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Art And Linda Kranick, Saratoga Springs High School Cross-Country Coaches, Own The Road

Tony Case
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Art And Linda Kranick, Saratoga Springs High School Cross-Country Coaches, Own The Road

If you’re like me, some days, a half hour on the treadmill can feel like Olympic-level exertion. The idea of competitive running is probably just as unfathomable to you as it is to me—on par, maybe, with winning at the racetrack or doing your own stunts à la Tom Cruise. But if you’re a fan of high school athletics in Saratoga, you know that running—and most importantly, winning—has seemingly come easy for the Saratoga Springs High School cross-country team. The team’s one constant since the mid-’80s? The dynamic duo of Coaches Art and Linda Kranick. The couple started coaching cross-country and track at Saratoga Springs High School 33 years ago and have since helped the home team fill a case with trophies and medals from many national and state championships—which are conveniently advertised on a sign near the entrance of the Saratoga Spa State Park. They remain every bit as committed to “the kids,” as they refer to their student-athletes.

What struck me about the Kranicks is their quiet modesty, despite all they’ve achieved for the Blue Streaks and multiple generations of Saratoga athletes, not to mention the accolades they’ve scooped up for themselves—among them, induction into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in New York City and titles including National Coach of the Year and New York State Cross-Country Coach of the Year.

I caught up with the Linda and Art Kranick to find out about living their life on the fast track.

ON THEIR COACHING PHILOSOPHY
It’s very basic: If you want to succeed, you have to put in the time and effort. We put in the work that we expect the kids to put in. One of the things we try to teach the kids is don’t take the easy way out. You don’t need to win trophies—do it for yourself, to make yourself a better person. Hopefully, we can influence them and make our little part of the world a better place. The things you learn—commitment, dedication, persistence, setting goals and achieving them—translate to later in life.

ON THEIR FONDEST MEMORIES AS COACHES
There are so many that don’t involve training or the meets or winning. It’s about life experiences. We’ve been to 39 weddings of former athletes, with three more this fall. And we have children of former athletes and students on our teams now. That’s exciting. We get to travel everywhere with our teams. This past January, we went to Scotland with Kelsey Chmiel, the first-ever American to win the Great Edinburgh International Cross-Country Challenge.

ON BEING COACHES THAT HAPPEN TO BE MARRIED
We were at a coaching clinic in California together, and one of the coaches said, “How do a husband and wife work together?” We’ve known each other since we were 14. We’re not only husband and wife, we’re best friends.

ON THEIR ADVICE FOR ASPIRING MARATHONERS
If you’re going to take it seriously, you’ve got to put in the mileage—and make sure you’re eating enough. That’s one of the things we stress to the kids: You have to eat, because you’re burning a lot of calories out there. You’ve also got to have proper footwear—and don’t forget to hydrate. I would tell adults all the same things we tell the kids.

ON THEIR CONTINUED SOURCE OF MOTIVATION
One of the benefits of coaching for so long is watching the kids you coached grow up to be terrific adults. We keep in touch with them, and they always say thank you to us. That’s when we realize what we’re in it for.

Will The Next Great Saratoga Cocktail Be 9 Maple Avenue’s ‘Saratoga Rye Buck’?

Staff Report
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Will The Next Great Saratoga Cocktail Be 9 Maple Avenue’s ‘Saratoga Rye Buck’?

In our previous issue of saratoga living, Saratoga staple, Siro’s, offered up the Ginger Mint Mojito as its “Next Great Saratoga Cocktail” entry. (Previously, we’ve gotten entries from Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar, Sinclair Saratoga, Morrissey’s At The Adelphi and Hamlet & Ghost.) Check out the latest entry from another Saratoga mainstay, 9 Maple Avenue.

