Summer Awards

With tomorrow being closing day at Saratoga and Weds. at Del Mar, we say goodbye to major racing for the next few weeks. New York racing shifts back down to Belmont while Southern California focusing on the bullring specialists at Fairplex. So it's time for the Furlong Drive Sunny Awards! These awards will highlight the highs and lows of the Summer Season from my prospective, so please don't take these seriously.

Best Trainer (tie)- Kiaran McLaughlin and Dale Romans: Sure Kiaran's fellow former Lukas asst. Todd Pletcher won the Trainer's title at Saratoga (after a slow start), but Todd didn't win 4 of the 7 major distance races for 3yo's and older, plus the Forego (Emcee). Questing (GB) and Alpha won the Coaching Club, Jim Dandy, Alabama and Travers (shared with Golden Ticket). That's pretty impressive. The 3 races he didn't win where because of a bobble (It's Tricky in the Personal Ensign) and no entries (Whitney and Woodward). Dale not only won the Arlington Million (with Little Mike), but he might have put some cloudiness into the 3yo Championship picture after Dullahan defeated older in the Pacific Classic.

Breakout Jockey- Irad Ortiz Jr.: 3 G1 wins on Questing and Posedion's Warrior all at Saratoga. McLaughlin is not afraid to use a young jockey (see Fernarndo Jara on Jazil and Invasor), but he has to learn when to put the whip away. See Questing's CCAO and Alabama for an example.

The Comeback- Rail Trip and Jose Valdivia Jr.: This is a horse and jockey who where seperated last year after the both went East with different types of success (Rail Trip did horribly and Valdivia struggled in the then very deep Delaware Park jockey colony, but did pick up a TC race win in the Belmont with Ruler On Ice). It turned out though that both what Rail and Jose needed was a trip home to California. While they finished 4th in the Pacific Classic, they won the San Diego in the race before.

The Buzz- Archwarrior: While his race wasn't as impressive as people thought, he still did enough to get the win. As the races he longer, he should be getting better. He has the same cross (Arch out of a Seeking the Gold mare) as Blame.

Under the Radar (3yo) (tie)- Potesta and Winding Way: The 3yo Females in the West haven't been the strongest, but when it comes to shorter distances, these may be the two who have the best chance to beat Older in the F/M Sprint. The problem for the latter is she has yet to run on dirt, but she is a full sister to Kauai Katie who is undefeated in 2 starts. The former could go to the BC Ladies Classic instead, but she will have to face older in the Zenyatta, after breaking a track record today at Del Mar.

Under the Radar (Older)- Fort Larned: I think in his three stakes wins this year, people have underestimated him. Now he has put himself in a great spot to possible suprise people more on Super Saturday at the end of the month.

Race- Travers: Sure the Pacific Classic was a pretty awesome race, but nothing can beat a deadheat. Especially when one of the winners was the favorite and the other was a longshot. The downside of this race

Disapointment- Teen Pauline: After setting a track record in her very first start, she folded to finish third in the Spinaway.

Suprise- Questing: Yes she was veering and swishing, but she was pulling away at the same time or at least to my eye she was. Her CCAO win was also suprising as I personally was rooting for Zo Impressive who sadly was injured in the Alabama. A showdown with last year's 2yo Female Champion My Miss Aurilea is possibly next.

The Never Give Up Award- Paynter: This year's Haskell champ is currently battling colitis and word is that he is keep getting better. As his owner Ahmed Zayat created this hashtag I say, #powerupPaynter!