Saratoga Highlights--2012 (Part 6: Conclusion, Some Humans)

Behind every winning thoroughbred, there's a human or 2 or, actually, quite a few.

As with the horses, there are far too many people who deserve special mention to do justice by picking just a few for these Highlights. But this is a blog, not an encyclopedic year-in-review.

So, at the risk--no certainty--of leaving out several humans who deserve inclusion, and who other reviewers would include, here are my selections.

Ramon Dominguez
Now this was his meet.
Simply awesome. Frighteningly so!
(click to enlarge any photo)

Ramon
Simply Awesome
by Bob Mayberger

Ramon broke the record for most wins at a Saratoga meet. Over the 40 days, he won 68 times. He also became the 1st jockey to ever win 6 races in a single day at Saratoga twice--let alone twice in a single season. Top Jockey title by a wide margin.
[In both records, he passed Johnny Velazquez--who just happens to be the very next Highlight.]
Among Ramon's victories were the Jim Dandy and the tie-for-1st aboard Alpha [See Part 2 of the Highlights.], the Ballston Spa aboard Zagora [See Part 4 of the Highlights.], the Yaddo aboard Hessonite [See Part 4 of the Highlights.], and the Saranac aboard Unbridled Command. [See photo.]

Ramon's Record Breaker
by Bob Mayberger

That last one, a 10-1 upset, was part of his 2nd 6-win days at Saratoga. It was also the one with which he broke the previous record for most wins in a single meet.

As most readers surely know, Ramon was seriously injured in a riding accident at Aqueduct on January 18. The latest news is that he is recovering impressively from a fractured skull. Reports are that he may even return to racing sometime in March.
Amazing! Just as Ramon himself is.
All the very best wishes for a full recovery Champ.

Saratoga Highlights--2012 (Part 5, Some Stunners)

Stunning wins.

Sometimes it's a long shot--a very long shot.
Sometimes it's a real bad start, maybe even a fall out of the gate.
Sometimes it's running a second time in the same week, with only 2 days rest for a Grade 1.
Sometimes it's beating a seemingly unbeatable champion.
Sometimes it's a come-from-way-behind in the stretch.

We had all of those at Saratoga 2012. Some of them we had a few times. Among them, here are my (always humble) picks for Highlights. 5 of them.
[With lots--as in real lots--of thanks to Bob Mayberger and Adam Coglianese for such wonderful shots. GREAT stuff!]

Lady Utopia at 70 - 1
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Lady Utopia
Clear Win at 70-1
by Adam Coglianese

Come on. Can't help but love this one.
Sunday, July 29th. The 5th race, a 6 furlong maiden claiming with a 20K price tag on each filly and mare.
One of the fillies had finished 7th and 6th in her first 2 tries, losing by a total of 36+ lengths.
But local trainer Gabriel Goodwin and his father-in-law, the owner, Guy LaMotta, still thought she was special.
Well, on that Sunday, going off at by far the longest odds in the field of 9, Lady Utopia vindicated their trust.

M'lady
w/ Proud Connections
by Adam Coglianese

Stalking the dueling leaders, M'lady went wide and passed them both under Abel Lezcano to win convincingly by 2 growing lengths.
In the hearts and minds of some who love long shots, as well as her trainer and owner, this beautiful 3 year old girl just might have been the Belle of the Meet.

Saratoga Highlights--2012 (Part 4, Some Great Faves)

It's tough enough to pick highlights. Tougher to rank the first few. It's well nigh impossible to assign anything but an arbitrary number to the several that follow thereafter.

So I'm not going to try. At least not this year.

Instead, here are several of the Saratoga Highlights-2012 that I'll simply label as special or personal or just plain great favorites.

Wise Dan in the Fourstardave
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Wise Dan Pulls Away
in Fourstardave
by Bob Mayberger

The then-5 year old gelding did it on the turf this time, with a dominating 5 length win. Trained by Charles Lopresti and ridden by Johnny Velasquez, Dan has won big on synthetic, on dirt, and on the turf. In 2012, he won 5 out of 6, set record times at Keeneland and Santa Anita--including his victory in the Breeders' Cup mile--and proved in the Fourstardave that Saratoga was no graveyard for this champion.

Dan a Clear Winner
in the Dave
by Bob Mayberger

And speaking of  champions, he joined the company of Secretariat and a very few others to win 3 championship awards in a single year. Earlier this month, he won the Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year, Older Male, and Male Turf Horse. It was great to see him at the Spa.