Certifiably Crazy best in West Point

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Certifiably Crazy had been most successful when able to dictate things on the front end. His connections knew that style wouldn't be effective in Sunday's so they decided to change tactics and attempt to rate.

The experiment paid dividends as Certifiably Crazy stalked the speedy Retribution for seven furlongs, took over from that rival leaving the quarter pole and then outkicked Dave down the lane to win the $116,100 West Point by 1 3-4 lengths. Dave, last year's West Point winner, finished second by a neck over Pa Pa Da. It was another length back to 2004 West Point winner and 9-5 favorite Golden Commander.

"This horse has been a speed horse all his life," said Richard Schosberg, trainer of Certifiably Crazy, who finished third in this race last year as the favorite. "But [owner Joe Sweedler] kept saying that the race is filed with speed and we have to get him to come from off the pace ... The horse doesn't want to be choked down, but we knew that was the only way we could win it. It worked out beautiful for us. [Retribution] cleared, so it was almost like we were in our own race on the lead."

Cornelio Velasquez had Certifiably Crazy in second while Retribution opened up an eight-length lead through fractions of 22.96 seconds and 46.08 for the opening half-mile. He began to tire on the turn, and that's when Certifiably Crazy and the others pounced.

Certifiably Crazy, a 6-year-old son of Fit to Fight, covered the 1 1-8 miles over a firm Mellon Turf Course in 1:46.24 and returned $10.20 to win.

Certifiably Crazy will make his next start in the Ashley T. Cole Handicap on Sept. 17. Certifiably Crazy won last year's Ashley T. Cole by coming from off the pace after stumbling at the start.

Earlier on Sunday's card, Homerette rode the rails under Eibar Coa to post a 15-1 upset in the $73,500 Irish Linnet Stakes for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies. She beat Whateverwillbwillb by one-half length. Latitude Forty finished third.

Rewrite, the 3-5 favorite coming off three straight wins, finished a non-threatening sixth.

The announced crowd Sunday was 70,603, but many were spinners who paid for more than one admission to receive multiple Saratoga sports-bags, the promotional item given away with each paid admission.