto the horse that initiated the contact but eventually tumbled to the turf as the rest of the field ran by and around him. Prat was lucky to escape serious injury sustaining only minor soreness.

 Journalism Retires

Journalism, winner of the 2025 Preakness Stakes, sustained an injury while winning his most recent start at Del Mar last Sunday and has been retired. It is believed his injury occurred during horrendous and awkward start before rallying from far back for a hard-fought victory. He was a talented runner who met every challenge with determination. In many ways his racing career was star-crossed, but he tried hard every time and I for one hope he has a successful career as a stallion.

Handicapping Feat

A great friend of mine, Pat Cannon, a long-term handicapper, owner and breeder, accomplished a rare and astounding handicapping feat on Saturday’s card by hitting Saratoga’s Pick 6 on a $1 bet. Six singles.  His efforts saw him earn a return of more than $1,900. The selections were a handicapping effort, not simply picking numbers and I am proud to say the longest priced winner (Race 12 Oklahoma Smoke paying $17.70) was one he said was made on my advice. 

Said Cannon, “Earlier in the day I was giving a tour of the track to some friends new to the races. They all bought the Daily Racing Form and were staring at it like it was The Rosetta Stone. I told them, ‘first day in Saratoga, just play Prat and the Ortiz brothers and you’ll be alive in most races.’ Pretty much what I did myself”. 

Astounding. Congratulations.