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Our recap of the action on- and off-track to give you a flavor of the premiere race meet in America

Saratoga Racing Season 2004

Week One

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Week One ** Week Two ** Week Three ** Week Four ** Week Five ** Week Six

Opening Day, Wed 7/28

The Big Dance comes back to town! NY's Capital District fans happily turn out for another Opening Day.

The track was sealed all afternoon despite plenty of sunshine. Rain the night before left the condition "muddy" all day.

DW Lukas saddles eventual Schuylerville winner Classic Elegance. And, right, jockey Jerry Bailey signs an autograph for a small admirer.

Contrary to the industry lament nationwide, there's no shortage of media coverage at the Spa. All of the local TV stations show up for live remotes on Opening Day.

Wed 7/28
Attendance: 25306
Weather: Steady rain Tuesday night washed all turf races onto the main track. Wednesday started cloudy and cool but by mid-afternoon was sunny and humid.
Highlights: *** DW Lukas' Classic Elegance makes an impressive come-from-behind move under Pat Day to win the G2 $150K Schuylerville.
*** Saturday Night Live's Jimmy Fallon was spotted watching the feature from the rail in the winner's circle area. He departed before the horses returned for unsaddling. Fallon was later spotted strolling through the Siro's neighborhood.

Thurs 7/29

Left, Dogwood's Cot Campbell (on left) meets with jockey Frank Lovato, Jr in the paddock prior to the Sanford. Right, Lunarpal heads to the track with jockey Shane Sellers and trainer Steve Asmussen (on right).

Sanford winner Afleet Alex gets his picture taken.

Thurs 7/29
Attendance: 32168 ("spinner"-inflated due to Velasquez bobblehead giveaway)
Weather: Plenty of sunshine but humidity was high.
Highlights: *** Appropriately, on John Velasquez bobble head day, the jockey crosses the 3000-win threshold aboard Runingforpresident. Perhaps even more appropriately the winner was trained by JV's main patron of the last couple years, Todd Pletcher.
*** Afleet Alex scores with authority in the G2 $150K Sanford.

Fri 7/30

Left, trainer Bill Mott saddles Silver Tree prior to the running of the Bernard Baruch. Right, after Silver Tree wins the stake Mott is interviewed by NYRA's Jan Rushton in the winner's circle.

The Hat's Off music festival is held every year during the Friday and Saturday nights of opening week. As usual this year the crowds were plentiful and had fun fun fun! Left, Captain Squeeze & the Zydeco Moshers had folks on their feet and dancing while Big Medicine (right) drew a packed house -- or packed street -- to Caroline Street.

Fri 7/30
Attendance: 19569
Weather: Sunny and warm with some humidity.
Highlights: *** Finger Lakes shipper Caribbean Cruiser, with F'Lakes jockey CC Yang, makes an impressive debut winning a NY-bred MSW event by a couple.
*** Mott's Silvertree, with Bailey onboard, proves best in G2 $150K Bernard Baruch.
*** The annual Hat's Off music festival brought the funsters to downtown in the evening.

Sat 7/31

A solid line-up of contestants vie for the title of "Best Hat". Right, the winner.

Wonder Again gets her picture taken after the Diana. ESPN's Jeannine Edwards interviews winning jock Edgar Prado while trainer Jimmy Toner helps out with the umbrella.

Jeannine interviews Allen Jerkens after Society Selection scores in the Test. Right, jockey Edgar Prado departs the winner's circle after grabbing his second G1 stake of the afternoon.

Sat 7/31
Attendance: 26765
Weather: T-storms warnings throughout the area. Light rain before the 5th. Brief, heavy downpour after the 6th. Came down hard during the running of the Diana.
Highlights: *** 'The Chief', Allen Jerkens sends out Society Selection to a very impressive win in the G1 $250 Test.
*** Wonder Again is back! After a disappointing 2003 season the 5YO makes it two wins in three 2004 starts with a six-length win in the G1 $500K Diana.
*** Jock Edgar Prado was onboard both of the day's stakes winners.
*** The annual Hat's Off contest attracted the usual assortment of wacky hat entries.

Sun 8/01

Plenty of folks passed through the turnstiles and took advantage of the ballcap giveaway -- a the caps were spotted being happily worn throughout the facility.

