08/22/2012 6:25PM

Saratoga: Willy Beamin wins Albany with ease

By Mike Welsch
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Barbara D. Livingston
Willy Beamin, with Alan Garcia riding, cruises to a 6 1/4-length victory in the Albany Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Willy Beamin made news late Wednesday morning when he was entered in the Grade 1 King's Bishop, not the Travers, as originally planned. The former claimer made even more news several hours later by drawing away to an easy 6 1/4-length victory over Zivo to post his fifth consecutive victory in the $150,000 Albany Stakes at Saratoga. 

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said it was owner James Riccio's decision to enter Willy Beamin in the King's Bishop instead of the Travers, and it will ultimately be his decision whether to actually run in the King's Bishop on just three days' rest following his big performance in the Albany.

"I have a van lined up to bring him back to Aqueduct in the morning, but I may have to change plans now and wait and see if we want to run him from the one hole on Saturday,"  Dutrow by phone from Long Island, where he watched the race.

Willie Beamin drew post position 1 for the King's Bishop.

"We have nothing to lose if we run him Saturday and everything to gain if we don't, "said Dutrow. "It might be a good move to run him. He loves seven furlongs and he loves to come back quickly. He can sit and save ground and make a run. Whatever Jim decides is fine with me."

As for the Albany, Willy Beamin set the pace under confident handling from jockey Alan Garcia and then drew off with authority once set down for the drive. Zivo came through between horses to finish second while never menacing the winner in his stakes debut. Fox Rules finished third.

Live for Today was eased before completing a half-mile and was vanned off.

Willie Beamin completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.34 over a fast track and paid $4.30.

"As soon as I saw the entries and looked at the race, I told Jimmy that we should let him take the lead and let them come catch him," said Dutrow. "The jock gave him a super ride, he sat on him until someone made him run and then opened up on the field."

 

mrm More than 1 year ago
I think they should run him in the Kings Bishop and wheel him right back in The Travers.
Robert Clayton More than 1 year ago
They knew the horse was at least planning to back on Saturday.....Why was Garcia riding him so hard when the race was already wrapped up? You think he would have saved as much as possible
Platano Lajara More than 1 year ago
He rode him the last furlong and it wasnt the whole furlong and won with ease Garcia didn't ride him so hard whipped him 3x and showed him the whip and the horse went 6f in almost 1:15 that not running hard did u pay attention in the fraction?
Platano Lajara More than 1 year ago
To the fraction? *
Platano Lajara More than 1 year ago
i think willy beamin mite have took the travers field wire them ill have him in my pick 4s in KBishop
DrSmoke120 More than 1 year ago
Steamin'!!!! Wouldn't be too much to see Steamin' Willie Beamin win the Travers. Dutrow would be have them redder than a fire truck. The "midsummer derby" won by Steamin' Willie Beamon would leave the NYSWRB screamin'! Maybe Jamie Foxx can present the trophy.
Mark Scheider More than 1 year ago
I want to believe you Dutrow but to believe you would mean that you KNOW when a horse is going to win a race. Now sir, just how would a person have such certainty that their equine is going to win a stakes race?
jack s More than 1 year ago
He often says that...and is usually right. I remeber when he said the same thing about Saint Liam....the guy is a master trainer....obviously they are watching him thru a magnifying glass right now, yet his horses continue to perform fantastically. Explain how that could be if he is a cheater.
Slew32A More than 1 year ago
He happens to be a very good horseman, but to crush the field like that off a layoff and running a distance the first time. The theories of handicapping go out the window.
Ponies Payme More than 1 year ago
Yeah, right. That would be like winning a mile race in a fast time and then wheeling back in 5 days to win at 1 1/2 miles. IMPOSSIBLE!!!* * See Conquistador Cielo 1982 A mile in 1:33 or so in the Met and then the Belmont in a ROMP. I cashed nicely on that fiasco that defied handicapping.