By ED FOUNTAINE
Posted: 2:32 am
July 18, 2008
NYRA yesterday announced program to increase purses for route races on both dirt and turf at Saratoga, based on number of horses in a race.
For dirt races at a mile-and-eighth and longer, NYRA will provide incremental increases for every betting interest over six that start. For turf races longer than mile-and-eighth, increases take effect for every betting interest over eight.
Purse hikes per betting interest are as follows: maiden special weight, 5G; non-winners of one, two, and three, 8G; money allowances and overnight stakes, 10G. For example, open allowance race for non-winners of two at mile-and-eighth on dirt with 10 betting interests will increase 32G to 102G from condition-book purse of 70G.
"This is an innovative and exciting experiment that will reward the connections of horses that are born and bred to go a distance of ground," NY Thoroughbred Horsemens Association president Rick Violette said. "There is sometimes just criticism for our reliance on pure speed and, hopefully, this could start a trend towards rewarding endurance as well."
* The next Manny Ycaza? Jeffrey Sanchez, recent addition to NY jockey colony who served five-day suspension in June for careless riding, was slapped by stewards with 10-day ban for his ride in fifth race Wednesday, when his mount Codeword, making winning rally in mid-stretch, came out to split horses, shoving aside Cosmic. Sanchez survived inquiry when Codeword was not DQ'd; however, his luck ran out at yesterday's sitdown with stewards to watch tapes of race.
SEVENTH RACE: Happens in Vegas, stepping up to 25G after being claimed for 15G by Gary Contessa, 18-1 under Channing Hill trying seven furlongs on turf, gunned to daylight lead chased by 3-1 Panthera Tigre along rail, Edgar Prado up. Top of stretch, Panthera Tigre - who broke maiden by neck for 25G last out after dropping two photo finishes for 45G - pounced, galloped to lead in blink, opened daylight and easily held safe late charge of 8-5 favorite Unbridled Union, who circled horses turning for home.
EIGHTH RACE: Will Barclay Tagg's horses have any conditions left when they get to Old Spa after winning so many races at Belmont meet? Here, Value Stream, beaten 17 lengths on main track last out, was 9-5 under Javier Castellano returning to turf, where she broke maiden two back. Value Stream coasted to lead, opened up down backside, coasted along to turn, when 8-1 Fee Fi Fo Fum, Edgar Prado up, launched her bid. But Value Stream cut corner, opened up again, coasted home to give Barclay his 20th win of meet. That left him just three behind Dutrow for training title with three days left. Brantley, after chasing pace, finished well for second. Miss Challenge launched late charge, hung; Queens Full, 8-5 favorite, was dull, no-threat fourth.
NINTH RACE: Since Tagg has none entered today, only one tomorrow, looks like Dutrow clinched title when his Formal King, 3-1 under John Velazquez, cruised to front going mile on Widener turf, cantered along to top of stretch, brushed off challenge from 5-2 favorite Fairway Drive, kicked clear to handy score.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 3-4-3-3-7-1
10 winners (6 of 6) each paid $3,347
141 consolation (5 of 6) each paid $86
No carryover
