Dear Readers:

The Times was on hiatus during August, enjoying the unseasonably cool summer weather of Saratoga Springs! As we count down the last days of summer back in steamy New Orleans, we’re overdue in providing an update on the stars of the Fair Grounds Racing Club.

After disappointing efforts in two stakes races this summer at Churchill Downs, Excitations thrilled the Fair Grounds Racing Club on Jim Dandy Day at Saratoga July 29th with his second place finish in the $300,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2). The Amsterdam provided Excitations the opportunity to cut back to his preferred shorter distance at 6 1/2 furlongs against other three-year-olds, and the colt earned his highest Beyer speed figure to date, running a 101 Beyer behind winner Coal Front’s 105.

Watch the exciting replay here, don’t miss Excitations sneaking up the rail (Race 5, 7/29/17)! As an additional bonus, click this link to watch Excitations’ workout at Saratoga on August 26th with stablemate CZ Rocket.

The Amsterdam was the prep race for the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) on Travers Day August 26th, and although trainer Al Stall Jr. nominated Excitations for this 7 furlong race against three-year-olds, Stall opted to keep him in training and did not enter him to run. Note, however, that our colt’s Amsterdam Beyer speed of 101 beat that of Jerkens winner Practical Joke (97)!

Excitations will return to the track in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G3), a 6 furlong race for three-year-olds that will be held at Parx on Pennsylvania Derby Day, September 23rd. The long-term plan is for him to race in the 6 furlong Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds ($75,000), followed by the 7 furlong Malibu Stakes ($300,000, G1) at Santa Anita Park on December 26th.

As mentioned in our last post, Efforting has been taking some time off this summer to rest up for the fall meet at Fair Grounds, and has been relaxing at a farm in Northern Louisiana near Shreveport. We look forward to providing an update on her next race date once we learn more from Al Stall.

The Times is also pleased to mention that its contribution to a Louisiana publication about the 19th century turfman Duncan Kenner will be available for reading next week. We will post the link to the piece once it is online.

Sincerely,
Editor, Antebellum Turf Times