SARATOGA SPRINGS – Thunderstorm rolled in before start of fifth race, knocking out some electricity and causing track to be sealed and sloppy for sixth. Seventh race came off turf, invoking new rule that makes off-turf races an “all-win” in pick 6.
* In $250,000 Cab Calloway division of N.Y. Stallion Series, Galloping Grocer, John Velazquez up for first start since Preakness, set pace under heavy pressure from Gold and Roses, Edgar Prado up, to his outside. Those two hooked up to duel around far turn, then Gold and Roses drew off final furlong to romp by 6 3/4 lengths.
3RD RACE – Doc O Dynamite, 2-year-old Successful Appeal colt, was 3-1 debuting for Steve Asmussen with Jerry Bailey up; pair won two days ago at same price with first-out filly Halo Humor. Coming off bullet :59 drill from gate, Doc O Dynamite dueled early with Philosopher King and Proveyourlove to his outside, pulled away turning for home, was weaving all over track down stretch but easily held off late run of 2-1 favorite Political Force.
4TH RACE – In field of NY-bred 2-year-olds trying mile-and-sixteenth on lawn, My Interpretation, Rich Migliore riding for John Kimmel, was 3-1 as part of three-horse entry for owner Lewis Lakin with three different trainers; stalked pace outside stablemate Higher Incentive pressed by Homerette, took command down stretch. Summer Palace, 8-5 favorite debuting for Pletcher-Velazquez from post 1, had nightmare trip; was steadied along hedge on clubhouse turn, then checked sharply turning to backside, made brief run before flattening out. Mohegan Sky, Linda Rice firster with Cornelio Velasquez up, tucked in behind pace, was bottled up inside down stretch.
6TH RACE – After brief rain squall, track super John Passero notified stewards turf course was too soft to run. Alsoeligibles, including pair of main-trackonlys, were scratched early because of pick 6. Six late scratches left field of four, only two of them, Provincial and Amanuensis, with much experience on main track. Luckily for pick 4 players who scratched into post-time favorite, Provincial, Fernando Jara up, was along late to score as 8-5 choice. Sabellina, impressive winner of two grass races here last summer including Yaddo, ran last in only third start on dirt.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 1-3-4-ALL-5-5
36 winners each receives $1,600
647 consolation (5 of 6) winners each receives $29.60
No carryover.
