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 second batch of favorite photos taken of races. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
Hand Over Heart (4), Dylan Davis onboard, and Sail With the Wind, Junior Alvarado onboard, dead heat in an allowance race. The former is trained by Chad Brown and owned by St. Elias Stable and the latter is trained by Jeremiah Englehart and owned by Bona Venture Stables.
Deterministic heads to victory in the Grade I Fourstardave Stakes.
Kendrick Carmouche shows off for the photographers as he wins the Fourstardave in the pouring rain aboard Deterministic for trainer Miguel Clément and owners St. Elias Stables, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable.
British invader Glacius upsets the Grade I Saratoga Derby with Luis Sáez onboard for trainer Hugo Palmer and owner Ibrahim Araci.
The field rounds the first turn in the Grade I Whitney Stakes, won by Sovereignty (back, second from right).
Sovereignty wins the Whitney with Junior Alvarado onboard for trainer Bill Mott and owner/breeder Godolphin.
Maggie Wolfendale interviews Junior Alvarado after his win.
Survie wins the Grade I Christophe Clément Turf Stakes with Manny Franco onboard for trainer George Boughey and owner Michael Tabor.
Manny Franco makes it two stakes in a row when he wins the Galway onboard Cadenza for trainer Brad Cox and owner Stonestreet Stables.
Calling Card gives jockey Manny Franco his fourth win on the day at Saratoga and trainer Linda Rice her fourth of five, tying the record with Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher.
The field heads into the first turn in the Fleet Indian Stakes.
Iron Orchard returns after winning the Fleet Indian Stakes with José Ortiz onboard for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner KatieRich Stable.
And One More Time takes the Grade II Ballston Spa Stakes with Javier Castellano onboard for trainer Mark Casse and owner Live Oak Plantation. Following a steward’s inquiry and a jockey’s claim of foul by John Velázquez, there was no change to the order of finish.
The field heads into the clubhouse turn in the Grade I Alabama Stakes, won by My Gun’s Loaded (second from left).
My Gun’s Loaded wins the Alabama in her first go around two turns with Manny Franco onboard for trainer Chad Brown and owner Douglas Sharbauer.
The field heads into the first turn after breaking from the one mile Wilson Chute.
Tricky Business (right) takes them all the way in the Albany Stakes with Flavien Prat onboard for trainer George Weaver and owner R. A. Hill Stable.
Englishman makes it two grade 1s in a row when he takes the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes with José Ortiz onboard for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owner C R K Stable.
Grade I Personal Ensign winner Fully Subscribed leads early in the race, while second place finisher Scottish Lassie is close behind.
Fully Subscribed wins the Personal Ensign with Flavien Prat onboard for trainer Chad Brown and owner Klaravich Stable.
Hymn wins a thrilling edition of the Grade I Forego Stakes with Ricardo Santana, Jr. onboard for trainer Ron Moquett and owners Fleur de Lis Stables, William S. Sparks, and Bret Jones.
Santana, Jr. pumps his fast as Hymn gallops out.
Ways and Means takes the Grade I Ballerina Stakes, her sixth win in seven starts at the Spa, with Flavien Prat onboard for trainer Chad Brown and owner Klaravich Stable.
The field breaks from the gate in the Grade I Travers Stakes, won by Leading Change (2).
Leading Change leads early in the Travers.
Leading Change and Napoleon Solo (right) battle down the stretch in the Travers.
Leading Change wins the Travers in only his third lifetime start. Click here to read the online edition of this issue of The Special.
Manny Franco wins his third of four grade 1s of the summer onboard Leading Change.
Leading Change and Napoleon Solo gallop out.
Ricardo Santana, Jr. gives Summer Starlet a pet after winning the Grade I Spinaway Stakes in just her second career start for trainer Steve Asmussen and owners BC Stables, Wattswood Stables, Bob Albritton, Jay Graham, and David Baggett.
Manny Franco locks up the leading jockey title with his win in the Grade III Prioress Stakes onboard Mashallah for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner JR Ranch.
With his 69th win aboard Vekinda for breeder, owner, and trainer George Weaver, Manny Franco breaks the single-season win record set by Hall of Famer Ramón Domínguez in 2012.
Manny Franco wins the final grade 1 of the meet in the Hopeful Stakes onboard The Good Life for trainer Brad Cox and owners WinStar Farm, First Go Racing, and China Horse Club.
Ricardo Santana, Jr. wins the penultimate stake of the meet, the Funny Cide, onboard Scramjet for trainer Linda Rice and owner SJB Stable.
Finally, I made a video comprised of over 500 frames I shot this summer. Click here to watch the video.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on X, Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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