![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() “This summer’s record handle, increasing strong attendance and the highest ever viewership on Fox Sports demonstrates the enduring and expanding appeal of Saratoga Race Course,” said Dave O’Rourke, NYRA’s President and CEO. The daily paid attendance figure this year, despite a punishing early-meet heat wave, was 26,890. That number marks the seventh consecutive season when attendance topped the million mark - exclusive of 2020 when the gates were closed due to COVID-19. That was 10 percent better than 2021.ġ.075 million fans accounted for the paid attendance. On-track handle, a category that could be re-named because it includes New York state residents betting off-track through their NYRA Bets accounts, totaled $152 million. Others with 10 Derby qualifying points are Rattle and Roll, Jack Christopher, Smile Happy, and Major General.The average daily handle of $21.9 million is the highest in the storied history of the Spa. The great thing about that time of year is there’s a prep every weekend, so it’s a matter of figuring out the right one for him.” “We could use the Fountain of Youth as a possible target. “We talked about it before the race yesterday and told him (Donegal Stables’ Jerry Crawford) we planned on going to Palm Beach this week,” Pletcher said. Two-time Derby winning trainer Todd Pletcher says Mo Donegal is headed to Florida this week and could make his next start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 5, a Derby points qualifier with 50-20-10-5 points for the first four finishers. Pappacap leads the pack with 12 points, with Mo Donegal and four others next with 10 points apiece. 3 after surviving a jockey’s objection and earning 10 Derby qualifying points. The early road to the 148 th Kentucky Derby (G1) saw Mo Donegal narrowly win the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct on Dec. Ortiz’s 30-day suspension surely will influence the Eclipse voters. Rosario leads Ortiz 49-36 in graded-stakes wins and earnings ($32.944 million-$29.235 million), while Ortiz leads in wins 333-228 (he’s also had 352 more mounts than Rosario). Rosario’s agent, Ron Anderson, texted there is “no timeline yet” for his return. It appeared as if he had gained a significant advantage after his only rival, Joel Rosario, was sidelined after fracturing a rib Dec. The suspension likely will keep Ortiz from earning a fourth consecutive Eclipse. He was the best horse in the race, it’s just disappointing.” “I guess you can do whatever you want to do out there. “Horse should have come down,” Brown said. Ortiz angered Zandon’s trainer, Chad Brown, for whom he often rides. John Velazquez, Zandon’s rider, said: “He laid on top of me right before the wire and just beat me by very little.” On Saturday, Ortiz had to survive an inquiry and a jockey’s objection after his mount, Mo Donegal, brushed Zandon, whom he beat by a nose in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes for 2-year-olds. Fortunately, Ragtime Blues and Moreno were uninjured. Gran Casique was disqualified from second and placed last. Ortiz let Gran Casique drift inside soon after the start and they bumped hard with Ragtime Blues, who was turned sideways before Moreno fell near the rail. Ortiz’s reckless behavior in Friday’s eighth race at Aqueduct caused apprentice Omar Hernandez Moreno to be unseated. His agent, Steve Rushing, confirmed the suspension and told drf.com that Ortiz would not appeal it. Irad Ortiz on Dunbar Road – Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photo Stewards in New York handed Ortiz a 30-day suspension because of separate riding incidents on Friday and Saturday at Aqueduct. ![]()
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