Mixologist: Wayne Chase
Bar: 9 Maple Avenue
Cocktail: Saratoga Rye Buck

(Dori Fitzpatrick)

I wanted to create a Saratoga-themed cocktail, fusing old and new cocktail recipes and adding a little local appeal. With the popularity of “Mule” cocktails and their variants, we recently added a “Buck” cocktail to the menu at 9 Maple Avenue. It harks back to an old, near-forgotten cocktail named the Horse’s Neck, which was simply ginger ale or beer on ice with a twist of an entire lemon. When a kick was required, whiskey (or another spirit) was added, and eventually the cocktail received its name, the Buck. All equine references aside, the Saratoga Rye Buck’s base is rye whiskey because of the spirit’s recent resurgence and its longtime connection to New York State. I went with an overproof Rittenhouse Rye to give the Saratoga Rye Buck a little extra kick.

Saratoga Rye Buck

Ingredients
1 oz. Rittenhouse Rye
1 oz. Stirrings Ginger Liqueur
1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Splash of Saratoga Sparkling Water
Lemon twist

Instructions
In a 12-ounce glass, add Rittenhouse Rye and Stirrings Ginger Liqueur, along with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup. Fill glass with ice and shake well. Top with Saratoga Sparkling Water and garnish with a long twist of lemon. Enjoy!

Aspiring Jockeys Learn To Go Fast, Fearlessly, At The North American Racing Academy

Teresa A. Genaro
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Aspiring Jockeys Learn To Go Fast, Fearlessly, At The North American Racing Academy

When people ask if I ride horses, I always give the same answer: seldom, and badly. I took lessons, first as a kid growing up in Saratoga Springs, then as an adult with a Saratoga friend on a beautiful farm just off the Taconic Parkway. I was awful, and I felt sorry for the horses, which were more patient with me than I deserved. I watch jockeys and exercise riders, who can stand up in stirrups with more balance and confidence than I stand on a sidewalk. I marvel at their strength and athleticism, and I wish that, just once, I could experience that feeling of going as fast as you can, fearlessly.

At the North American Racing Academy (NARA) in Kentucky, the students learn to do just that. In 1990, as he lay in a hospital bed healing from several broken bones, Hall Of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron wondered if he’d ever ride again, and if not, what he’d do with his life. “The answer I came up with was, train horses or kids,” he says. He chose the latter, and after more than a decade of planning, NARA opened its doors in 2006. The Riding Academy is a two-year program that’s part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and graduates have gone on to ride professionally, win races and appear in international jockey competitions. Saratogian Jacqueline Davis is a graduate; riding professionally since 2008, she most recently won on August 8 at Penn National Race Course. Her most memorable win, though, may have been in December 2011 at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sandyinthesun, a horse trained by her father, Jockey Robbie Davis.

McCarron’s no longer with NARA; it’s now run by Dixie Hayes, the school’s lead instructor and Program Coordinator. The program boasts alumni who’ve won more than 3000 races and $35 million in purse money, and who work at well known racing stables and breeding farms. Though less tangible, the moments produced by the program are as valuable as those jobs and wins. I was at Aqueduct the day Jacqueline won, and I watched Robbie engulf his daughter in a hug. They couldn’t have been more excited, or more exuberant, if they’d won The Travers Stakes.

How Witt Construction Built An Empire In Saratoga Springs

Sarah Midani
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How Witt Construction Built An Empire In Saratoga Springs

Even though I felt like a tourist on my first day at saratoga living (and on my second, even more so, when I got a parking ticket), I was determined to blend in. Back in March, my boyfriend, Ben, and I made the drive from Albany up to Saratoga Springs and spent an entire day exploring Downtown Saratoga’s streets, eateries and shopping destinations, so that I’d have a clue as to where things were when I came back to work at saratoga living in June. (Apparently, I should’ve paid more attention to the parking signs.) As we strolled up North Broadway, the houses seemed to get bigger and grander with every step, and we paused outside a 20,000-square-foot mansion, sporting intricate stonework, majestic staircases and a sleek, black-and-gold front gate. I nudged Ben’s arm and wondered aloud, “Is this someone’s house?” Later, I learned that the home in question was conceived by the award-winning Saratoga-based building firm, Witt Construction, which this year, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Witt Construction’s Founder and Owner, John Witt, tells me that it was a summer job on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, framing houses in the early ’80s, that sparked his interest in construction. A few years later, that interest grew stronger, while he was traveling the world as a member of the US Freestyle Ski Team. Witt visited architectural and artistic hubs such as Milan, Rome, Paris and Monte Carlo, absorbing each city’s architectural subtleties. “I remember driving through Italy and seeing villages with houses built on top of houses, overlooking the ocean,” says Witt. “It was something totally different than what we have here.” He spent the majority of his downtime abroad teaching himself the ins and outs of architecture and construction, reading everything he could about the industry. Then, in 1988, soon after retiring from professional skiing, Witt Construction was born.

