Saratoga Horse Racing Betting - Tin Cup Chalice Bids for Big Apple Triple
Posted on 7/21/2008 12:15:23 PM
By Pete Mitchell
Undefeated New York-Bred Tin Cup Chalice will become the first horse to capture the Big Apple Triple and the $250,000 bonus that goes with it if he can win the upcoming Albany Handicap at Saratoga. The Big Apple Triple is comprised of the 7-furlong Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park, the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby at Finger Lakes Race Track, and the Albany Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. Three New York-bred runners (Image Maker in 2000, Ferocious Won in 2006, and Chief’s Lake in 2007) have won the first two legs, but none have gone on to post the hat trick.
Tin Cup Chalice joins a select group of New York Derby winners that includes the great Fio Rito, who won it in 1978 and went on to capture the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga in 1981, defeating such crack runners as Winter’s Tale, Amber Pass and Ring of Light. Fio Rito was the first NY-bred runner to win a Grade 1 race. Coincidentally, Fio Rito was owned by Raymond Lecesse, father of Tin Cup Chalice’s co-owner/trainer Michael Lecesse.
Tin Cup Chalice, currently six-for-six in his career, paid $11.00 in winning the Mike Lee. Last out in the New York Derby, he was sent off the favorite, and returned $3.50 to his backers. That was his first 2-turn test, which he passed with flying colors. Now he stretches out to 1 1/8 miles in the Albany Handicap, a distance which appears to be well within his scope. It remains to be seen if any NY-bred runner can derail this Finger Lakes-based dynamo. He’ll likely go favored in the Albany Handicap, which will be held on Wednesday, August 20th.
BetOnline.com will be offering a proposition wager on Tin Cup Chalice’s quest for the Big Apple Triple. Log in to our website on Wednesday, July 23rd, click on the Futures/Props link in our Sportsbook, then click on Horse Props. You’ll see a yes/no prop on whether Tin Cup Chalice will win the Albany Handicap. You might get a better price on the “yes” than you’ll find on race day, but of course, he has to make it to the starting gate. Let’s hope that Tin Cup Chalice has a chance to make history, and in doing so, carry on the Lecesse family tradition of horse racing excellence.
Pete Mitchell has been handicapping
horses since his teenage years. He has been a professional horse player for
many years, and came to BetOnline.com’s attention through multiple referrals
from industry insiders/sportsbook owners. Pete is revered for
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