Twisted Tom returns home
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Twisted Tom returns home to Saratoga for today’s $250,000 Albany Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
The Albany is part of New York Showcase Day at Saratoga, on which all 11 races are for New York-breds with purses on the day totaling $1,464,000.
Twisted Tom was born at the Stepwise Farm of his breeders, the husband and wife veterinarian team of Dr. Joan Taylor and Dr. William Wilmot.
Stepwise Farm is located near Saratoga Lake on Fitch Road.
The son of Creative Cause won the open Private Terms and Federico Tesio stakes earlier this year, earning a chance in the Belmont Stakes.
He finished sixth after having all kinds of trouble on the first turn and suffered cuts.
Twisted Tom, a winner of five of eight starts, comes off a half-length victory in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes on July 22.
“We are thrilled that Twisted Tom came back after his difficult trip in the Belmont to win the New York Derby with grit and determination,” said Dr. Taylor. “Even as the high weight carrying 124 pounds in the Albany, we expect him to bring his strong will to win the race and be a salty contender.”
Grit is the operative word, as he dug in and fought back a stern challenge from Broken Engagement in the New York Derby.
“Although Twisted Tom will be giving weight to some nice horses, we still feel he is the one to beat
because of his determination and will to win,” said Dr. Wilmot. “Hoping for a clean trip, unlike the Belmont.”
Javier Castellano rides Twisted Tom for owner Cobra Farm and partners.
Broken Engagement, second by a half-length in the New York Derby at equal weights of 124 pounds, gets in the Albany at 117.
Like Twisted Tom, he does his best running late.
Pat On the Back, third in the New York Derby, returns in the Albany as well, and as such is the only member of the field with a local victory.
He is a three time winner of New York-bred stakes and has good early speed.
Completing the Albany field are Dynamix Prime, D’yer Maker, Can You Diggit, and Minsky Moment.
Two-year-olds have the Funny Cide and Seeking the Ante on the Showcase card.
Aveenu Malcainu, a sharp debut winner at Saratoga on July 28, and What a Catch, an unbeaten winner of the Rockville Center Stakes, top the field of eight males going 6 ½ furlongs for $200,000.
The Seeking the Ante, also at 6 ½ furlongs for $200,000, is for fillies and is topped by I Still Miss You, winner of the open Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8.
She was second to Pure Silver in the Lynbrook Stakes at Belmont Park on July 16.
Pure Silver went on to win the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga impressively.
The day’s heaviest favorite could be Sunset Ridge in the $200,000 Fleet Indian at 1 1/8 miles on the main track for 3-year-old fillies.
Unbeaten and untested in three outings, she has yet to win around two turns, but appears capable of taking control from the start.
In the $150,000 West Point at 1 1/16 miles on turf, King Kreesa is looking for a repeat of his victory in 2016.
The West Point favorite could be Offering Plan, third in the event last year and winner of the Kingston Handicap on the Belmont turf two races back.
The following non-profit organizations are scheduled to appear at the Community Outreach Booth located next to the Jockey Silks Room and across from the Saratoga Walk of Fame at Saratoga Race Course during the 2017 season: Today: Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council Saturday, August 26: Backstretch Employee Service Team Sunday, August 27: Center for Disability Services Monday, August 28: Troy Boys & Girls Club Wednesday, August 30: Living Resources Thursday, August 31: Habitat for Humanity Friday, September 1: National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame Saturday, September 2: Capital Region Toys for Tots Foundation Sunday, September 3: Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region Monday, September 4: Cohoes Connect Center for Youth Todd Pletcher Chad Brown Kiaran McLaughlin Linda Rice Bill Mott Jason Servis George Weaver Rudy Rodriguez Steve Asmussen Charlton Baker Mark Casse Jeremiah Englehart Danny Gargan David Donk Bruce Levine David Jacobson Michelle Nevin David Cannizzo Gary Contessa Michael Maker Graham Motion Wesley Ward Christophe Clement Horacio DePaz Robertino Diodoro Gary Gullo Jimmy Jerkens Albert Stall Dale Romans Brendan Walsh Robert Ribaudo Chris Englehart Barclay Tagg Richard Violette Shug McGaughey George Arnold Robert Barbara H. James Bond Michael Dilger David Duggan D. Wayne Lukas Raymond Handal Steve Klesaris Carlos Martin Kenneth McPeek Ron Moquett Joe Sharp John Terranova II James Toner Jack Fisher Abigail Adsit A.C. Avila Bob Baffert Debra Breed Bruce Brown Simon Callaghan Russell Cash Wayne Catalano Naipaul Chatterpaul Brad Cox Kate Dalton Gustavo Delgado Carl Domino Anthony Dutrow James Ferraro Mitchell Friedman Leah Gyarmati Richard Hendriks Hennig Patrick Kelly Archibald Kingsley Barbara Minshall Carla Morgan Thomas Morley Neil Morris Reid Nagle Jorge Navarro Ralph Nicks Teresa Pompay Thomas Proctor Mike Puype Patrick Reynolds Larry Rivelli Derek Ryan Philip Serpe Michael Sabine Merrill Scherer Dallas Stewart Chad Summers Michael Trombetta Elizabeth Voss Ian Wilkes Leslie Young Nicholas Zito John TosCano Jr. Arnaud Delacour Brian Lynch Day 30 2017 Handle: 23,960 Attendance: $3,450,989 2016 Handle: $3,135,147 Attendance: 22,403 30 26 11 11 9 8 8 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1