Setting up his home base in Saratoga, Witt began to incorporate European influences into his firm’s projects—and that Old-World ethos has become one of his firm’s signatures. His most recent project, for example, a condominium neighborhood that he’s calling Downton Walk, reflects the nuances of European architecture and is the company’s most unique project to date, he tells me. “We have seven single-family homes on a small piece of property, so it has that very European feel,” he says. While Witt certainly caters to his clients’ own visions and specs for their dream home concepts, they choose him knowing that he’s a master builder with a flair for the incomparable. “A Witt house is truly custom,” says Beverly Tracy, who spent seven years as Witt Construction’s in-house interior designer. “John starts the design process with a napkin and a pen. He draws as he listens to new clients talk about their dream house. He’s a true designer.”

Regardless of architectural prowess, though, local builders such as Witt Construction know that they must follow strict guidelines—and seek prior approval from Saratoga’s Design Review Commission—before starting new builds or doing renovations within Saratoga’s historic and architectural districts. Firms must also be able to straddle the line between modern architecture and Saratoga’s classic look. “Not everything we’ve done matches what Saratoga is,” says Witt. “Projects that fit into the scale of the city are very important. The city holds us accountable, but it’s for good reason. That’s why we have such a great city, because we can’t just build anything anywhere.” Tracy, for one, believes her former employer’s work fits the bill—and has even made the city better. “Witt Construction has changed the landscape of Saratoga Springs with John’s vision, talent and unique use of materials,” she says. “Celebrating the anniversary of Witt Construction is celebrating the very best of Saratoga and our thriving community.”

Despite all the red tape, Witt takes great pleasure in building homes that families can enjoy for many years to come—especially in a city as remarkable as the Spa City. “Saratoga’s the place to be,” Witt says. “I’ve traveled quite a bit, and every time I come home, I feel privileged to live in such a great community.” Three decades in, Witt has no plans to call it quits anytime soon, either. “I don’t think I’ll ever retire,” he says. “I could see myself running the business forever.”

Good news, Saratoga. We have an eternity’s worth of John Witt’s award-winning work to look forward to.

Daily Racing Form: My Boy Tate Among Stakes Winners In Salty Allowance

David Grening, Daily Racing Form
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ELMONT, N.Y. – There is no stakes race Sunday at Belmont Park, but the multi-conditioned allowance sprint feature drew three stakes winners likely preparing for bigger and better things later this fall.

My Boy Tate won two New York-bred stakes as part of a five-race winning streak that ran from August 2017 through Feb 19. Deemed in need of a break following his victory in the Hollie Hughes during the winter, My Boy Tate returned in the Tale of the Cat on Aug. 10 at Saratoga, where he was beaten two lengths by Always Sunshine.

“I thought he ran great off a big break, I thought he put out a really good effort,” said Michelle Nevin, trainer and part owner of My Boy Tate along with Little Red Feather Racing.

My Boy Tate will be making his first start over the Belmont Park main track. He did show an affinity for it Sept. 6, when he breezed a half-mile in 46.96 seconds, the fastest of 30 moves at the distance. The fast work was uncharacteristic for a Nevin trainee.

“He’s a little crafty, and I just think he conned his rider the other day,” Nevin said. “He did it all on the bridle, in hand, real comfortable.”

