Apologies if already address...Spa Morning Line Maker?

[SoCalMan2]

I can\'t seem to find out who makes the morning line this year at Saratoga.  Does anybody know who it is?  Are we back in ridiculous world or can we trust the ML like the rest of the year in NYRA?

[milwmike]

Same as last year, Travis Stone.

[SoCalMan2]

Thank you for info.
 

I guess the NYRA just feels like torturing its customers.



They must know how ridiculous they are....look at the NYRA webpage where the guy should be listed and see all the officials they do name....but they do not name him....They obviously want to conceal the pain they are inflicting.


Other Officers, Operating & Racing Officials

Other Officers & Operating Officials
Larry Collmus, Race Caller
Ross Didia, Corporate Treasurer
James Dillon, Director of Special Events
Matthew Feig, Senior Director, ADW
John Clyne, Director of Security & Special Events
Jonathan Fowler, Director, Marketing, NYRA Bets
Rocco Fuda, Director, Pari-Mutuel Operations
John Imbriale, Director, TV Production
Min Kim, Director of Internal Audit
William McCarthy, Associate Counsel, FOILS Appeals Officer
Patrick McKenna, Director, Communications & Public Affairs
Darran Miner, Director of Marketing
Kevin Quinn, Director of Sales
Iris Roberts, Records Access Officer
Dan Silver, Senior Director of TV
Stephen Travers, Senior Director, Hospitality & Guest Services
Stewards
Jim Edwards, The Jockey Club*
Stephen Lewandowski, New York Gaming Commission*
Braulio Baeza, Jr., NYRA Steward*
Hugh J. Gallagher, Safety Steward*
*fully accredited
Racing Officials
Dan Eidson, Racing Secretary
Matthew Salvato*, Assistant Racing Secretary
Andrew Byrnes, Stakes Coordinator
Bruce Johnstone, Manager Racing Operations
Mike McMullen, Starter
Dr. Anthony Verderosa, Chief Examining Veterinarian
Timothy D. Kelly, Clerk of Scales*
Edward F. Brown, Assistant Clerk of Scales
Peter T. FitzGerald, Paddock & Patrol Judge
David Osojnak, Paddock & Patrol Judge*
Kelly Gecewicz, Clerk of the Course
Sentell Taylor, Jr., Placing/Patrol Judge*
Denise Spampinato, Horsemen’s Bookkeeper
Anthony Jaccino, Chief Horse Identifier
Richard Wickman, Stable Supervisor
Carmen Barrera, Director Horsemen’s Relations
Martin Panza, Racing Secretary
Dan Edison, Assistant Racing Secretary
New York State Gaming Commission
John A. Crotty, Commissioner
Peter J. Moschetti, Jr., Commissioner
John Poklemba, Esq, Commissioner
Barry C. Sample, Commissioner
Todd R. Snyder, Commissioner
Robert Williams, Executive Director
Edmund C. Burns, General Counsel
Ronald g. Ochrym, Director of the Division of Horse Racing
Dr. Scott E. Palmer, Equine Medical Director
New York State Gaming Commission
P.O. Box 7500, Schenectady, NY  12301-7500
Send Questions or Comments to: New York State Gaming Commission
Website: http://www.gaming.ny.gov/

THAT IS COPY AND PASTE OF WHAT WAS HERE JUST NOW --

https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/about/other-officers,-racing-and-operating-officials

[Fairmount1]

When Downs After Dark racing ended in June, I went down in the paddock area to see the party that would be happening there.  Before I made it there, I ran into Travis Stone who was with his friends as he was leaving (just be aware that he is close to the Casse barn when you see morning lines with Casse\' horses as you may see a bias he wouldn\'t recognize).

Anyway, I spoke to him about his Spa morning lines in a joshing manner.  He didn\'t take it very kindly and pushed on me to explain further.  So I responded \"What about Seven Forty Seven who you had at 12-1 and went off about 6-5?\"  His reply tells you everything you will need to know about his understanding of a m/l.....

He said (and I paraphrase but this is very, very close) I\'ll tell you just like I told my friends, \'that horse didn\'t win til this spring.\'  I immediately said It doesn\'t matter whether the horse won or not, what matters is what the odds were that day!  We parted ways after that.    

