10th Race - Saratoga - Saturday, August 31st, 2013
STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $750,000. Woodward S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. No nomination fee. $7,500 to pass the entry box. A supplemental nomination fee of $15,000 in addition to the entry fee will be accepted at any time prior to the close of entries. All starters including supplemental nominees will receive a $4,000 rebate. The purse to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% divided equally among the remaining finishers. Any horse that competes in both the Whitney Invitational Hcp and the Woodward or have placed in a graded sweepstake will have their entry fee waived for the Woodward. Weights for age. Three-year-olds, 121 lbs.; older, 126 lbs. The estate of Mrs. William Woodward, Sr. to add the Woodward Challenge Cup, to be won three times,not necessarily consecutively, by the same owner before becoming his or her property. The owner of the winner will also receive a trophy for permanent possession and trophies will be presented to the winning trainer and jockey. The New York Racing Association reserves the right to transfer this race to an invitational. Closed Saturday, August 17, 2013 with 22 Nominations. (05:45 PM) (7)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Ron The Greek 6 H L 126 Castellano Javier Mott William I.
2 Successful Dan 7 G L 126 Leparoux Julien R. LoPresti Charles
4 Flat Out 7 H L 126 Alvarado Junior Mott William I.
5 Paynter 4 C L 126 Bejarano Rafael Baffert Bob
6 Mucho Macho Man 5 H L 126 Prado Edgar S. Ritvo Katherine
7 Alpha 4 C L b 126 Velazquez John R. McLaughlin Kiaran P.
Fort Larned came up with what appears to be a small rear issue which caused his scratch yesterday (Thursday). Even with his defection, you have a pretty good group of horses. Successful Dan (DQ'ed from a win) and Mucho Macho Man (2nd in the BCC) are the only non Grade 1 winners in the race, but they doesn't mean they have a chance to win. Ron the Greek had a great start to his season, but finished no better then third or fourth in his races since. Flat Out would win this race... if it was at Belmont. Even that being said he was the runner up in this race in 2011. S. Dan freaked out and still finished second in the Whitney. That's heart. Speaking of heart, this is Paynter's biggest test to date in his comeback. Without Fort Larned, he will get the lead in this race. MMM was third in Whitney and he is the defending runner up of the Woodward. Meanwhile Alpha has a win over the track which no one else in the race has.
I'll be honest, I want all six to win! For as long as I've followed racing, this has to be the first time that I had thought this. Sadly, that can't happen. In my head Successful Dan should win this race. But in my heart, I have him coming up just short to Paynter. So who wins? Going with my heart and going with the Awesome Again colt who has tons of it. Paynter is my pick to win the Woodward, Successful Dan for second and Alpha for third.
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