Super Saturday Diaries: Breathtaking Belmont

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I’d almost forgotten how much I absolutely adore going to Belmont Park in the fall, but when I arrived there yesterday for the Super Saturday festivities I was quickly reminded of what makes this place so wonderful in the autumn months. Of course, it didn’t hurt that it was a picture-perfect day with some of the best horse racing in the nation planned for the afternoon!
After getting off of the Belmont Special (a unbelievably convenient rail line that drops you right off at the racetrack) I headed to the photographers’ room to set up my gear and then I decided to go out and grab some lunch at the food truck rally taking place near the walking ring. On my way out, I ran into a huge line inside the facility; it was a huge group of fans waiting patiently to get an autograph from legendary New York Racing Association track announcer Tom Durkin.

Durkin happily took the time to chat with every fan in line, autographing commemorative bobbleheads and posing for photos. He’s truly a horse racing institution and one that fans nationwide will miss in his retirement.

After watching fans interact with Mr. Durkin, I headed outside to peruse the food trucks lined up at Belmont Park. Since it is my sworn journalistic duty to report on *everything* Super Saturday at Belmont Park had to offer, I decided to do a lap before committing to a location. There were so many options to choose from that I had a really hard time deciding – a wonderful problem to have!

Grilled cheese, tacos, pizza and gourmet hot dogs were just a few of the decadent treats up for grabs; but when I saw the Mac Truck, I knew that I’d found my lunch:

Sumptuous macaroni and cheese dishes with crazy combinations were on the menu, and after a brief deliberation I settled for the pulled pork mac ‘n’ cheese. It. Was. Heaven!

Oh hello there pulled pork mac 'n' cheese from @mactruckny at #BelmontPark. This is, indeed, #SuperSaturday! @TheNYRA pic.twitter.com/l2TJEuAl8O
— Penelope P. Miller (@PenelopePMiller) September 27, 2014

After polishing off most (I couldn’t eat all of it, to my chagrin) of my delicious and sinful lunch, I headed straight out to the backyard area of the track to see what people were up to. There were groups of friends and families everywhere, enjoying a spectacular autumn afternoon on the spacious Belmont grounds. The great thing about Belmont Park is that fans are allowed to bring their own food and drinks to the track (but make sure to check the rules) so not only are you getting a fantastic afternoon at the races, but you also don’t have to pay stadium prices like you must in most other New York City sports venues. It’s an awesome way to spend the day, and I was delighted to see so many people at Belmont taking in the afternoon’s festivities.

All of a sudden, it was time for the big races to kick off the Super Saturday action at Belmont Park. The first stakes race of the afternoon was the Kelso Handicap, a $400,000 contest for three-year-olds and up going one mile over Belmont’s dirt course. A very talented group of horses were there to compete, and as each Thoroughbred paraded past in the paddock I had a hard time deciding who would emerge the victor.

And there was good reason that so many fantastic horses were here on Super Saturday. In addition to fame and glory, there was some serious hardware at stake for the winners. Check out this loot:

WANT.
As the horses paraded to the starting gate, the stands filled up as fans found the best place to watch all of the Super Saturday action.

And they were in for a treat: it was New York fan-favorite Vyjack who took the win in great style, awarding his backers a hefty $21.20 for every $2 they bet on him to win.

His human connections were clearly thrilled, and it was a happy group who met their horse in the winner’s circle to get their photo taken after the Kelso victory.

Vyjack’s trainer Rudy Rodriguez didn’t have to stray too far from that winner’s circle: he was right back there in the next race, the Beldame, when his charge Belle Gallantey won the 1 1/8 mile test with ease.

I loved seeing Rudy and his staff celebrating after Belle Gallantey’s victory; these men and women work so closely with the horses in their care, so seeing a win like this savored so much was just wonderful.

The next major race was the Flower Bowl, a 1 ¼ mile turf race for females that would earn the winner a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. I was personally rooting for the mare Stephanie’s Kitten: I’ve been a fan of hers since she was preparing for her win in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Plus, she has absolutely giant ears and that is adorable.

So I was absolutely delighted when Stephanie’s Kitten won the Flower Bowl with ease, and I can’t wait to see her at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in just a month and a half!

Her humans, the Ramsey family, were clearly tickled by the victory as they led Stephanie’s Kitten to the Belmont Park winner’s circle.

Up next was the Vosburgh Stakes; this is a race for horses three years old and up sprinting ¾ of a mile on the main dirt track. Private Zone was there to defend his 2013 victory; and he did so in a gallant manner, fending off Dads Caps to win the Vosburgh and a place in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 1.

I managed to spot Private Zone’s owners in the stands after his win – I think it’s safe to say that they were ecstatic with his achievement!

Then it was time for the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, named for one of the great horse racing writers of all time. The race is a 1 ½ mile marathon on the grass, and the winner would get a free trip to the Breeders’ Cup to run in the Turf division on Nov. 1.
As the photographers waited for the horses to enter the starting gate, we spotted a hawk perched atop the flagpole in the Belmont Park infield. Instantly, we all stopped being the pony paparazzi and became birders – it was just very cool to see that majestic bird of prey!

Of course, we were there to take pictures of the race and not birds, and I was so glad that we were. In one of the more hotly-contested finishes of the afternoon, Main Sequence fought off Twilight Eclipse for the victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

As Main Sequence entered the winner’s circle, his jockey Rajiv Maragh had a huge grin on his face:

The next race was the biggest of the afternoon: the Jockey Club Gold Cup.  A million dollar affair, the winner of the race would be able to add this storied stake to his resume as well as gain a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. As the horses paraded in the saddling paddock, fans pressed close to get a good view and lend their support to their favorite horses.

Each horse looked sensational, and nerves were running high as they made their way onto the track and to the starting gate for this prestigious test.

And after a mile and a quarter, it was Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist who took the Jockey Club Gold Cup by storm, winning by 1 ¾ lengths to earn his place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Unfortunately, in the running of the race Wicked Strong was involved in an incident and nearly fell; he gallantly kept his feet, but his jockey Rajiv Maragh suffered a broken arm when he was thrown in the accident.

The pain in my arm can't match up to pain in my heart. Flowing tears of disappointment Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Surgery in da am
— Rajiv Maragh (@RajivMaragh) September 28, 2014

While we’re all so saddened that Rajiv will be sidelined with this injury, I am so glad that his injury wasn’t worse and I hope for a very speedy recovery.
Wicked Strong finished the race alone, and he seemed to have no major injury when he was reunited with his caretakers directly following the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Thankfully, Wicked Strong’s owners Centennial Farm report that he seems to be OK following the incident.

Initial reports are that #WickedStrong is ok. Speedy recovery wishes to @RajivMaragh . Feeling pretty lucky; could have been MUCH worse.
— Centennial Farms (@Centennial_Farm) September 28, 2014

As Tonalist returned to the Winner’s Circle, he was met with pats and hugs from his owner Robert Evans.

A large and delighted group gathered in the Belmont Park winner’s circle to celebrate, and jockey Joel Rosario raised his arms in victory aboard Tonalist as the setting sun streamed through the grandstand behind them.

As Tonalist returned to his barn wearing his new winner’s blanket, I reflected that the Breeders’ Cup slogan is very true this year: the best is yet to come, and I for one can’t wait to see what happens at the World Championships!

That’s all for me from Super Saturday at Belmont Park; I’ll leave you with a few more photos from the day, and I’ll be back next week with the action out of Fall Stars at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. In the meantime, let me know in the comments what your favorite part of Super Saturday was, and thanks as always for stopping by!