Author: William G. Gotimer, Jr.

Luis Saez wins 4,000, Travers Field Comes Up Strong, Alleged data misappropriation by industry insider leads to recriminations

Saratoga Race Course’s long and well-earned reputation as the “Graveyard of Champions” proved true once again Saturday when heavily favored Counting Stars failed to manage the longer distance of the Alabama Stakes and finished a tiring third to My Gun’s Loaded and Measure. Under a wide ride by Jose Ortiz, (substituting for the injured Irad Ortiz, Jr.) the pro-tem division leader never truly looked comfortable and lacked the energy she displayed in her two earlier Saratoga victories. The lightly-raced My Gun’s Loaded stalked the leader and while still running greenly, rebuffed the late challenge of Measure who advanced along the rail. The victory saw trainer Chad Brown accomplish the rare feat of winning two of the most important races for three-year old fillies – The Kentucky Oaks and the Alabama Stakes – with two different fillies.

– The week also saw jockey Luis Saez win his 4,000th race, while Jockey Javier Castallano ended the week one win shy of 6,000.

– Castellano won the Ballston Spa Stakes on Saturday, surviving both a stewards’ inquiry and jockey objection for herding through the stretch. The stewards ultimately determined not to change the order of finish in a controversial decision, thereby allowing Castellano to accept congratulation from the Mayor of Ballston Spa – Frank Rossi, Jr. – who was on hand for the race. The decision proved unpopular with many seasoned observers, including NYRA’s television commentators, who expected a disqualification.

– Castellano’s 5,999th win also proved controversial since the Daily Racing Form listed Ricardo Santana as the rider, thereby confusing many bettors and briefly, the NYRA television crew. 

– Trainer Steven Schauer won three races during the week compiling an astounding win percentage with his small stable. 

– Controversial trainer David Jacobsen is suddenly back at Saratoga and won three races on the weekend.

– Trainer Linda Rice was required by New York State Gaming Commission regulations to scratch all her horses stabled at Saratoga that were entered this weekend, while those stabled at Belmont Park were permitted to run. The scratches led to shorter fields on Friday. Her trainee – Prime Connection – stabled at Belmont won the Saturday finale at long odds.

Other

– Earlier this year this column suggested running “speed cards” during the week that could be completed quickly. That apparently is happening as last week’s Wednesday and Thursday cards were completed in less than four and one-half hours.

– Knightsbridge invaded California and took the Pacific Classic in a style that suggests he is among the best older horses in the country. Junior Alvarado piloted (he also won another stake earlier on the card) and is now the rider of both Sovereignty and Knightsbridge. 

– The Travers Stakes, to be run August 29th, came up with a full and talented field of ten comprising the strongest three-year-old race of the year. With Irad Ortiz, Jr. injured, Tyler Gaffalione picks up the mount on Renegade. 

– Trainer Bob Baffert was among the new members appointed to HISA’s Horsemen’s Advisory Group 

Marshall Gramm

In a follow up to a controversy discussed here earlier about the appearance of past performances that included confidential veterinary information (and proprietary “sheet” numbers), the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“HISA”) directly and quite publicly accused Marshall Gramm of systematically misappropriating veterinary information from their database. HISA accused Gramm of using his access to the system as a horse owner to collect veterinary records (reportedly up to 4 million of them) on horses he did not own or manage. HISA further indicated that after failing to reach a settlement with Gramm they were referring the action to criminal authorities for possible prosecution. 

Gramm, for his part, posted a long statement on Twitter that in many ways corroborated HISA’s accusation but blamed himself for only “poor judgment” in not reporting the system weakness to HISA.  

Generally, the legal right to remain silent is the best practice when faced with accusations of possible criminal wrongdoing, but if one is to make a statement, it is best to be either apologetic or defiant. Gramm tried to be both and it did not have the desired effect of exonerating him.

Gramm is no lightweight. From a politically active family, Gramm controls a claiming stable, is a high-profile participant and winner in multiple thoroughbred handicapping contests, is an active bettor and most notably is a member of The Jockey Club. He has many acolytes and supporters. 

Not surprisingly, the fallout from this has been wide-ranging.

– The Jockey Club announced it is seeking Gramm’s removal;

– HISA was widely criticized for failing to protect the data that it requires veterinarians to provide.

– Critics allege the HISA computer system security is provided by a mysterious company with operational facilities in Ukraine.

– Owner Mike Repole announced he is funding his own investigation of HISA and The Jockey Club.

