The summer meet is well underway at Saratoga, but in this post, we are going to rewind the clock to a slightly calmer time, to pre-meet training at both Saratoga’s main track and the Oklahoma Training Track. Here are some of my favorite photos I took before the start of the meet this year.
A pair of Todd Pletcher trainees are exercised over the Oklahoma Track.
Most of the early shippers to the track are two-year-olds.
A horse named Royal Velvet, trained by Christophe Clément, is exercised on the Oklahoma Track.
Lost Ark, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a half brother to champion Nest.
Jay Kelly is a friendly face at the Oklahoma Track!
Vallelujah gets some love from two of her owners.
More pets for Vallelujah!
Cody’s Wish, pointed next at the Grade I Whitney Stakes, gets some pets in his stall at the Oklahoma Track. Cody is named after Cody Dorman, who met the horse as a weanling at Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky as part of the Make-A-Wish program. Cody wished to meet a racehorse. The two Codys formed an immediate bond and thus the horse was named after the boy. The heartwarming story of Cody’s Wish, along with the success he has had, has made him a fan favorite.
I can’t resist the chance to pet Cody’s Wish!
Cody’s Wish has won four Grade I races in a row, and the Whitney would be a fifth if he wins it, but he has never won at a distance longer than a mile, and the Whitney is 1 1/8 miles. However, Cody is in great shape and is one of, if not the best horse in training in the U.S. right now, so he may be able to pull it off.
Two year old filly Exhilarate is out of multiple Grade I winner Elate.
Multiple graded stakes winner Elite Power won the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 29 his last time out, his eighth straight victory since breaking his maiden last year.
Frank’s Rockette is a millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner. Last time out, she ran third in the Grade II Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga.
Grade I Pegasus World Cup winner Art Collector looks handsome in his stall.
Exhilarate enjoys a post-workout bath.
This photo already has a spot as one of my favorite photos of the year so far. I love the smile on Ana’s face as she pets Cody’s Wish before he goes out on the track.
I also made an illustration of this photo.
Exercise rider Eddie Davis walks Cody’s Wish before he goes out on the track.
Eddie jogs Cody’s Wish over the Oklahoma Track.
Cody gets a bath after returning from the track.
Cody gets hot walked after his jog and bath.
Multiple graded stakes winner Maple Leaf Mel looks a picture in her stall at the Oklahoma Track. She is pointed next at the Grade I Test Stakes on August 5.
Maple Leaf Mel (left) gives some tips to her younger stable mate.
Dr. Marbooz gets some carrots and kisses from his owner and breeder, Carolyn.
Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo looks gorgeous in his stall at the Oklahoma Track.
Groom Martín Baez gives pets to Eminent Victor, a Chad Brown trainee.
A George Weaver trainee is exercised over the turf on the Oklahoma Track.
A Rudy Rodríguez trainee heads out to the main track.
A panoramic view shows a Danny Gargan trainee in multiple strides.
Horses aren’t the only animals at the track!
Chad Brown trainee Blazing Sevens heads out onto the main track.
Blazing Sevens blazes by.
Arcangelo, ridden by assistant trainer Fiona Goodwin, is ponied out onto the main track.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “Flashback: Spring and Early Summer at the Spa”
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Very nice!