My Boy Tate, who looks like the primary speed in the five-horse field, will break from post 2 under Manny Franco.

True Timber is not among the stakes winners in this field, but he certainly ran the best race of his career on June 10 when he won a second-level allowance here by 1 1/4 lengths. He ran seven furlongs in 1:21.92 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said True Timber sustained a cut in a leg during the summer, which is why he hasn’t raced in three months.

Celtic Chaos, like My Boy Tate a multiple New York-bred stakes winner, is coming off an allowance win at Saratoga against statebreds. Celtic Chaos, My Boy Tate, and Caledonian (a statebred with a pair of open-company stakes wins), could be preparing for the $150,000 Hudson for New York-breds on Oct. 20 or the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap on Oct 27.

Eight Town, winless in four starts this year, completes the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

My Boy Tate, by Boys At Tosconova
Last 3 Beyers: 96-99-98
◗ His last three Beyers are higher than anyone’s in the field with the exception of True Timber’s 102 figure achieved in June.
◗ Has been effective from on or off the pace but is likely to be the main speed in here.
“He can sit off a horse, I don’t have to really worry about that,” Nevin said.

True Timber, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 102-85-78
◗ Ran the best race of his career last time out in his 14th start, overcoming a stumbling beginning to win a second-level allowance.
◗ Patternrecognition, second in that June 10 allowance, came back to win his next start at Saratoga with a 100 Beyer.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

Daily Racing Form: Nashtrick’s Debut Win Makes Him One To Beat In Summer Stakes

Natalie Moore
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The good-looking debut winner Nashtrick will jump up to stakes company Sunday at Woodbine in the Grade 1, $250,000 Summer, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifier for the Juvenile Turf.

After acting up at the gate in his debut over about seven furlongs on good turf Aug. 24, Nashtrick battled three wide for the lead on the turn before drawing off to prevail by 3 1/2 lengths.

“I was very impressed with his first race,” trainer Josie Carroll said.

Last weekend, Nashtrick worked strongly over the main turf course with stablemate and fellow Summer entrant Avie’s Flatter, covering a half-mile in 47.60 seconds.

A field of 13 was drawn for the one-mile Summer. Along with the Grade 1 Natalma, it’s the co-feature on an 11-race card that has one other stakes, the $100,000 Vice Regent.

KEY CONTENDERS

Nashtrick, by Hat Trick
Beyer: 68
◗ Carroll has won the Summer once, with Bachelor Blues in 2003.

Avie’s Flatter, by Flatter
Beyer: 70
◗ He won his only race comfortably in a five-furlong maiden special on the Tapeta on Aug. 12.
“Avie’s Flatter worked extremely well on the turf the other day,” Carroll said. “We hadn’t seen him on the turf yet, so I wanted to see what he’d do.”

Jungle Warrior, by Animal Kingdom
Beyer: 66
◗ After breaking a tad slowly Aug. 4, he rallied wide from sixth to graduate in a six-furlong maiden special on turf, over which he worked a bullet five-eighths on Sept. 8.
“I like the way he’s going for this race,” trainer Sid Attard said. “He worked very well on the turf. I don’t think [the mile] will bother him. He’s a nice horse to rate.”

Fog of War, by War Front
Beyer: 77
◗ The Chad Brown-trained $400,000 yearling purchase defeated two next-out winners when notching his debut in a maiden special weight turf sprint Aug. 13 at Saratoga.

Federal Law, by Scat Daddy
◗ The lone European shipper in the lineup is adding blinkers and Lasix off a second as the favorite in an allowance at Chelmsford. He was previously seventh in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Wallace, by Run Away and Hide
Last 3 Beyers: 80-56-57
◗ He made quite a splash when switching from Tapeta to the turf here Aug. 26, leading throughout the six-furlong Soaring Free Stakes over yielding ground. He’s since been sold for the second time, going from Attard to trainer Kelsey Danner.

Skychief, by More Than Ready
Beyers: 71-49-32
◗ The Mike Maker charge was a front-running third last time out in a maiden special weight route on the Saratoga sod.

