SARATOGA SPRINGS – In a brilliant comeback performance over his favorite racetrack, Medaglia d’Oro, winner of last summer’s Jim Dandy and Travers at the Old Spa, clawed his way past front-running Northern Rock in midstretch, then held off the late charge of 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi to win yesterday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap by a length yesterday.
The victory was jockey Jerry Bailey’s fifth on the card.
Trained by Bobby Frankel, Medaglia d’Oro won the Strub and Oaklawn Handicap this year, but hadn’t raced since April after injuring his foot. He sat just off Northern Rock’s solid early pace of :23.2 and :46.4, cruised up to challenge for the lead on the far turn, then dug in to turn back Volponi down the lane, running the mile-and-an-eighth in 1:47.3 as the 123-pound highweight to pay $3.60 as the favorite, keying an $8.10 exacta.
Evening Attire got up for third.
As expected, Harlan’s Holiday, second last out in the July 13 Hollywood Gold Cup, was scratched from the Whitney.
“I’m not crazy about the [drying-out] track condition,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “That’s not the only factor, but it makes it easier. I just thought 20 days wasn’t the right recipe to come back off a lifetime top [speed figure], and that looks like what he needs to do in [the Whitney] in order to win.”
*
There wasn’t a happier man in upstate New York yesterday than trainer Nick Zito after he saddled Mary Lou Whitney’s homebred 2-year-old colt Birdstone to win yesterday’s fourth race by 12½ lengths in his first start. The bay colt, by Grindstone, is a half-brother to Birdtown, winner of this year’s Kentucky Oaks and a leading candidate for the Aug. 16 Alabama here.
“This is really cool, especially to win on Whitney day,” Zito said. “Mary Lou said I didn’t have to run a horse [yesterday], but she has all her guests here. I like having my head on the chopping block.
“This colt is so classy and does everything right. He’s almost identical to his sister. Their dam [Dear Birdie] is Mary Lou’s favorite filly. I might run him back in the Hopeful.”
*
Peb, whose cartoons have enlivened the pages of the Racing Form for a half-century, was honored by Saratoga mayor Kenneth Klotz yesterday as his first painted fiberglass horse, “L’Etalon Vert” (the Green Stallion), was unveiled at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion.
The theme of Peb’s painted horse is to promote the humane treatment of thoroughbreds. It will be auctioned off Aug. 12 at the Equine Advocates annual fund-raising dinner, held at nearby Stone Bridge Farm. For information, call (518) 245-1599.
*
The late trainer Sonny Hine, jockey Mike Smith and retired racehorses Precisionist and Dance Smartly will be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony, to be held at the sales pavilion, is open to the public.