Now that the Saratoga summer meet is over, I have begun 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 during the mornings. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
MSP Boston’s Phinest rears up after a gallop. The Bruce Brown trainee finished third in the Susie O’Cain Stakes and fifth in the New York Stallion Series Stakes this summer.
Hall of Fame jockey John Velázquez takes time out of his busy morning to pose for a photo.
Erma Scott poses with her pal Sovereignty. The Bill Mott trainee added the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes and the Grade I Travers Stakes to his already impressive resume this summer.
Grade I Test Stakes winner rests at the barn of Rusty Arnold following her big score.
Hot walker Gerette “Gigi” Verbanic poses with her namesake Gigi Cake’s. The Melanie Giddings trainee ran in two maiden special weights this summer.
Raúl Alejandro poses on Escape Hall. The George Weaver trainee, whom I’ve known since he was a few days old, ran third in his debut this summer.
The connections of Utah Beach pose with the five-year-old gelding, including co-owner Jeffrey Amling (left) and trainer Ignacio Correas (right). The son of English Channel finished fourth in the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes this summer as the final Saratoga runner for Correas before he retires to his home country of Argentina this fall.
Trainer Horacio De Paz ponies Utah Beach the day before the Sword Dancer. De Paz will get some of Correas’ horses when he retires.
Sword Dancer favorite Far Bridge gallops over the Oklahoma Track the day before his big race. The Miguel Clément trainee finished a surprising sixth, but prior to that, he took the Grade II Bowling Green Stakes earlier in the meet. Click here to read the digital edition of this issue of The Saratoga Special.
Ian Wilson gives GSW Laurelin a pet the day before the Graham Motion trainee stayed perfect in the Grade II Saratoga Oaks. The three-year-old filly now has five wins from five starts, with the Oaks being her first graded victory.
Denise Manigault leads OTTB pony Discreet Encounter aka Lucky along the backstretch after greeting visitors on a tour.
Mary Rose Hitt exercises La Cara ahead of the Grade I Alabama Stakes. The Mark Casse trainee finished fourth behind stablemate Nitrogen. Click here to read the digital edition of this issue of The Special.
Jamie Linwood exercises El Cordobes ahead of the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes, which the Charlie Appleby trainee won in his first North American start.
MG1SW Nations Pride gallops behind stablemate El Cordobes ahead of the Sword Dancer. The fellow Charlie Appleby trainee finished third in the race.
The aptly names Go Go Boots gets a bath after exercising ahead of the Grade II Saratoga Oaks. The Miguel Clément trainee finished fourth after being hit by another horse and sustaining a minor injury during the running of the race.
MGSW Big Invasion cools down in the tranquil barn area of Miguel Clément. The six-year-old horse finished fifth in the Disco Partner Stakes this summer.
Augustinian gets a pet from veterinarian Carolina Herrera as Amanda Romero looks on. The Mark Casse trainee hit the board in two maiden special weights this summer, but is still looking to break through.
Mark Casse barn foreman (forewoman?) Annie Danielson gives GSW Bring Theband Home a pet. The five-year-old gelding added the Harvey Pack Stakes and the Grade II Troy Stakes to his resume this summer.
Grade 1 winner Tommy Jo gallops over the main track. The Todd Pletcher trainee graduated at first asking this summer, then added a dominant victory in the Grade I Spinaway Stakes to her resume, putting her at the top of the two-year-old filly division.
Carlos Quevedo rides G1SW Ted Noffey on the Saratoga main track. Similarly to his stablemate Tommy Jo, the Todd Pletcher trainee broke his maiden first time out this summer, then followed that up with a spectacular performance in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes.
Final Gambit gallops on the Saratoga main track in the early morning. The Brad Cox trainee finished fifth in both the Grade I Belmont Derby and the Grade I Saratoga Derby.
Carlos Quevedo exercises MG1SW Mindframe. The Todd Pletcher trainee lost his rider during the running of the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup this summer. Thankfully, both horse and rider were ok.
GSW Ewing exercises over the main track. The Mark Casse trainee broke his maiden at first asking during the July 4th Racing Festival, then followed that up with a commanding victory in the Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes.
MGSW Nitrogen gets a bath after taking a jog. The Mark Casse trainee finished a close second in the Grade I Belmont Oaks this summer, then notched her first Grade I victory in the Alabama Stakes.
This summer I got to see Reign It In, the horse I own a piece of, for the first time since he was a weanling. The David Duggan trainee is pictured here with Lara Duggan onboard after posting a work on the turf.
Owner/breeder Britt Wadsworth gives Reign It In some love.
Outriders Miguel Gutiérrez and Lexi Marquis catch a loose Mark Hennig trainee.
Nitrogen jogs on the main track after her score in the Alabama.
MG1SW Spirit of St. Louis gallops over the main track. The New York-bred Chad Brown trainee, who notched two Grade I wins earlier this year, finished eighth in the Grade I Fourstardave Stakes this summer.
Bobby Eversole returns with a smile on his face after galloping reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna over the main track. The Kenny McPeek trainee prevailed by a nose over Grade I winner Dorth Vader in the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes this summer.
Carlos Quevedo gallops Courting, a $5 million yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale last year. The Todd Pletcher trainee made his debut yesterday at Belmont at the Big A and finished fourth.
Bobby Eversole gallops Thorpedo Anna over the Oklahoma Track.
Jimmy Quispe takes Sovereignty out for a spin ahead of the Travers. Click here to read the digital edition of this issue of The Special.
Damian Hinds takes Stimulate to the track for a gallop. The Bill Mott trainee finished fifth in his debut this summer, but Mott assured Sean Clancy that he (Sean) would be coming to ask him about the colt next year while giving his annual Stable Tour. Let’s not forget, Sovereignty finished fourth in his debut here last summer.
Exercise rider Emma Nordin poses with her buddy Belgian. The George Weaver trainee graduated at first asking this summer.
Reign It In (inside) breezes in company with Brilliant Fury. The two-year-old gelding recently finished sixth in his debut.
Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner up Bentornato gallops over the Oklahoma Track. The José D’Angelo trainee didn’t make a start at Saratoga this summer, but recently won the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Adrianne DeVaux snuggles with her canine friend at the Oklahoma Track.
Kriss Bon exercises MG1SW Sierra Leone over the Oklahoma Track. The Chad Brown trainee added the Grade I Whitney Stakes to his resume this summer, along with a runner up finish in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes.
Sierra Leone is hot walked after his gallop.
MGSW Ways and Means gets a bath after her gallop. The Chad Brown trainee did not make a start at Saratoga this summer.
Damian Hinds walks Bold Journey at the barn of Bill Mott. The six-year-old horse finished second in the Disco Partner Stakes this summer.
Trainer Graham Motion poses with GSW Marksman Queen. The five-year-old mare finished seventh in the Grade II Flower Bowl Stakes this summer.
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.
Liked this post? Subscribe by email below to receive future posts!
One thought on “Saratoga Race Course 2025: The Mornings, Part II”
Comments are closed.
Wonderful!