Tricky Magician, by Magician
Beyers: 74-65-55
◗ After narrowly losing to Jungle Warrior, the talented maiden was a stalking second in the Soaring Free.

Vice Regent Stakes
The one-mile Vice Regent Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds includes Bold Ruckus Stakes winner Eskiminzin, who could be vulnerable on the turnback from a gut-wrenching fourth in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Stakes. The logical alternatives in the seven-horse field are recent Ontario-sired allowance winners Silent Poet and Royal Laser.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

Daily Racing Form: Diversify Sharp In Work For Jockey Club Gold Cup

David Grening, Daily Racing Form
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ELMONT, N.Y. – All the ingredients were in place for Diversify to have a strong workout Friday morning, and the multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred delivered by sizzling five furlongs in 58.90 seconds over Belmont’s main track in preparation for the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 29.

Before Friday, Diversify had just one workout since his powerhouse victory in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 4 at Saratoga. Due to several days of wet tracks, Diversify’s last several days consisted mostly of jogging, with the exception of a gallop on Thursday.

In Friday’s drill, Diversify had jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. up, a freshly harrowed track to work over, and a pair of Chad Brown-trained horses breezing a half-furlong or so in front of him.

Thus, Diversify zipped his first three furlongs in 34.65, went three wide as he got to the Brown duo, which picked up the pace turning for home, and Diversify, still three paths wide, came home in 24.25 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.25.

“This will just wake him up,” said Melissa Cohen, assistant to trainer Rick Violette, who was in Kentucky on Friday.

Violette, after speaking with Cohen, said, “I was pretty tickled.”

Diversify will have one more work, likely an easy half-mile, next weekend.

Diversify will look to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup for a second consecutive year. He will bring a three-race winning streak into this year’s running, with victories in the Commentator, Grade 2 Suburban, and Whitney leading to this.

Violette said that following the Gold Cup, the Breeders’ Cup Classic will remain “in play,” and a decision on whether to run or not won’t be made until Violette sees how the horse trains over Churchill’s main track.

Violette said he does plan to ship Diversify to Kentucky shortly after the Gold Cup to see how Diversify acclimates to the surface. Last year, Violette skipped the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar and ran Diversify in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill, where he finished fourth after setting an uncontested pace. Violette said Ortiz told him that Diversify didn’t handle the surface.

“If he hates it, we’re out of luck,” Violette said.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

Daily Racing Form: My Gal Betty Eyes BC Berth In Natalma Stakes

Natalie Moore
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – My Gal Betty recorded her first stakes victory in the inaugural Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 25 and now will seek her first graded stakes win in Sunday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Natalma Stakes over one mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

The Natalma is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and offers the winner a fees-paid berth to the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

My Gal Betty has crossed the line first in all three of her starts, but she was disqualified from the win in the My Dear Stakes two starts back on July 7.

Purchased for $120,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale last year, trainer Roger Attfield said My Gal Betty has shown ability since she began training.

“When I first got her down in Florida, I thought she was going to be pretty special,” he said.

My Gal Betty passed her first turf test with flying colors in the six-furlong Catch a Glimpse, settling off the pace before driving clear to win by 4 1/4 lengths under jockey Rafael Hernandez. Attfield said My Gal Betty should have no problem stretching out to a mile.

“I had thought she’d be turf, going long,” he said. “I’m surprised the Point of Entry [offspring] have shown as much speed as they have.”

Key Contenders

My Gal Betty, by Point of Entry
Last 3 Beyers: 74-70-62

◗ Attfield said My Gal Betty has been training well since her start in the Catch a Glimpse. She breezed six furlongs in 1:14.60 on the turf training track Sept. 8.

◗ She’ll add Lasix for the first time in the Natalma.

La Pelosa, by Dandy Man

◗ She ships from England off a runner-up finish in a Group 2 event Aug. 11 at Newmarket.

◗ Her wide draw (post 13) could be a negative, but she should have time to get into position in this one-turn mile event.