– Industry mainstream and social media personalities have engaged in tawdry ad hominem attacks on those that criticize Gramm.

– Gramm has accepted a “Provisional Suspension” from HISA that effectively removes him from the sport while the matter is heard. 

– Legal authorities have yet to surface but it is generally accepted that they are investigating.

The whole affair is tasteless. 

An industry stalwart admits to having found a security flaw in a regulator’s system and instead of reporting it to the regulator exploits the flaw apparently for his own financial gain. (Nowhere in Gramm’s statement does he advance a noble reason for systematically downloading the data). HISA, as regulator, admits it failed to secure data that its own regulations required be given to it and, rather than apologize or make changes at the top, embarks on a media tour to express its outrage as a victim. Meanwhile, defenders of Gramm’s actions engage in “whataboutism” and cast aspersions at multiple people in their attempt to deflect from his actions. 

The matter is a microcosm of the “ethical myopia” that persists in this sport, and sadly, increasingly in the public at large. The sport is owed an apology from all involved and accountability demanded. We will wait and see. 

Saratoga Race Course had another week of superb performances and career milestones as Jockey Manny Franco won 6 races on Friday, including 5 straight races. As popular as he is talented, Franco received loud cheers from the crowd both entering and leaving the paddock after his 5th win. Saturday saw Todd Pletcher patiently wait through a long 14 race Whitney Day card to notch his 6,000th career win as a trainer in the dusky finale. There are few superlatives left for his remarkable career and gentlemanly manner both in victory and defeat.

As impressive as those achievements were, the weekend belonged to Sovereignty who scored the first victory of his four-year-old campaign. The win came over his favorite Saratoga surface with his usual late run over a very talented field.  The victory validated the decision by his connections to keep him in training in 2026. Sovereignty is now slated to face the other-worldly Forever Young in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to open the new Belmont’s on September 18th.  If all goes well, he will follow with the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Halloween. 

While Sovereignty won the race, it was the runner up, the filly Nitrogen, who won hearts. Her gutsy effort dispatched favorite Magnitude early in the race and after “doing the dirty work” she hung on gamely for second. She lost nothing in defeat. 

The Whitney Stakes topped a stellar card put forth by the New York Racing Association who should be commended for the day.  The warm temperatures tested both equine and human constitutions, but the large crowd moved easily through the traditional grandstand and the high-end 1863 Club with neither betting nor concession lines difficult to navigate. The day seemed to truly be a celebration of talented horseflesh competing on the large stage – racing as it should be.

Strange Doings

– This column previously urged the use of technology to display a dead heat immediately upon the posting of the winners. On Saturday this was done in a much-improved manner. (It also was the quickest determination of a dead heat in most fans’ memory). 

– Sunday’s card saw two runaway performances at long odds by Florida owner/trainer Ernesto Ochoa. The victories book-ended a $14,500 Pick 4 payout and were part of a $319,000 scoop of the Pick 5.

– Irad Ortiz suffered a foot injury, first reported as an ankle injury on Saturday that sidelined him Sunday. He is hoping to return Wednesday.

– Horsemen are privately complaining that they are seeing hoof issues with horses that run out of the Wilson Chute. (Maybe related – a race out of the chute had its start delayed after the recent rains to allow maintenance to smooth out a section). 

Other

Saturday marked the 52nd Anniversary of President Richard Nixon announcing his resignation, while a yearling, later to be named Tom Swift, came into the auction ring at the Saratoga sales. Hall of Fame trainer Frank “Pancho” Martin left the arena to watch Nixon’s 16-minute resignation speech joining others crowded around a small black and white television in the back office. During that time, legend has it, his principal bid the then outlandish (and record) sum of $350,000 without Martin’s imprimatur, thereby obtaining the well-bred son of Tom Rolfe out of the Champion mare Shuvee. Martin, upon seeing the colt at his barn, commented he looked like “a Shetland pony” due to his small size. The purchase proved an embarrassment to the connections but despite injuries he did manage to win 3 races from 14 starts, including a stakes race under ill-fated rider Jose Amy.  A strange confluence of events.

Preakness vs. Belmont

The dueling announcements last week of a new bonus system linking top races for three-year-olds at Churchill Downs and New York Racing Association tracks, (including the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes), and the change in the running dates of both the Preakness and the Brown Eyed Susan to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby raised eyebrows throughout the industry. Many have bemoaned the changes and deemed it the de facto end of the Triple Crown.

