Tony Gold is back in the saddle at Saratoga! | Thebigtip

Well folks I'm back and so are all the big boy's and girls! The Sararoga Carnival is in full swing with both Rachel Alexandra and The Devil May Care both winning last week here in the States.

Starting on the 23rd of July and running until September the 6th, the Saratoga has real old school charm! I made the trip once a few years back and watched an Australian horse win the last on the turf, a handy mare called Alinghi that Gai Waterhouse sent over that got the job done right on the post and made my day. The day started with blueberry pancakes at the local diner and then a good hard look at the form over a hot coffee. As I walked into the track I remember really feeling the charm of the place and it was almost like taking a step back in time. Unlike a lot of the American tracks, you can really get close to the jockeys and horses here before the race. The Grandstand has real character and I managed to sit right in front thanks to Manny the host  and sample the local crab cakes with a glass of riesling. Of all the tracks I have been to its by far my favourite in America.

This weekend sees the running of the Diana (for 3yo Fillies and Mares G1) and the Jim Dandy (G2 for 3yo and Up). The biggest race of the weekend is actually in Monthmouth New Jersey, which I hear is also a nice track and see's my boy Super Saver taking on a field of 8 in the Haskell invitational over a mile and 1/8th. This is the showdown of the top 3 year olds with Looking At Lucky, First Dude, Ice Box and the new kid on the block, Trappe Shot. Horses in both this race and the Whitney  G1 (3yo and up races) will be shaping up for a crack at the biggest race of the carnival on August 28th the Travers, which is over a mile and 1/4, which I think is Super Savers best distance (Kentucky Derby distance). The Whitney (mile and 1/8th) is a week away on August 7th with last years winner Mine That Bird looking to prove he is still a topliner against the mighty Quality Road and co.

Now I really think Super Saver will prove he is a champion this carnival and it may be in the Travers but I won't be betting in the Haskell. Super has been training his brains out but it will be a tough race and 3 to 1 is a bit short in this field for me, and I'll be sitting back and taking a formline out of this for the Travers. Trappe Shot is the real danger to Looking At Lucky and Super Saver and possibly a horse called Our Dark Knight. I don't like Ice Box in this race but First Dude has to be respected after his game run in the Preakness.