Trainer DW Lukas saddles Azeri prior to the Go For Wand. Winning jock Pat Day returns to the jock's room after winning the stakes on Azeri.

Sun 8/01
Attendance: 50122 "spinner"-inflated, ballcap giveaway.
Weather: Sunny, hot and humid.
Highlights: *** Trainer Patrick Biancone unveils a good looking 2YO filly as Sense of Style wins her debut by 2 1/2 going 6.5F.
*** Ten Cents a Shine was a 3YO classic hopeful in 2003 for owner Ken Ramsey. The horse was moved from trainer Ken McPeek to D Wayne Lukas prior to the 2003 Triple Crown trail. After a series of flopperoos, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the horse went to the sidelines -- returning in June of this year for yet another trainer, Bobby Frankel. Another dull performance that afternoon in a NW2 lead to an appearance today for a $35K claiming tag. The public was leery off of the less than stellar record and the drop in for a tag -- Ten Cents a Shine got away at 9-1 and won by a half. Like the public the claiming trainers and owners were also skeptical -- no one claimed the horse.
*** The G1 $250K Go For Wand features a short but distinguished field with 2002 2YO filly Eclipse winner Storm Flag Flying, 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, and the pro-tem leader of the filly/mare division Sightseek -- as well as two other stakes winners, Mayo On the Side and La Reason. In what could wind up being the emotional highlight of the season it was Azeri pulling away from Sightseek in the lane to so she still has it after having thrown in a couple of clunkers at Belmont earlier this spring.
*** Spotted on-track were some soap stars who were participating in the Satin, Silks and Stars luncheon to benefit NY Special Olympics. Also on hand were a group of NHL stars-- the most prominent being perhaps Adam Oates and The Hanson Brother (from the movie Slapshot).

Mon, 8/02

Seducer's Song in the winner's circle after the Lake George. And the winning connections collect their trophy.

Some of the jockeys donned their gloves and showed up at the East Side Rec field for a charity softball game against the state police. Right, Jerry Bailey warms up.

A solid turnout enjoyed a close contest. After the game the jocks met fans and signed autographs. Right, Pat Day.

Left, Angel Cordero and John Velasquez greet fans. Right, Jerry Bailey signs.

Mon 8/02
Attendance: 15805
Weather: Nice. Sunny and humid.
Highlights: ***2YO filly Balletto ran her record to 2-for-2 winning the 3rd at 6.5F. She's one to watch.
*** And in the next race trainer Steve Asmussen unveiled a good-looking daughter of Cape Canaveral named Megascape. She won the NY-bred MSW race with style and should contend against open company.
*** Trainer Christophe Clement sent out Seducer's Song to win the G3 $100K Lake George.
*** Later on it was the jockeys vs the state police in a charity softball game at the East side rec field. It was a pitchers battle as the scored was tied 2-2 through the end of the scheduled seven innings. Those innings went by so fast that the organizers tacked on two more innings and with the state police batting last in the 9th they dropped in a blooper with a man on third and managed to win the contest 3-2. After the game folks met with the jocks for autographs and a good time was had by all.

Left, the booth for the guys at Track Judge to display their handicapping tools. Right, more exhibitors booths.

Left, it's actor/singer/horse-owner David Cassidy at the Vet-Stem booth. Right, the Handicapping for a 'Bettor' Future hosted by Tom Amello and featuring handicapper Nick Kling, Bris VP Happy Broadbent, and Track Judge president Charles Judge.

Tues 8/03
Attendance: Dark day.
Weather:
Highlights: Horse Technology 2004 was the featured event for this first 'dark day' of the meet. Held for the first time this year the two-day event brought together exhibitors and seminar presenters that highlighted the marriage technology and horse-racing. It was exciting to hear all the talk of gizmos and gadgets that are just around the corner (or already here) that will intensify fan interest in the sport and bring about an new level of intimacy for owners -- as well as better use of information for trainers. For Year One of such an event things were promising and we look forward to an expanded Horse Technology 2005. Site was the Saratoga City Center downtown.

Week One ** Week Two ** Week Three ** Week Four ** Week Five ** Week Six

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