California factor seen in Saratoga
Racing has problems everywhere, but nowhere have they been more apparent than in California. These problems include, but are not limited to, surface issues, which resulted in ripping up dirt tracks and replacing them with synthetics, and then — except at Golden Gate Fields — going back to dirt again; the closure of Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows; and the ongoing problem of short fields, a result in part of the horse shortage impacting the whole country.
Despite all of this, California-based horses have domi-
nated at the highest level of the sport in recent years. Four of the last five champion 3-yearold males and three of the last four champion 3-year-old fillies have come out of California. Most of these 3-year-olds — among them California Chrome, Arrogate, Beholder, Stellar Wind and Songbird — have gone on to excel at four and beyond. California Chrome and Beholder won championships as older horses, and the other three are very much in the running in 2017.
Almost forgot the 2-year-olds. Four of the last five juvenile filly champions and three of the last four male juvenile champs have been California based.
This year Californians are especially dominant in female divisions. With three Grade 1 victories, Abel Tasman has all but locked up the three-yearold championship. Another top-class Californian, Unique Bella — a three-time graded winner earlier in the year — is currently sidelined. And American Gal, who shipped in and dominated the Test Stakes (G1) here 10 days ago, is arguably the top sophomore around one turn. Finally, few would dispute that Songbird, Stellar Wind and Vale Dori are the top three older females in training.
Fortunately, the lure of Saratoga’s reputation, in addition to its lucrative purses, has resulted in a number of West Coast stars heading east in the summer. And it’s a good thing they came. What would the last two Travers have been like without American Pharoah and Arrogate? Sure, Pharoah got beat, but his weeklong visit was still the highlight of the 2015 meet.
Arrogate’s recordbreaking Travers was the individual highlight from last summer. But Songbird, with dominating wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama, challenged him as the meet’s top performer. And don’t forget the lights-out performance by Drefong, another Californian, in what was then still called the King’s Bishop.
Cal-based runners have made their mark here again this summer. Besides American Gal’s victory in the Test, there was Abel Tasman’s hard-fought win in the Coaching Club Oaks. The Bob Baffert-conditioned filly will not be coming for the Alabama. We recently learned, though, that Songbird would be running in the Personal Ensign on Aug. 26. Jeff Scott writes about horse racing Tuesday in The Saratogian. He may be reached at utahpine@ aol.com.