 A few comments:

– NYRA CEO David O’Rourke is correct when he says a horse can still complete the Triple Crown – it will take a super horse and willing connections, but it always has.

– Maryland racing has been a labyrinth of bad actors for years that did not see cooperation as necessary or desirable.

– The Preakness, buoyed by television money and history, will remain important. This is not the first time The Preakness has seen its obituary written – look up the Jersey Derby and Spend A Buck if you do not recall.

– If there is one part of racing that does not need “a boost” it is the three-year-old division. Ditto for “big days”. Much assistance is needed elsewhere.

– “Points” systems and bonuses are bad ideas. They do not work and when they do it can result in horses running (or not running) for the wrong reasons. The injury to Charismatic while running for a bonus sponsored by VISA, in the Belmont Stakes of 1999 comes to mind.

– While the “points” are yet to be announced, it is unlikely fans will blindly accept the top points earner as the champion unless the horse deserves it regardless of the “points”.

– To me, the saddest part of the changes is that marketers seem to feel that skipping the Preakness because “its best for the horse” is a hard sell; while answering “because we are chasing bonus money” is an easy one. To today’s audience they are probably right – and that is sad.

And then the rains came. Saratoga Race Course saw a rare cancellation last week as the area saw a near biblical rainstorm that made racing impossible early in the week. The New York Racing Association called several common-sense audibles and saved the affected races by altering their running dates and the weekend racing proved a large success. 

The week again saw human and equine stars shine with Todd Pletcher winning five races on Saturday including, the featured Jim Dandy with his stretch running colt – Renegade. Pletcher is honing in on 6,000 lifetime wins and his five victories proved popular with the huge entourage accompanying Renegade part-owner Mike Repole (who, for good measure, won a few other races on the Saturday undercard). It appears Renegade will move onto the Travers Stakes on August 29th as will Sea Strike who won the junior Travers prep – the Curlin Stakes – on Sunday. Both looked good in victory and figure to bolster the Travers field.

For those that appreciate turning back time two decades or so, it was a familiar feeling on Friday when Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez teamed up to score with front running Local Knowledge in the Amsterdam Stakes.  The victory was notable as it was Velazquez’s 800th Graded Stakes win, a remarkable accomplishment combining talent and longevity. Congratulations. 

Strange Doings

Saturday’s card saw jockey Edgard Zayas suffer an injury late in the card forcing him off his remaining mounts. It was reported that this resulted in a late scratch in the final race of the card when a substitute rider could not be found for his mount  Serenique.   In the past The New York Racing Association would guard against this situation by employing a “house rider” to act as an “understudy” (to use a Broadway term) ready and willing to ride, if needed, allowing the field to remain intact. The rider would be paid the minimum jockey fee ($125) for the availability. I seem to remember riders Lee Moon and Filiberto Leon acting in this capacity at times. The expense involved with such a practice would seem small compared to the lost mutuel handle and owner/trainer inconvenience prevented and is a practice that should again be discussed between management and the NYTHA. 

Sound

Effort needs to be put into the on-track audio feed which has become disjointed. Two adjustments would be helpful – limiting the television feed audio to the paddock analysis and greatly reducing or eliminating the volume of the race call when the race replays are shown. The audio situation needs to be uniform rather than distracting

Other

Sunday marked the 40th Anniversary of the infamous Allemeuse disqualification at Saratoga. If you were there you know – if you were there and still in the game – be grateful. Time flies. 

Mike Venezia Memorial Award- Nick Sanatagata.

The 2026 Mike Venezia Memorial Award was presented to this year’s recipient, former rider and current jockey’s valet Nick Sanatgata on Sunday. The award is named in honor of jockey Mike Venezia who tragically succumbed to injuries suffered in a spill at Belmont Park in 1988. 

Each year the award is presented to a jockey who evidences the sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Mike Venezia. The award honors Venezia’s legacy of charitable works and accomplishments off the track in supporting those in need. He is widely remembered as a mentor to younger riders while serving as the President of the Jockeys’ Guild.

The Venezia family has remained active in racing (his daughter Alison McGowan and her husband Jim run Ternary Farm in Cambridge, New York) and they turned out in force to mark the occasion. Venezia’s wife Helena presented the award to Santagata emphasizing how Santagata’s efforts in mentoring younger riders were particularly emblematic of her late husband’s caring and helpful nature towards other riders and those in need.  The Venezia family has always been proud of the late Venezia’s work and efforts with other riders and Santagata, as a continuing presence in that room for multiple decades, makes him a most worthy recipient. Santagata, for his part, humbly emphasized that the day was about Venezia and his legacy, not him, but he was clearly touched by the recognition of his impact on the industry. 

