Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237
- Classofsixtythree heads to Ruffian with special cheering section
- Safe Trip targets
- Worstcasescenario back at the Spa; Sovereign Default eyes Saratoga Special
- Zifzaf to get class test in Fourstardave
- Pletcher aims for Goodwood Glory with Starfish Bay (UK)
- Free oral cancer screening August 4
- Free thoroughbred farm tours on August 10 and August 24
- Select mutuels open 12:15 p.m. for simulcasting on "Party at the Spa" Friday
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When Classofsixtythree goes to the post in Sunday's Grade 1 Ruffian, she'll have her own cheering section – former classmates of her owner, Lee Pokoik, who was graduated from Tabor Academy in 1963.
"I am a trustee of the school, and what I have done in the past is name horses for people that are involved in the school," said Pokoik of Tabor, a 9-12 prep school located in Marion, Mass. "I've named some for teachers, including Hoyle, Stroud, and Stokes, and this horse was named for the year I graduated."
The informal class reunion – Pokoik said he expects perhaps a half-dozen alumni, as well as several members of the school's development office – hopes to be rooting for another of Pokoik's horses, Triple Latte, who is being pointed to an allowance race on Sunday.
After the races, the group will have dinner at Siro's.
"Hopefully we'll have something to celebrate," said Pokoik.
Trained by Gary Contessa, Classofsixtythree is 2-0-4 from six starts this year and comes into the 1 1/8th mile Ruffian off a last-to-first victory in an allowance on
"If ever there was a time to try a Grade 1 race, this is it," said Contessa. "Her confidence level is high, and if we can even get third in a Grade 1 race it would enhance her pedigree. I'm not saying she's a Grade 1 horse, but she may be on Sunday."
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Trainer Eddie Kenneally said this morning that he plans to run Gary and Mary West's Safe Trip in Monday's Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-olds running 6 ½ furlongs.
Since coming off a nine-month layoff, Safe Trip has won two races, a maiden race and an allowance race, and recently finished third to multiple graded stakes winner Discreetly Mine in the Grade 3 Jersey Shore at
"We always had high regard for him," Kenneally said. "We liked his last race because it was a test of his class. Obviously, we are concerned about Discreetly Mine in the race. Still, we are happy with him."
Safe Trip had only one race as a 2-year-old, never reaching contention against eventual Grade 3 winner Thiskyhasnolimit over a sloppy Churchill Downs track. After that race, Kenneally decided to give the gelding some time to regroup.
"He had some typical 2-year-old issues," Kenneally said. "He needed some time to mature."
Along with Safe Trip and Discreetly Mine, other candidates for the
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Worstcasescenario will return to the scene of her victory in last year's Grade 2 Adirondack when she competes in tomorrow's Lucy Scribner, but her trainer, Rick Violette, said the 3-year-old daughter of Forbidden Apple remains a work in progress.
"She's doing well, but I don't know if I have her in the same form I had her last summer," said Violette.
Worstcasescenario is winless in four starts since the Adirondack, with a runner-up effort in the
Violette added that Sovereign Default, who joined the New York Watch when he broke his maiden by two lengths on debut at
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AJ Suited Racing Stable and trainer James Toner are expecting to give Zifzaf a class test on Sunday in the Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap for older turf horses going 1 1/16th miles.
Purchased at the Keeneland Horses of All Ages Sales in January for $25,000, the 4-year-old War Chant colt so far has been a good investment, earning nearly $65,000 from back-to-back wins under allowance conditions.
"I asked [former trainer] Kiaran McLaughlin about him and he told me he's a nice horse," Toner said. "It has worked out better than what we had expected and we're very happy about that. To have him perform the way he has, it has been a pleasant surprise. We are happy with the results."
Zifzaf is likely to meet Cherokee Artist, Get Stormy, Glowing Praise, Grassy, Nownownow, Pinckney Hill, Public Speaker, Wesley and Whatsthescript in the Fourstardave. Toner knows this race will be a test for Zifzaf, but he's hoping his horse can be a factor.
"He has won two good races and continues to train well," Toner said. "He's a good-looking horse. He's an eye-catcher. We'll take a jump in the water and see what we get. This is a solid group of horses and we are hoping to get a piece of it."
Toner, who is expecting to make his first start of the
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Glorious Goodwood takes on an international flavor Thursday when Saratoga-based trainer Todd Pletcher runs
The King George – a five-furlong dash down Goodwood's undulating, right-handed sprint course – is due off at 9:45 am (Race 2).
Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Starfish Bay could hold a pace advantage over 15 rivals and will try to lead all the way from her middle draw in post 7.
Old-timer Borderlescott holds top claims for the home team. With Kieren Fallon booked for the ride, the Compton Palace gelding can benefit from the former champion jockey's aggressive riding tactics and seeks a 13th career victory.
The co-feature is the two-mile Goodwood Cup, where Aidan O'Brien's Age Of Aquarius will bid to atone for his near-miss in the Ascot Gold Cup. The four-year-old son of Galileo will be partnered by Johnny Murtagh after the conclusion of a recent suspension.
Luca Cumani-trained Purple Moon, third at
The Galway Festival, one of
UK Racing is simulcast every Wednesday through Saturday morning during the
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Racegoers can get a free oral cancer screening outside the Jockey Silks room at
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The New York Thoroughbred Breeders will be offering free tours of area thoroughbred farms on Tuesday, August 10 and Tuesday, August 24, giving fans the chance to see what it's like to live, work and play on a thoroughbred farm. For more information, contact Cathi Jackson at (518) 587-0777 or jacksonc@nycap.rr.com.
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Friday, July 30, is the first of two "Party at the Spa" dates this season, with a special first race post time of 2:30 p.m. Mutuels will open select windows in the first floor clubhouse, first floor grandstand, Paddock and Shake Shack areas for simulcasting at 12:15 p.m., with first track
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