In the past several posts, I have been sharing some of my favorite photos I took during the Saratoga summer meet. 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 my favorite photos taken of the celebrating after the races. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
Manny Franco flashes a big smile after winning the Grade I Belmont Oaks on Test Score for trainer Graham Motion during the July 4th Racing Festival. The three-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky also ran third in the Grade I Saratoga Derby during the regular meet.
José Ortiz and Dr. Agne take a breather after the Cherie DeVaux trainee broke his maiden first time out. The two-year-old son of Into Mischief, who finished fourth in the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes later in the meet, is named after the late veterinarian who cared for his dam, Lady Eli.
Excellent Truth is walked around after winning the Grade I Diana Stakes with Flavien Prat onboard for trainer Chad Brown. The five-year-old daughter of Cotai Glory is unraced since the victory.
Exercise rider Kelvin Perez poses with the Diana flower blanket.
Groom Taka Alarçon hugs jockey Chris Elliott after Leon Blue wins the Rick Violette Stakes for trainer Melanie Giddings. The three-year-old son of Mo Town finished out the meet with a fifth place finish in the Saranac Stakes on closing day.
Sam Bussanich, Tina Casse, Mark Casse, and Shane Tripp pose with a sign commemorating Mark Casse’s 4,000 career wins as a trainer. This race, a $100,000 claimer won by Film Academy, was actually his 4,001st victory, with his 4,000th having occurred earlier in the day at Colonial Downs.
Jockey Victor Espinoza returns on Navy Seal after winning his first race at the Spa aboard Navy Seal for trainer Wesley Ward. The Hall of Famer very famously finished second to Javier Castellano and Keen Ice in the Travers aboard Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015.
Partners in Atlantic Six Racing lead Book’em Danno into the winner’s circle with Paco López onboard after the Derek Ryan (right) trainee wins the Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, his second of three wins at Saratoga in 2025. The four-year-old son of Bucchero also won the Grade I Forego Stakes later in the meet.
Historic Heart is walked around after winning the Grade I A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Handicap with Danny Mullins onboard.
Lyndsey Delello, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold, hugs jockey José Lezcano after Daisy Flyer wins the Grade III Lake George Stakes.
Jockey Kendrick Carmouche shows photographers how many Grade I races he and Deterministic have won together (the Manhattan in June and then the Fourstardave on Whitney day during the meet).
Jockey Junior Alvarado throws flowers in the air after winning the Grade I Saratoga Derby aboard World Beater, giving trainer Riley Mott his first graded victory.
Lyndsey Delello hugs José Ortiz after Kilwin wins the Grade I Test Stakes for trainer Rusty Arnold.
Jockey Flavien Prat returns on El Cordobes after taking the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby. Click here to view the digital edition of this issue of The Special.
Owner Steven Bouchey reaches for Manny Franco’s hand after Caroline St. Beat breaks his maiden for trainer Miguel Clément.
Tammy Fox, partner of trainer Dale Romans, celebrates after Bobrovsky wins the Skidmore Stakes.
Fans cheer from behind as reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna and her connections have their winner’s circle photo taken after taking the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes with Brian Hernandez, Jr. onboard.
Jockey Luis Sáez smiles as Patch Adams is walked around after winning the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Stakes for trainer Brad Cox.
Jockey José Ortiz is all smiles as Hope Road enters the winner’s circle after prevailing in the Grade I Ballerina Stakes for trainer Bob Baffert.
Jockey Junior Alvarado throws flowers in the air as Sovereignty is led into the winner’s circle after his historic victory in the Travers (the first horse in over 30 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and Travers).
Junior Alvarado poses with the Man o’ War Cup after winning the flagship race of the Saratoga summer meet, trainer Bill Mott stands behind him.
Erma Scott feeds her pal Sovereignty a carrot after his big win.
Jockey Javier Castellano smiles back at his wife Abby (back left) and son Brady (her arm around him) after winning a maiden special weight aboard Rina’s Revenge for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Kendrick Carmouche shows his emotions after winning the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes aboard Final Score for trainer Todd Pletcher. The two-year-old son of Not This Time broke his maiden earlier in the meet.
Jockey Jaime Rodríguez shows his love for Bellezza after winning the Grade II Flower Bowl Stakes for trainer Miguel Clément. The four-year-old daughter of Siyouni previously finished second in the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes earlier in the meet.
Retired race caller Tom Durkin presents Kendrick Carmouche with the trophy for the Grade I Spinaway Stakes, which the latter won aboard Tommy Jo. The Todd Pletcher trainee broke her maiden earlier in the meet.
Jockey John Velázquez throws flowers in the air after winning the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard Antiquarian. The Todd Pletcher trainee previously finished second in the Grade II Suburban Stakes during the July 4th Racing Festival.
Spendthrift Farm general manager Ned Toffey (left) shakes trainer Todd Pletcher’s hand after the former’s namesake Ted Noffey wins the Grade I Hopeful Stakes.
Ned Toffey help lead his namesake, with John Velázquez onboard, into the winner’s circle.
John Velázquez hugs his wife Leona (back) and daughter Lerina in the winner’s circle after the Hopeful.
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 “Saratoga Race Course 2025: The Celebrating”
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Fun, happy pictures!