The winner’s circle ceremony was jammed with friends, family and the current jockey colony and Richard Migliore’s understated and respectful introduction let the dignified nature of the event speak for itself. I have been to enough awards ceremonies, in racing and elsewhere, to clearly recognize when an award recipient is celebrated as worthy by his peers and students. This was most definitely the case on Sunday. Venezia and Santagata, both from Brooklyn, New York, represent the best of New York’s most storied borough and now are linked through the award.

Live music in Saratoga- Kiah Saxe

Top line professional music fills the Saratoga Performing Arts Center each year but live music in bars and downtown clubs has been a staple of the racing season for a century. The quality varies (which is what makes it fun). 

One high-energy crowd-pleasing band is The Hey Nows. The Hudson Valley-based band led by vocalist Paul Serrao returns to Saratoga again this year with their extraordinary young female vocalist – Kiah Saxe from New Paltz.   While the young crowd at The Ice House, in the Saratoga “Gut”, appreciates their energetic performances and Ms. Saxe’s powerful voice the older generation(s) is/are welcome as well. They appear Whitney Weekend August 7th and 8th. 

My column this week is a joy to write – good racing, good weather and good friends – all without controversy.  Saratoga Race Course dodged both the Canadian wildfire smoke and a short torrential downpour to run its full racing cards with minimal disruption.  The New York Racing Association wisely kept grass stakes races intact on Saturday while moving the other grass races to the main track.

In addition to Saratoga, there was meaningful racing in New Jersey and San Diego, and racing saw youthful crowds in all three locations.  

Some observations:

Saratoga 

– Saratoga saw three well-bred maidens win with each defeating talented runners who will not take long to find the Winner’s Circle themselves. 

– Trainer Brad Cox unveiled a pair of impressive two-year-olds. His colt – The Good Life, (sired by freshman sire sensation – Life is Good) – went wire to wire defeating two Flightline colts, including the highly regarded Powerline. The latter got an education and ran well in defeat. 

– Cox’s filly – Effusive – a daughter of the tremendous mare Monomoy Girl won at first asking with Key Colony Beach running gallantly but greenly to finish second. 

– Not to be outdone, trainer Bill Mott sent out three-year-old Stimulate (by Tapit out of the stakes winning mare Elate) to score an impressive victory. With a long stride like his mother’s this colt figures to improve as the distances increase and seems bound for stakes company. Runner up Gadget Play will win shortly.

– Three-year-old filly Cy Fair proved she is the real deal, winning the Coronation Cup impressively. She is the definition of a “push-button” horse as she took her cue from her rider, Hall of Famer John Velasquez, and let him direct the best way to the wire.  That sort of tractability will allow her to avoid trouble and help her win many races. (It doesn’t hurt that her stride is “smooth as Tennessee whiskey” either.)

– Dylan Davis found his rhythm winning three on the weekend, I spoke to him Sunday night and he is in good health and spirits. Look for him to pile up some generous priced winners the rest of the meet.

– Saratoga stalwart, James Bond, is rejuvenated and found the Winner’s Circle twice this week.

– Linda Rice and Jose Ortiz teamed to win with a well-bred first timer paying $28.40 – go figure.

– Trainer Carlos Martin has a lifetime in the money percentage of more than 40% and is sending out live horses. Katie Davis rides live horses too. They teamed up Sunday to score at 23-1 with Big Brooklyn (Fuhgeddaboudit”).  Congrats.

– Trainer George Weaver continues to be red hot winning a host of races, including the aforementioned, Coronation Cup.

Maggie Seidman

One especially gratifying winner was homebred Solo Jim winning for owner/breeder Maggie Seidman Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Seidman has been an owner/breeder for nearly twenty years, showing devotion to her horses before, during and after their racing days. She has shown an almost lifelong devotion to Saratoga Springs, Skidmore, horses and racing. Many of her horses are named after her late husband, Steve or her father Jim.  Mrs. Seidman generously shares her thoughts, opinions (and pictures) of her horses on social media and is the best face the racing game could have. Congratulations.

Jose Ortiz 

Jose Ortiz continues to put together an Eclipse Award year. One insider told me that when Ortiz rides you “don’t only get a good ride you get a full analysis of the horse”. Much like a player in a team sport who teammates consider an on-field coach, Jose Ortiz’s insights about each horse are an added bonus for those who ride him.

