Horse Betting World

A Telling Longshot in Sword Dancer at Spa

By Michael Dempsey

Despite not finding the winners circle since pulling off a 33/1 in last year’s Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) at Saratoga, Telling came right back and pulled off the upset again this year, returning $22.60 under a flawless ride from jockey Garrett Gomez.

Owned by Alex and Joann Lieblong and trained by Steve Hobby, the six-year-old finished out of the money in his three starts coming into this year’s Sword Dancer.

The son of A.P. Indy saved ground on the first two turns, and then Gomez found a seam along the inside as they turned into the stretch and the ground saving trip may have been the difference in beating runner up Bearpath, who had to come four wide into the stretch and had to settle for the runner up spot. Horse Betting

“When we turned for home, the horse in front of us dropped off,” Gomez said. “I just dove toward the fence, and it was like he found new life. He’s just one of those horses that stays on really well going a mile and a half.”

The $300,000 first place check raised his career earnings to $831,049, with six wins from 23 starts.

Bearpath completed an exacta that paid $150.00, and the $2 trifecta paid $1,028.00 with Al Khali finishing third.

Grand Couturier was making his fifth consecutive start in the Sword Dancer, having won the race in 2007 and 2008.

The seven-year-old was the beaten favorite in the race last year in a fifth place finish, and did not threaten this year, checking in sixth. Horse Racing Betting

Chalk players were smiling on Sunday at Saratoga, as Position Limit ($5.10) took the 94th running of the $150,000 Adirondack (G2).

The Todd Pletcher trainee drew off smartly to win by five lengths in a good looking effort, remaining undefeated after breaking her maiden in her debut by 6 ¾ lengths.

Next up for the talented filly likely will be the Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, where a good effort would make her one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

The Bob Baffert trained Alienation completed a $17.00 exacta, with 18/1 longshot Coax Liberty checking in third, the trifecta paying $163.50.

After 21 days of the 40-day Spa meeting, Todd Pletcher has opened up a lead in the trainers’ standings with 17 wins from 65 starters.

Chad Brown is second with 12 wins from his 31 starters.

The jockey title appears likely to go right to the wire among John Velazquez (28 winners), Javier Castellano (24) and last year’s winners Ramon Dominguez (21). Online Horse Racing

There is plenty of stakes action at Saratoga this week:
Wednesday: The $70,000 Troy
Thursday: The $100,000 West Point
Friday: The $100,000 Yaddo
Saturday: The $500,000 Betfair TVG Alabama (G1)
Sunday: The $150,000 Lake Placid (G2)