Get wagers ready for ’Toga party
Paradise by the toteboard light! It’s Christmas in July again as the nation’s premier thoroughbred meet gets underway for the 148th time on Friday afternoon at Saratoga.
Let’s take a look at what went down at the Graveyard of Favorites last year and set a course for a successful 2016 season as well. PUT IT DOWN ON BROWN
Is this the year Chad Brown finally takes down Todd Pletcher? The Spa’s leading trainer is seeking his seventh title in a row, and 13th overall, after he caught Brown on the final weekend of the meet. Pulled away to win by three after trailing most of the summer. Though Pletcher brings his endless fleet of promising 2-year-olds upstate, Brown, who secured top-trainer honors at the just concluded Belmont meet, has been narrowing the gap. Eight victories shy in 2013, he cut the lead to five the following year, before falling just short in 2015. A broader view of last year’s campaign shows each handler excelling where expected. Pletcher saddled 22 winners on the main track — 10 better than his closest competitor Rudy Rodriguez. Brown owns the turf course, conditioning the same 22 winners on the lawn, distancing Chris Clement (13). Expect the worldclass trainers to hit the wire in a photo finish with Brown edging the perennial champ.
MOTT = MONEY
Other trainer tidbits: Though Brown and Pletcher brought back an average win payoff of $8 and change, Bill Mott who landed third last year, yielded a far greater payoff of $12.60. ... Anthony Dutrow sent 20 horses to the gate, and they collectively hit the board 85 percent of the time. ... Linda Rice, the last to win the title before Pletcher’s streak, is expected to have a strong meet with Jose Ortiz sitting on the bulk of her mounts.
GO, BROTHER!
The brothers Ortiz, Irad and Jose, have forced their way to the top of the New York ladder all year round. Irad rode the most winners here last summer (57), which was three better than Javier Castellano even though he made 12 fewer starts. His 34 wins on the lawn were 10 better than Castellano. On the dirt, Castellano finished in a dead heat with Hall of Famer John Velazquez for most victories with 29.
V IS FOR VICTORY
Velazquez, still Pletcher’s go-to guy for his juvenile squad, should pilot the most 2-year-old winners again this season but has been cutting back on his mounts recently which may provide more opportunities for Jose Ortiz, Joel Rosario and Luis Saez. Ortiz, fresh off another riding title at Belmont as well as the previous meet at the Big A, is expected to better his fourth-place standing of a year ago and give his older brother and Castellano a run for their money.
JOCKEY SHORTS
Rosario scored the best winning percentage (23 percent) in the sprint division. ... Eric Cancel provided the best bang for your buck, averaging $28.10 over 18 winners. ... Corey Lanerie left the gate 57 times last year and went home empty-handed.
JUMPING OFF
If you’re looking for help with the jumpers, keep looking. Had one winner all last year in the steeplechase races, and as I recall, half of them failed to finish. Good luck!