Now that the Saratoga’s longest-ever summer meet is over, it’s time for my annual look back at some of my favorite photos I took. I had the pleasure of shooting for The Saratoga Special again this summer, capturing morning preview photos as well as race day shots. In this post, I will share the first batch of favorite photos taken during morning training. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
Multiple graded stakes winner Saudi Crown cruises over the Oklahoma Track.
Champion three-year-old filly Nitrogen jogs back after a gallop over the main track.
Multiple grade 1 winner Counting Stars gallops over the main track with Reynaldo Dumont aboard. Click here to read the online edition of this issue of The Special.
Nitrogen gets a pet back at the barn of trainer Mark Casse while she gets a bath.
Tumoohaat, a two-year-old Into Mischief filly out of the two-time champion Malathaat, gets hot walked after morning training at the barn of Todd Pletcher, who trained her dam as well.
Big Duke, a Percheron, is a pony for the Tom Proctor barn.
Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo gallops over the main track with assistant trainer Enrique Miranda aboard.
Exercise rider Electra Boone poses with grades stakes winner My Boy Prince.
Nick Brown, John Wayne Eastwood, and Freddie Greaves give Taqueeto Jones a bath at the barn of Bruce Brown.
Hot walker Yonibel Correa leads reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty around the shed rows of trainers Bill Mott and Miguel Clément.
Thunder is a companion for graded stakes winner Built, who took the Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at the Spa this summer.
Trainer Wayne Catalano hot walks Built the day before his Vanderbilt victory.
Graded stakes winner Ozara gallops over the Oklahoma Track in the fog.
Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes winner Twinkle Town gallops over the Oklahoma Track with retired jockey Robby Albarado onboard. Sadly, Albarado passed away on August 4, several days after undergoing a procedure to alleviate blockages in his heart.
A George Weaver trainee gallops into the sunrise on a beautiful morning at the Oklahoma Track.
A beautiful sunrise rewards early risers at the Oklahoma Track.
Breeders’ Cup winner Shisospicy heads out to the track to train with José Rivera onboard.
Sounds Like a Plan poses with some friends at the barn of Horacio De Paz.
White Abarrio gallops around Clare Court.
Multiple graded stakes winner Knightsbridge gallops over the Oklahoma Track with Jimmy Quispe onboard.
White Abarrio gets a pet as he heads off Clare Court.
Dubai World Cup winner Magnitude gets hot walked at the barn of Steve Asmussen.
Trainer Adrianne DeVaux gives her charge Princess (a Jack Christopher filly out of Ours to Run) a pet.
Golden Tempo returns from a gallop to the barn of Cherie DeVaux, pictured on the pony.
Golden Tempo gets a bath.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott keeps an eye on Sovereignty from his pony Rocky.
Sovereignty rolls by in slow motion.
Sovereignty gets a carrot from his best friend Erma Scott.
Lilly the goat takes a nap at the barn of Will Walden.
Autumn Evening and José Rivera take in a summer morning.
Grade I Test Stakes winner Explora gallops over the main track with Simon Harris onboard.
Grade 1 winner Classic Q jogs over the main track.
Bryce Tuohy, a college freshman pursuing a career in racing, hot walks Bossana at the barn of Jim Bond.
Champion two-year-old male Ted Noffey gallops over the main track with Carlos Quevedo onboard in preparation for a comeback after being sidelined earlier this year.
Two-year-old filly Bikri turns heads at the track with her unique coloring.
Sovereignty rests on his laurels following his win in the Grade I Whitney Stakes, ending a two-race losing streak.
Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo takes a snooze at the barn of Chad Summers.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on X, Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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