On a final note, many of these guys making a m/l don\'t have the math right whatsoever for figuring out the morning line (their \"points\" add up way too high but I\'ll leave it at that without getting more technical).  I believe I saw Stone discuss his method once around Derby time indicating he doesn\'t do it correctly in my opinion.

[SoCalMan2]

Fairmount1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When Downs After Dark racing ended in June, I went
> down in the paddock area to see the party that
> would be happening there.  Before I made it there,
> I ran into Travis Stone who was with his friends
> as he was leaving (just be aware that he is close
> to the Casse barn when you see morning lines with
> Casse\' horses as you may see a bias he wouldn\'t
> recognize).
>
> Anyway, I spoke to him about his Spa morning lines
> in a joshing manner.  He didn\'t take it very
> kindly and pushed on me to explain further.  So I
> responded \"What about Seven Forty Seven who you
> had at 12-1 and went off about 6-5?\"  His reply
> tells you everything you will need to know about
> his understanding of a m/l.....
>
> He said (and I paraphrase but this is very, very
> close) I\'ll tell you just like I told my friends,
> \'that horse didn\'t win til this spring.\'  I
> immediately said It doesn\'t matter whether the
> horse won or not, what matters is what the odds
> were that day!  We parted ways after that.    
>
> On a final note, many of these guys making a m/l
> don\'t have the math right whatsoever for figuring
> out the morning line (their \"points\" add up way
> too high but I\'ll leave it at that without getting
> more technical).  I believe I saw Stone discuss
> his method once around Derby time indicating he
> doesn\'t do it correctly in my opinion.

This fiasco is not Travis Stone\'s fault.  He has proven his incompetence.  If anybody needed a reminder, just look at the Lake George today -- look at the line on Defiant Honor, her PPs and what she went off at.  The guy is clearly incompetent and everybody has known this for a long time at this point.  It is no secret and the proprietor of this website said the NYRA was in discussions about how incompetent the guy is.

The question is -- when the NYRA is confronted with incompetence, they do not remove the guy but rather they re-up and bring the guy back.  That is the problem -- the person at the NYRA who decided to do away with the guy who makes the line the rest of the year and is great and put this incompetent person in place.

Just sickens me.  The Saratoga meet is where the sport is supposed to put its best foot forward, and instead they do their best to sicken their customers.

[Topcat]

Fairmount1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When Downs After Dark racing ended in June, I went
> down in the paddock area to see the party that
> would be happening there.  Before I made it there,
> I ran into Travis Stone who was with his friends
> as he was leaving (just be aware that he is close
> to the Casse barn when you see morning lines with
> Casse\' horses as you may see a bias he wouldn\'t
> recognize).
>
> Anyway, I spoke to him about his Spa morning lines
> in a joshing manner.  He didn\'t take it very
> kindly and pushed on me to explain further.  So I
> responded \"What about Seven Forty Seven who you
> had at 12-1 and went off about 6-5?\"  His reply
> tells you everything you will need to know about
> his understanding of a m/l.....
>
> He said (and I paraphrase but this is very, very
> close) I\'ll tell you just like I told my friends,
> \'that horse didn\'t win til this spring.\'  I
> immediately said It doesn\'t matter whether the
> horse won or not, what matters is what the odds
> were that day!  We parted ways after that.    
>
> On a final note, many of these guys making a m/l
> don\'t have the math right whatsoever for figuring
> out the morning line (their \"points\" add up way
> too high but I\'ll leave it at that without getting
> more technical).  I believe I saw Stone discuss
> his method once around Derby time indicating he
> doesn\'t do it correctly in my opinion.



Was one of those in attendance for 747\'s debut.

747 was one of those cases of a firster showing flashy works, in the hands of a trainer known for winning first out.   For whatever reason(s), the horse piqued the wagering public\'s imagination, as players chased each other over the cliff in pursuit of another hottie which turned cold faster than pizza.   Given all that, it would have been a stretch for anyone to have guesstimated 747\'s \"off\" price, extreme as it wound up being.

It soon became clear that a couple of fast morning works do not automatically translate into racehorse aptitude and sustained grace under pressure in the afternoons.

Am reminded of an ad featuring one of America\'s highest-profile trainers, noting that a sales horse was the best physical specimen he\'d ever laid his hands on.  What was not mentioned is that said horse was a stone nutcase -- which he demonstrated repeatedly, subsequently.

Buyer, beware.