Stillwater Cove, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 80-NA-NA

◗ She traveled to the Royal Ascot meeting in June, finishing 13th in the Group 3 Albany Stakes, a race where Natalma rival La Pelosa finished second.

◗ In her first start since returning to North America, she won the Bolton Landing Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths on Aug. 15 at Saratoga, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Artilena, by Artie Schiller
Last 2 Beyers: 75-61

◗ She’ll make her stakes debut in the Natalma off a dominant 11-length victory Aug. 22 over seven furlongs on Tapeta.

◗ She should have no issues with the surface switch, and breezed five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on the turf training track here Sept. 8.

Pivottina, by Vision d’Etat

◗ One of three European-based runners in the field, Pivottina ships to Woodbine off a fourth-place finish in a Group 2 event at Deauville over seven furlongs on the grass Aug. 18.

◗ Prior to that Group 2 event, she had won her career debut and also finished second in another stakes event.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

Daily Racing Form: Hovdey: America Turns Its Lonely Eyes To Winx

Jay Hovdey, Daily Racing Form
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The best horse in the world runs again on Saturday afternoon in Australia, which is Saturday morning in Europe and Friday night in North America. For that matter, no matter how you clock her, Winx is timeless.

The bay mare with the radar ears will be gunning for her 27th consecutive victory in the Group 1 Colgate Optic White Stakes at a right-handed mile around one turn over the Randwick course in Sydney. The Colgate Optic White Stakes formerly was known as the George Main Stakes, and Winx has won the race twice already. The field she meets on Saturday would seem to pose little threat, especially since the two opponents with the best credentials hail from her own stable.

Those 26 in a row date back to May of 2015 and include 18 at Australia’s Group 1 level. Three of those were in the prestigious Cox Plate and her most recent came in the newly christened Winx Stakes in July. It seemed only right.

Winx lost six of her first 10 races, which is strangely comforting for those who insist that nobody is perfect. Since then, the tumbling inevitability of her performances has become a moveable feast for her Australian fans, which is to say all Australian fans, because Winx has captivated her nation’s sporting scene like no Thoroughbred since Phar Lap.

Chris Waller, her doting trainer, has made certain the public gets just enough Winx to let him do his job. The official winxhorse.com website includes a video library with links to each of the (so far) 26 races in her streak. Winx merchandise is widely available, although the classic Winx cap has become a rare find – there was only one on eBay – and cheesy knock-offs abound.

The authorized Winx biography, by Australian journalist and crime writer Andrew Rule, is set for release next month. In the meantime, the Australian post office issued a one-dollar Winx stamp commemorating her 26th consecutive win, which eclipsed the mark set by Australian sprinting sensation Black Caviar.

Waller’s admiration for his 7-year-old mare knows no bounds. He gets misty whenever she runs, and he chokes back the emotion in post-race comments that always end up in abject gratitude that such a miracle of nature landed in his lap.

Waller also displays just enough humor to keep it real, as he did on his stable Facebook page upon the issuance of the Winx stamp.

“Just another remarkable accolade for Winx and an absolute privilege to be part of her career,” Waller wrote. “Thanks to all of the team behind Winx. We can now officially enjoy licking her backside to put on an envelope.”

The only horse who comes remotely close to Australia’s Winx phenomenon in this century was, of course, Zenyatta, whose 19 straight wins at the beginning of her career were celebrated far and wide, and whose only loss in her final start – the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic – was hailed as one of her finest hours.

Zenyatta’s trainer, John Shirreffs, has enjoyed watching Winx from afar. Reached this week in Kentucky, where he is one of many sorting through the herd of sales yearlings, the trainer was asked to what degree he can appreciate what Waller is going through, trying to keep such a daunting record alive. The experience must have occupied his every waking hour.

“For me it didn’t,” Shirreffs said. “I had a good routine with Zenyatta, so for me it was a pattern and trying to repeat that pattern, making sure we checked everything, crossing all the T’s and dotting the I’s.”

