The eagerly awaited start of the 154th season of racing at Saratoga Race Course featured a large crowd, a great card of racing, and, of course, Mother Nature.
About 15 minutes before the first race on the July 14 opener at the Spa, the skies opened up, even though there was sunshine on the horizon, and rain began to fall in typical Adirondack Mountains fashion.
The passing storm faded before the start of the second race, leaving behind a racetrack that was still rated fast and a start to the 2022 meet that offered a strong resemblance to the previous year's stay in upstate New York.
Jockey Luis Saez, who won his first Spa riding title in 2021, started 2022 the right way by winning the first race aboard Chris Fountoukis' Royal Tryst, a Medaglia d'Oro 4-year-old trained by Mike Maker.
"I'm grateful to be here and win the first race," Saez said after the $20,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up. "This is a special place for owners, trainers, and us jockeys. It's a magnificent feeling all day."
Maker was also happy to start off the meet on a winning note.
"It's always good to get off the 'duck' early," he said. "We have 63 horses up here, the most we've ever brought, with another 50 at Belmont Park."
Kershaw was second and Giocare third in the opener, which continued a Saratoga tradition of being at a 1 1/8-mile distance and starting at the finish line in front of the grandstand.
Brown to Decide on Early Voting's Next Race After Workout
Trainer Chad Brown's decision on Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Early Voting will come this weekend. Brown said that Klaravich Stables' Early Voting, a son of Gun Runner, is scheduled to work July 16 at Belmont Park.
Brown's options for Early Voting are either the $1 million TVG.com Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park July 23 or the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course July 30.
"If he is going to run in the Jim Dandy, he will ship up (to Saratoga) the next day," Brown said Thursday morning. "If he runs in the Haskell, he will stay at Belmont."
Brown also has the unbeaten Jack Christopher, owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter M. Brant, at Belmont and is expected to work this weekend. Brown plans on running the son of Munnings in the Haskell.
Brown's other 3-year-old, Jeff Drown's Zandon, is in Saratoga preparing for the Jim Dandy. The son of Upstart was third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) in his last start.
White Abarrio Could be Haskell Bound
White Abarrio, winner of the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1), is at trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.'s base at Gulfstream Park but could be on the move soon.
The gray son of Race Day is scheduled to work at Gulfstream July 17.
Joseph, who has 29 horses stabled at Saratoga Race Course, is flying to Florida for the work. If he likes what he sees, White Abarrio will head to the $1 million TVG.com Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park July 23.
The joint owner of White Abarrio, C2 Racing Stable, tweeted out Thursday afternoon that Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario will have the mount on the colt in the Haskell.
White Abarrio could then come to Saratoga for the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Aug. 27, Travers Day.
The long-range goal for White Abarrio, who is also owned by La Milagrosa Stable, is the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing.
"He is a good horse, a legit horse," Joseph said Thursday morning.
All of White Abarrio's four wins have come in Florida. In his three starts outside of Florida, he was third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old; 16th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and, in his most recent start, second in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 25 at Thistledown.
Ward's Half a Chance Takes First 2-Year-Old Race
The first 2-year-old maiden race of the Spa season went to CJ Thoroughbreds' Half a Chance, who took the second race for trainer Wesley Ward.
Making her second start, the Flatter filly scored by a half-length over a fast-closing Spelterini (by Bernardini) in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint. She was previously second in a June 5 maiden turf race at Belmont Park.
Bred by Ben D Farm, she was bought for $150,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Half a Chance covered the 5 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track in a time of 1:05.01.
The 2-1 second choice, Half a Chance paid $6.50 to win.
First-time starter Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke ) was third as the heavy 1-2 favorite in the field of six fillies.
