The Saranac (Grade 3)- $300.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
September 3, 2016

Technically, the Saranac was a field of seven, but you would be forgiven if you only thought there were two horses in this race.  Fluctuation and Admirals Aces wasted no time getting out to the lead, and the two would battled between themselves while opening up on the rest of the field.  These two aces had plenty of fluctuation of the lead over the course of the nine furlongs between them, and at the end, they would finish one-two.  As for everyone else, it could have been easy to forget they were even in the race.  This race was all about the top two, and at the end it is Mb Stables and Fluctuation who picked up the victory.  It’s the second time that the trainer has won that race.  Aboard our winner was J R Velazquez, who wins the race for the second year in a row, and the third time in his riding career. The time of the win was 1:45.40, which is a stake record for the years in which it was run at this distance.  Here’s a deeper look.

1st- 4- Fluctuation (2/1)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables engaged himself in an exciting battle with Admirals Aces for the entire nine furlongs.  He was strong out of the gate, and by the time they reached the opening turn, it was already all about the top two as King Chuck backed off.  It was Fluctuation who had the position along the rail for this run, and this would allow to him have a head in front as they moved into backstretch.  The half mile would be run in :47.05, and the battle between them would continue between them as they matched each other, stride for stride.  He would also lead at six furlongs, doing that in 1:10.02, but less then a second after officially hitting that marker, Admirals Aces would then fluctuate to the top spot by a head.  Fluctuation continued to battle on, and were side by side still as they hit the top of the stretch.  Everyone else you could forget about.  This was simply a one-on-one, match race in the stretch between two horses who were simply not giving in, in any way, to win a graded stake.  Both horses, trainers, and jockeys should be thrilled with the efforts given at this point.  With just under a furlong to go, Fluctuation was back ahead of Admirals Aces, and only until the last half furlong did he start to slightly pull away and score the win in 1:45.40. Congratulations!  Fluctuation is a three year old colt by Chai Latte, and out of Steel Royal (Steel Ball).  He was bred in Ontario by Mb Stables as a third quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 7- Admirals Aces (7/2)- The runner up in the race, for Grimley, would be the quickest out of the gate, and would battle Fluctuation, as well as King Chuck briefly, for early position around the opening turn.  Fluctuation had a nose ahead of him at the half mile point as the two of them began to create their separation from the rest of the field.  These two would match strides for the backstretch, and it would be Admirals Aces with the nose in front going into the turn, and he would also lead at the top of the stretch.  In the stretch, it was all about these two, and in fantastic fashion they were matching strides between one another with the rest of the field more then two lengths back. They continued to battle hard, but in the final half furlong, Fluctuation just had a little more left in him to prevail.  At no point did it ever look as though Admirals Aces would drop another position.

3rd- 5- Raj Action Packed (13/1)- It was right to the back for the Night Rider Stables entry, who would be part of three that ran together at the rear around the opening turn.  Stayed back there most of the way before looking to move wide into the turn.  Make no mistake, this move was simply all about getting a third place check, which he was able to accomplish.

4th- 6- King Chuck (3/1)- The Gdp Inc entry would hang with the top two out of the gate, but begin to back off as they approached the run down the backstretch.  Remained steady in the backstretch and around the turn with a position on the rail.  Seemed like he would hold on to third, but Raj Action Packed would have a little more run in the stretch.

5th- 3- Sonic (10/1)- Started in the middle of the pack for his trainer, D J C Racing Stables. He would be three lengths ahead of the frontrunners while keeping two lengths in front of the back trio.  This is really where he seemed to run for the entire race.  At no point did he threaten the leaders, and he could only run even with King Chuck.

6th- 1- Classic Cliche (6/1)- The gelding from Blushing Meadows was content to start at the rear of the field, and this is quite simply where he would remain throughout.  A non-factor.

7th- 2- Doctor Moriarty (16/1)- The longest shot on the board from Jerry Garcia Racing was part of the threesome that hung around at the back, and never did anything over the course of the event.

Track: Firm
Time: :47   1:10   1:33²  1:45²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 7 Paid 20.50
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 7 – 5 Paid 377.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES