Hall Of Fame Jockey Kent Desormeaux Reaches 5,000-Win Mark

Posted on Sunday, July 27th, 2008

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux rode his 5,000th winner Sunday, July 27, aboard Gumpster Stables’ Bella Attrice in the 7th allowance race at Saratoga Race Course.

The milestone victory took a while to reach. He rode his 4,998th winner on July 7 at Philadelphia Park, then went 0-for-30 before riding No. 4,999 last Opening Day Wednesday, July 23, at Saratoga.

“Aside from my first win (aboard Miss Tavern at Evangeline Downs on July 13, 1986), my first Kentucky Derby (on Real Quiet in 1998),” said the 38-year-old jockey Kent Desormeaux, who is the 23rd jockey to reach the 5,000 mark. “Those are the two I hold close to my heart.”

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Macho Again Wins Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga; Belmont Stakes Winner Da’Tara Finished Last

Posted on Sunday, July 27th, 2008

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again held off a late bid by favored Pyro to win the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) by a half-length on Sunday, July 27, at Saratoga.

The Dallas Stewart trainee ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, Macho Again, who finished second in the Preakness and fifth in the Belmont Stakes before winning what is considered the principal prep for the August 23 Travers Stakes, covered the Jim Dandy Stakes distance of 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.60 and paid $18.40, $5.30 and $3.40. Pyro, under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, returned $3.40 and $2.90. Three-quarters of a length behind, Tiz Now Tiz Then with jockey Miguel Mena paid $4.70 to show.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Commentator Wins Whitney Handicap at Saratoga July 26

Posted on Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Commentator, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, lead all the way to win the 81st running of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (G1), the Opening Weekend feature at Saratoga Race Course, by 4 3/4-lengths.

The Whitney Handicap is part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” series which means its winner, Commentator, will automatically become one of the Breeders’s Cup horses allowed to race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita.

Racing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.23, Commentator paid $10.80, $6.20 and $4.30. Second place Student Council, under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, returned $7.60 and $4.70. Grasshopper with jockey Robby Albarado is back in third showing $4.80.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Ginger Punch Wins Go for Wand Handicap at Saratoga July 26

Posted on Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Splitting rivals with a gutsy move in deep stretch, the 5-year-old mare Ginger Punch muscled her way to the front and pulled clear for a 1 1/4-length win over Copper State in the 55th edition of the $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap (G1) Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships‘ “Win and You’re In” series, the Go for Wand victory afforded the daughter of Awesome Again, Ginger Punch, a return trip to the 2008 Breeders’ Cup, where she will defend her title in the renamed Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, formerly the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, on Friday, October 24 at Santa Anita Park.

Racing 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.43, Ginger Punch, under jockey Rafael Bejarano, paid $2.40, $2.30 and $2.10 as the 1-5 favorite. The 16-1 shot Copper State, ridden by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan returned $5.80 and $3.30. Another 1 3/4 lengths behind, Indescribable with jockey Kent Desormeaux paid $3.30 to show.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Abraaj Wins Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga July 26

Posted on Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Shadwell Stable’s Abraaj, under jockey Alan Garcia, won Saturday afternoon’s 24th running of the $250,000 Alfred G. Vamderbilt (G2) by 2 1/2-lengths over First Defence covering 6 furlongs in 1:10.23 on the fast main track at Saratoga.

The 5-year-old Carson City colt, Abraaj, recorded his 5th win in 13 starts. As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Vanderbilt Handicap winner, Abraaj, became one of the Breeders’ Cup horses allowed to race in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at the Oak Tree Meeting at Santa Anita on Saturday, October 25.

Abraaj paid $5.40, $3.10 and $2.40. First Defence, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, returned $4.10 and $3. Third place Sammarco with jockey Channning Hill paid $5.10 to show.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Forever Together Wins The Diana Stakes at Saratoga July 26

Posted on Saturday, July 26th, 2008

The Jonathan Sheppard-trained Forever Together won Saturday’s 70th running of the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf as part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series of horse races.

Racing 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.52, Forever Together, under jockey Julien Leparoux, paid $20, $8.20 and $5.80. 3/4-lengths behind, Dynaforce, with jockey Kent Desormeaux, returned $5.10 and $3.70. Another 3 1/2 lengths behind, Rutherienne, ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, showed $5.20.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday, July 26

Posted on Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Saturday afternoon, on a day when Saratoga Race Course will offer a record of more than $1.7 million in purses, Tracy Farmer’s Commentator enters the starting gate against 10 rivals for the 81st running of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 9 furlongs.

The Whitney Handicap is 1 of 4 graded stakes on Saturday’s card that is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. The Whitney Handicap winner will be one of the Breeders’ Cup horses for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.

Saratoga’s Whitney Handicap field of horses with jockeys and weight:

  1. Online Horse BettingCommentator under jockey John Velazquez carries 120 lbs.
  2. Solar Flare (ARG) under jockey Gabriel Saez, 115 lbs.
  3. Notional under jockey Edgar Prado, 116 lbs.
  4. Cowtown Cat under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 114 lbs.
  5. Merchant Marine under jockey Rajiv Maragh, 113 lbs.
  6. Tasteyville under jockey Michael Luzzi, 115 lbs.
  7. Rising Moon under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, 115 lbs.
  8. Grasshopper under jockey Robby Albarado, 116 lbs.
  9. A. P. Arrow under jockey Ramon Dominguez, 116 lbs.
  10. Student Council under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, 117 lbs.
  11. Timber Reserve under jockey Javier Castellano, 115 lbs.

The Whitney Handicap is the 10th of 11 horse races in Saratoga’s July 26 card. Whitney Handicap post time is 5:46 pm Eastern.

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