By ED FOUNTAINE
Posted: 4:38 am
July 19, 2008
Boy, oh boy! What a swell idea! The New York Racing Association has created a new club, "NYRA Nation," to "unite fans through their love of thoroughbred racing's greatest circuit."
Golly-gee-whiz! Not only is membership free, but you get a membership card (not sure if it's laminated), a lapel pin (but only if you sign up on track), a welcome letter from NYRA President Charlie Hayward (suitable for framing), a free subscription to NYRA's monthly e-mail newsletter (that's already free), and lots of other neat stuff, but no beanie with a propeller on top.
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Only five 3-year-old fillies (two of them coupled, so only four betting interests) are entered in today's 92nd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks.
Godolphin Stable entry of Music Note, winner of Mother Goose, and Little Belle, second in Kentucky Oaks, figures to be 1-5.
FIRST RACE: Bobby Frankel and Edgar Prado, trainer-jockey of even-money favorite Trimaran, couldn't have written a better script as Russian Sage, 5-1 under Javier Castellano, and Quip, 5-2 with Alan Garcia up, duked it out on front end, with Trimaran tucked in behind them.
Mid-stretch, Quip finally edged away from Russian Sage, but had nothing left when Prado swung Trimaran off fence to take command.
SECOND RACE: Smokin Sarah, John Velazquez up, was in front top of stretch, 8-5 favorite Greg's Lassy was rallying outside under Alan Garcia. Let's Fly Away was also on move, looking to split those two under Cornelio Velasquez, when Smokin Sarah drifted out into her path, at which point Let's Fly Away called it quits. No inquiry, no beef.
SIXTH RACE: In field of NY-bred maidens going mile-and-sixteenth on turf, Dear Contender, 69-1 under Jose Bermudez stretching out after finishing up track in four prior sprint starts, loomed boldly circling horses turning for home.
But Mizzenkey, 3-4 choice with Rudy Rodriquez up despite her 0-for-16 record, rallied up rail to take lead mid-stretch. Dear Contender kept on coming, but Mizzenkey held her off by length. The favorite saved ground, longshot took overland route, and that made all the difference.
SEVENTH RACE: Stewards got this one right, disqualifying Parc des Princes, Javier Castellano up, from third to fourth for drifting out deep stretch into path of Baletti, Eibar Coa up.
Race was won by 9-5 favorite Holiday Trip, perennial bridesmaid from Stan Hough barn that was previously 1-for-17 with seven seconds and four thirds; this was first time she was ridden by Alan Garcia. Hough came right back to win eighth race with 3-1 Deputy Indy, ridden by Castellano.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 9-4-7-5-2-6
5 winners (6 of 6)
Each paid $10,827
203 consolation (5 of 6) winners
Each paid $88.50
No carryover
