Goldfarb taking a stand at the claim box
ELMONT, N.Y. – While others spent six-to-seven figures to purchase yearlings who are at a minimum seven months away from the races, owner Sanford Goldfarb preferred to do his buying at the claim box.
Since the beginning of June, Goldfarb has claimed 12 horses for $520,000 on the New York Racing Association circuit – several with partners – and has six each with trainers Rob Atras and Robert Falcone Jr. Goldfarb was particularly active during the Saratoga meet where he claimed eight horses for $340,000, including three first-time starters.
“They’re horses with conditions,” said Goldfarb, a trader on Wall Street who several years ago was one of trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.’s primary clients. “It’s better than spending $200,000, $300,000 on one that’s never started and that you have to put two or three years into to see if they get to the races. Three-quarters of them will never be worth what they paid for them.”
Goldfarb said he watches workouts on XBTV, watches horses on the track, and pays attention to breeding. He also gets input from his trainers.
“It’s a joint team effort,” Goldfarb said. “I got to like them on paper, they got to like them physically. Some guys can’t keep all of them. A horse that’s number three or four in somebody else’s barn could be number one in my barn.”
Goldfarb pointed to the high purses in the claiming ranks that makes this part of the game attractive. For example, on July 1, he claimed Extra Effort for $20,000, a condition that offered a $38,000 purse. He dropped him to the $14,000 level on Aug. 11 at Saratoga where the purse was $32,000. Extra Effort won and was claimed. Between the winner’s share of the purse ($17,600) and the claim, Goldfarb carved out a useful profit.
“The money you’re running for here is incredible,” Goldfarb said.
In May, Goldfarb and partners Nice Guys Stable and Beast Mode Racing, claimed Ifihadachance for $20,000. In five subsequent starts, Ifihadachance has a win and two seconds and has earned $88,475.
Of the 12 claims made since early June, only three have run back, none have won. Guildsman, an $80,000 claim in June at Belmont, ran third in the $120,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga. Goldfarb did claim first-time starter Castle Chaos for $75,000 at Saratoga. A 3-year-old son of Palace Malice, Castle Chaos finished a good second in his debut on turf.