The similarities between Winx and Zenyatta go well beyond their intimidating records. Both mares were sired by Street Cry, the late stallion who won the Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster Handicap during an international career. Like Zenyatta, Winx races with her ears plugged to tamp down her more excitable instincts. And, like Zenyatta, Winx and jockey Hugh Bowman prefer to come with a fast finish from deep in the pack that is both thrilling to the fans and disheartening to opponents who are still running well.

“In Zenyatta’s case, she had a lot of trouble at the starting gate,” Shirreffs noted. “She was very nervous, and wasn’t comfortable until she cleared the doors of the gate. When we were getting her okayed from the gate before she ran, I don’t know how many times we broke her before Gary Brinson, the starter, finally said, ‘That’s enough. That’s as good as she’s gonna get.’ ”

With the retirement of Triple Crown winner Justify, the U.S. racing scene is bereft of a true superstar. Horses like Accelerate and Monomoy Girl are on an entertaining roll, and there will be 2-year-olds blossoming forth in the fall. But the idea of a Winx, a Cigar, a Wise Dan, or a Zenyatta dominating the conversation over a period of years is not in the cards.

“Some horses know that their job is to win races,” Shirreffs said. “They just get it. Sometimes you have to concede they’re really smart, and that winning is really, really important to them.

“Obviously a lot of horses win races just because they have more talent, and there’s other things that go into it,” Shirreffs added. “But horses like Winx, or Zenyatta, that really know what winning is all about – that’s just something they have. That’s just a different quality.”

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

Daily Racing Form: Capla Temptress Due For Some Racing Luck In Sands Point

David Grening, Daily Racing Form
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ELMONT, N.Y. – A year ago this weekend, Capla Temptress won the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine in her North American debut.

Capla Temptress is winless in four starts since, but not without some excuses. Most recently, she finished second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga, her lone excuse being she simply wasn’t as good as the winner, Rushing Fall, the Chad Brown trainee who is 5 for 6 lifetime and a Breeders’ Cup winner.

There does not appear to be anyone the caliber of Rushing Fall in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park, giving Capla Temptress a big shot in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

The last time she raced at Belmont, Capla Temptress finished seventh in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles. An opening along the rail that presented itself at the top of the lane quickly closed, and Capla Temptress had to steady. While Athena won that race by 2 1/2 lengths, Capla Temptress missed second by 1 1/4 lengths. She was trained by Marco Botti then. Bill Mott took over after the Belmont Oaks and was pleased with Capla Temptress’s effort in the Lake Placid, where she finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Rushing Fall and 2 1/2 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

“If she repeats that last race, I think we’re in with a chance,” Mott said. “We’re pretty happy with her. Seems like she’s feeling good, doing well.”

With several riders out of town this weekend, Trevor McCarthy has picked up the mount on Capla Temptress.

While Rushing Fall is likely awaiting next month’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland, Brown is sending out three runners, including recent European arrivals Barkaa and Shadan.

Barkaa, owned by cousins Joe Allen and Peter Brant, won a Group 3 at Longchamp in April. She finished fifth in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches – three-quarters behind fourth-place Capla Temptress – before running ninth in the Group 1 Prix de Diane in June.

Shadan is coming off two straight wins at lesser tracks in France. Shadan did show speed in her most recent victory in April, and the Sands Point lacks a clear front-runner.

Brown’s third starter is Reversethedecision, who overcame a slow pace to win a first-level allowance at Saratoga on July 28.

Trainer Graham Motion sends out Secret Message and Colonia. Secret Message rallied from 11 lengths back to win the Grade 3 Pucker Up on Aug. 11 at Arlington Park. In her prior start, she finished fourth in the Grade 3 Regret, but Motion said she was agitated in the gate before the race, contributing to a slow start.

Colonia won the Hatoof Stakes at Arlington before being left with too much to do and finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Californiagoldrush, third in the Del Mar Oaks, and Victorine, fourth in the Group 3 Prix de Psyche going 1 1/4 miles, complete the field.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

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