Saratoga: Pletcher breaks his own record for wins at meet

When Zow ($4.10) scored a three-quarter-length, front-running victory in Friday’s Gold and Roses Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds, it gave trainer Todd Pletcher his 37th victory of the Saratoga meet. That broke his record of 36 set in 2010.

“It feels great, we had a sensational meet,’’ Pletcher said. “Things are clicking on all cylinders. We emphasize this meet and if our 2-year-olds run well we have a chance to have a big meet.’’

Of Pletcher’s 36 wins, 15 have come with his 2-year-olds.

Zow, a son of Bluegrass Cat, gave Mike Repole a 14-13 lead over Mike Dubb for leading owner at this meet.

John Velazquez, who on Thursday became Saratoga’s all-time second-leading rider in terms of wins – surpassing his agent Angel Cordero – rode Zow, who covered six furlongs in 1:12.13.

Air Support preps for Jamaica

Air Support, the Virginia Derby winner, worked four furlongs in 48.82 seconds Friday morning as he prepares for a start in the Grade 1 Jamaica at Belmont on Oct. 7.

Air Support went his first quarter in 25.32 seconds and his second in 23.47 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.27.

Trainer Shug McGaughey kept Air Support out of the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes because he thought the horse needed a freshening following the Virginia race on July 16.

“I just wasn’t pleased with him to go to the Secretariat or the Hall of Fame; I think I made the right decision,’’ McGaughey said. “The horses that ran in Virginia that ran in the Hall of Fame, none of them showed up. Banned was third in the Secretariat but he never looked like he was going to win.’’

Wine Police goes from last to first

Wine Police rallied from last under Julien Leparoux to get up in the final strides and beat Free Entry by one-half length in the $75,000 Distorted Humor Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters.

Wine Police, a son of Speightstown owned by Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen, covered six furlongs in 1:11.45 and returned $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite.

The Distorted Humor was rescheduled from last Sunday’s canceled card. Asmussen had previously said that he hoped to use this race as a prep for the $250,000 Gallant Bob at Parx on Sept. 24.