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Sean Clancy 
Phil Bauer volunteered Fireball Shot, a maiden with more than $100,000 in earnings at the time, as his horse way back in 2018. Joining perennial little guys Robbie Davis, Kerry Metivier and Eddie Barker in the Little Guys’ Stable Tour, the Kentucky-based trainer had just wrapped up a 0-for-12 record at Saratoga. Fireball Shot had … Read more
Hernandez rolls into Saratoga with sights on another big one Deck height. Dinner plans. To do lists. Life’s choices. That’s what most people think about while mowing grass. For Brian Hernandez Jr., nah, none of those. “You’ll be riding around on the lawnmower and you’re like, ‘Wow, I really did win the Derby,’ ” Hernandez … Read more
Clifford Nass says multitasking is a fallacy. But yet we try. Nothing tests the Stanford professor’s theory like working in racing. And working from home. Still in Virginia, I worked from the home office – the family room couch – Friday. Deadline Friday. It starts early. And will surely end late. I nail Wordle in four … Read more
Whitebeam wires four stablemates and five others in Grade 1 Five became one. The first 49 seconds of the Grade 1 Diana cut Chad Brown’s five-horse arsenal to a one-horse hope at Saratoga Race Course Saturday. Whitebeam loped through the first half-mile in :49.49. The lone leader sunk the four closers. “I had these five … Read more
Saturday, I spent my day with Whitebeam, Mo Plex and a card full of Saratoga stars. Today, I spent it with Kissin Conquest, Just Blue, Apse and Eagle Poise. Two career maidens, a Saratoga hurdle winner and a Grade 3 flat winner. On a farm in Virginia. Our Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Bred by John Franks, … Read more
“Anytime.” That’s how Cherie DeVaux answered when asked about hosting the Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour. It helps when you’re walking out of the winner’s circle after your second win, just three days into the meet. DeVaux added another win Sunday to make it three. With a gaudy 50 percent strike rate, DeVaux stood even with Chad … Read more
Canadian-based mare makes season debut in Grade 1 Kevin Attard and Korina McLean leaned over a black and red Phipps webbing Friday morning. Behind the webbing in stall six on the east side of Shug McGaughey’s barn, way back in the stall stood Moira. The 5-year-old mare didn’t prick an ear, didn’t move a muscle, … Read more
We’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times here at The Special. We like tradition. From Jimmy Toner’s pillows, figure eights under the Clare Court trees, the bell ringer doing their job with 17 minutes to post and bleary eyed tourists coming out for morning works with coffee and bagels or making a … Read more
“I thought I was going to die.” Phil Bauer forced those seven words Friday morning when asked about a plane crash on Lizard Island off the northeast coast of Australia Jan. 8. All 10 on the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan thought the same thing, felt the same thing, as the plane’s engine over-torqued early in … Read more
Todd Wyatt was on his way home from the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. The four-day racing festival in June had come and gone. It was everything that was good in racing. Engaged fans. Competitive racing. At a venue that never disappoints. Wyatt, predominately a steeplechase trainer, had come to town with his wife, Blair, their … Read more
