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Tom Law 
Hangover Kid came pretty close-2 ½ lengths to be exact-to giving owner Steve Taglienti his first stakes win of any variety back home at Monmouth Park in last month’s Grade 1 United Nations. Close being the key word. Close was nice in that case, worth $50,000 to the account and a Grade 1 placing.
Just about every horse has their little quirks. Some not so little even. Hogy’s quirks aren’t huge, but he’s got them and shows them almost daily to exercise rider Ashley Heclo in the mornings. Hogy showed it to Joe Rocco Jr. when he breezed the Offlee Wild gelding in early August and he showed it to the jockey again as he won the $100,000 Troy Stakes Wednesday at Saratoga.
Dallas Stewart deflected credit to Murray Valene and Gary Scherer. Murray Valene in turn deflected credit to Trey LaVoice, the son-in-law of his business partner in Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana. They both could have given Joel Rosario some credit, and maybe the stewards, too, after the disqualification of Who’s in Town put Designer Legs’ number up in Sunday’s $200,000 Adirondack Stakes.
Kiaran McLaughlin sat in his golf cart in front of the Saratoga Morning Line on the backstretch of the main track Tuesday morning in the pouring rain, like he does every morning, when one of his horses passed by on the way to the track.
Joe Bravo stays busy this time of year, especially with Monmouth Park only running live Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. He’ll bounce between Monmouth, Delaware Park, Parx Racing, with the occasional trek north to Saratoga. Today’s is one of those days and he’s back at Saratoga to ride Varsity back in the $100,000 Troy Stakes. Bravo’s been aboard the 6-year-old Indian Charlie gelding for 11 of his 14 previous starts, including a good third here opening weekend in the Fiddlers Patriot Stakes going the Troy’s trip of 5 ½ furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.
We’re back on our normal schedule this week after 12 consecutive issues, but we’re not giving our handicapping team from The Saratoga Special a break just yet.
The cellphone in my pocket pinged while I was doing what I normally did weekend mornings, coaching soccer or getting ready to coach soccer at Masterson Station Park in Lexington. In this case I was getting ready.
It doesn’t always take a barn of 100 horses to make an impact at Saratoga. There are times when a little goes a long way. Bret Calhoun only has a few stalls at the end of barn 69, but the ones he has are filled with talent.
Michael Yates couldn’t resist having a little fun after he helped saddle a horse for longtime friend Kathleen O’Connell in a race at Saratoga Race Course last week. O’Connell was asked after Kanturk Kid won a starter-optional claiming race about what prompted her to bring the Act of Duty gelding north from Florida by way of her summer base at Monmouth Park.
Familiar foes take a welcome drop in class for today’s $100,000 Auntie Mame Stakes, a restricted stakes on the Mellon Turf Course that serves as a lead-up to the featured Fourstardave Stakes featuring Horse of the Year Wise Dan on the inner course.
