Day 39 of 40 at the Spa had a little something for everyone, and a whole lot more for a few. Longshots and favorites each won their share of races, with the average $2 Win ticket returning $14.20. Irad Ortiz contributed to the chalk by capturing five races — and wrapping up the jockey most-wins title with 51 (with a day remaining). Flavien Prat is a distant second with 41. But Prat may have had the last laugh when he rode Highland Falls to an upset win in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup. Prat also set an all-time Spa record by winning 17 stakes races.
Today, Saratoga wraps up its eight-week run with a 12-race card, featuring the $300K Hopeful Stakes for 2YOs (a preview of next year’s Kentucky Derby contenders). Forecast for Labor Day is sunny with a high in the low-80’s.
Races 1&2 (12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT) — Both MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
#4 MILITARY ROAD (1-2 morning line). What’s not to like? Odds on for Christophe Clement with Manny Franco in R1. And in R2 #11 DISCO STAR (9-5) for Mark Casse with Jose Ortiz.
Race 5 (2:46 p.m. ET/11:46 a.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 1 ⅛-mile on turf
#7 QUARREL (6-1 morning line) for veteran NY trainer Bobby Ribaudo, who at 0-11 for the meet, needs a getaway check. Javier Castellano was named to ride but may pass due to an injury suffered in a spill on Friday. Can’t argue with pick.
Race 6 (3:20 p.m. ET/12:20 p.m. PT) — MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for NY-bred 2 YOs going 7 furlongs
#3 OMAHA PISTOL (3-1 morning line), trained by popular NY conditioner Jeremiah Englehart, who hires tip-top rider Irad Ortiz Jr. to educate the rookie. An excellent string of works says he’s ready to run. Stick ‘em up!