New York Stallion Series

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has done it again, announcing Saturday that it has reduced the number of graded stakes races that will be run in the U.S. in 2024, while also downgrading 30 races. To most, this is a welcome development. With the foal crop continually declining, there should be fewer graded stakes races and fewer Grade I's. Many believe that the committee has not gone far enough. Yet, the announcement, as it always seems to do, did not come without a...

7th-Saratoga, $88,000, (S), Msw, 8-11, 2yo, 6f, 1:12.00, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. TRUST FUND (c, 2, Practical Joke--Mo Savings, by Uncle Mo) played a bit of bumper cars with Inonit (Include) at the jump after rival drawn farther out veered in on them, but managed to recover well enough to lock horns in a speed duel before then taking over the lead approaching the half in :45.85. Four wide and driving on a clear advantage coming for home, Trust Fund kept to his task to come in 2 1/4 lengths...

Marylin Monroan, the (roan) dam of Saratoga stakes winning 3-year-old colt Jolting Joe, is the gift that keeps on giving, when it comes to ingenious names. After her foals Mr President, a full-brother to Jolting Joe--and Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown), we now have a lovely reference to Marilyn's second husband Joe DiMaggio, one of whose nicknames was "Joltin' Joe"--epitomized by the 1942 big-band song "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio", by  Ben Homer and Alan Courtney. The "Yankee Clipper" (another of Joe's nicknames)  is one of the best baseball players of all times and...