“What happened to The Saratoga Special?” Vince Bonanni’s text blasted across my phone Saturday afternoon, somewhere and sometime between picking up Miles at Governor’s School in Western Virginia and the Virginia Bolts playing ball at James Madison High School in Northern Virginia. I wasn’t exactly watching Saratoga or worrying about … Read More

The cat fled the room. That’s how the third race at Colonial played out Sunday afternoon as Annie, Charles and I watched Win Street rally from last to first in the stretch to land the $40,000 maiden claimer. Lagging in last, bumping and grinding along the rail, then a gap, … Read More

With a quick break from jump racing (until Thursday at Saratoga, at least), Riverdee focuses on the flat this weekend. V Inspired makes her second start for the stable Saturday. Trained by Todd Wyatt and ridden by apprentice Taylor Kingsley, the 5-year-old mare takes on 10 rivals in the $43,125 … Read More

The Riverdee Newsletter. Sunday, July 6, 2026. “First thing.” On the racetrack, there is nothing left to say. My alarm goes off at 5. I’m up in a flash, race-day-urgency flash, skipping the coffee, and at the barn in minutes. Rocket One greets me like I’m late. Erin Butler rakes … Read More

Back on the road… Six hours, 50 minutes. 448 miles. Trying to get to Saratoga in time to catch the Sanford at 2:54 p.m, then fire up the phone to watch Rupert The Prince at Carlisle at 3:09 p.m, back to live action for the Belmont Oaks, Suburban, Belmont Derby … Read More