Journalism

On the West Coast, Preakness winner Journalism overcame a horrendous start to wear down an overmatched field for a much-needed win at Del Mar.  Teamed again with Umberto Rispoli, neither horse nor rider panicked after the bad beginning both showing patience and grit to the relief of favorite bettors.  His connections should be commended for putting him in the right spot.  I hope there is another Grade One win in his future.  Rispoli told me “Horse ran great considering the start.  He feels great during his works and felt great during the race. He was the best horse in the race and it was a race he had to win. Very happy to get back on him, I miss that. Made the first step now we move forward to the next step.”

Haskell

 Many of the stars of the three-year-old crop convened in New Jersey for the running of the Haskell and the result was puzzling to say the least. Only Napoleon Solo ran his race and that was not enough for victory as longshot Baby Vino continued the “year of the female trainer” by out gaming the Preakness winner. Congratulations to Trainer Lindsay Schultz and Jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. 

An observation by the astute and highly respected Tony Cobitz, (known to most as “Tinky” (@Tinky47flat on X/twitter)) that “The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell were all won by horses that recorded Beyer figures of less than 90 in their previous starts” leads him to conclude this is a weak three-year-old crop. That is a thought to keep in mind for the Travers Stakes and later when these horses face older runners.

Travers week is here and the race shapes up to be a battle among the best three-year-olds – male or female – in the country. Thorpedo Anna is THE story as she tries to become the first filly to win the race since 1915. Her dominance over the three-year-old filly division was so complete that her connections felt it was time to try the colts and see how she stacks up against them. Last week’s Alabama Stakes flattered Thorpedo Anna as the foes she easily vanquished earlier this year put on a thrilling race but one without a performance that would challenge Thorpedo Anna at her best.

This year’s Travers may actually be the rare event where a race lives up to its billing. Most of the top runners in the three-year-old crop have been entered, including some late bloomers which could prove formidable. It is a nice mix of front running types and closers and figures to be a great handicapping puzzle to determine the winner. While Thorpedo Anna will likely be favored in the betting this will be by far the toughest field she has faced and might be too tough a task.

In addition to the Alabama Stakes, last week was dominated by personal milestones and the passing of one of racing largest benefactors.  

JENNIFER PARAGALLO

Trainer Jennifer Paragallo saw her runner Dunedin Causeway hit the wire in front registering her first Saratoga winner after decades of hard work in the game. Her exuberance in the post-race winner’s circle interview was such that when the New York Racing Association posted it on Twitter it garnered more than half million views. As a Saratoga native who began by galloping horses on the Oklahoma training track, Ms. Paragallo told me she was overwhelmed by the support and congratulations offered from around the world. She indicated that how happy she was that the fans “came along for the ride.”

Ms. Paragallo is emblematic of the people who work extremely hard in this business somewhat anonymously.  Ms. Paragallo took her trainer’s license in 2010 and operated on her own for a few months before deciding to continue working as a galloping/assistant for another Saratoga native, the late Glenn DeSanto.  Toiling as an assistant for almost a decade more, her opportunity presented itself when Luna Racing entrusted her with their stable.  

Jen, as she is known to her friends, told me “We have a few more planned starts for this meet and are extremely pleased how the meet has been going thus far. Saratoga has something special that brings out the best in the horses and the people!” The same can be said for Ms. Paragallo. Here is hoping that she continues her winning ways and that owners continue to send her horses.

GEORGE WEAVER

In the same week, trainer George Weaver won his 1,000th race as a trainer when his maiden filly Beautiful Thief won the last race on Saturday. In his post-race interview Mr. Weaver admitted he “had bet on her the first time and was disappointed” but she won easily for him on Saturday. He further indicated it was special to mark the milestone at Saratoga.  In an emotional part of the interview Waiver thanked his wife Cindy who worked alongside him until recently when she was gravely injured in a horse accident at the stable. Her recovery has been long and difficult, and Weaver was effusive in his praise for all her efforts accomplishing the 1,000 victories. 

JOHN HENDRICKSON

Racing in general and Saratoga, in particular, suddenly lost one of its biggest benefactors when John Hendrickson, longtime husband of Mary Lou Whitney, succumbed to a heart attack at the young age of 59.  Mr. Hendrickson and Mary Lou Whitney’s dedication to Saratoga and racing, both philanthropically and symbolically, cannot be overstated. His untimely passing is a major loss for both the city and the racing community. Condolences to all.