At Suidobashi, NYRA track photographer Adam Collanese, son of the late Bob Collanese, enjoyed an intimate view of a thrilling race. Torpedo Anna’s dramatic nose victory over Dors Vader in the Private Ensign (G1) on August 23rd at Saratoga was unforgettable. In his winning photo, the legendary jockey John Velazquez is seen urging Dors Vader on, while two mares engage intensely nose-to-nose in fierce competition, only for Torpedo Anna, under the skilled ride of regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., to triumph with ears pricked forward. Among Adam Collanese’s favorite shots is one featuring the renowned horse Cigar. Collanese and his team, including photographer Chelsea O’Rourke, capture over 18 terabytes of images yearly. For him, the standout moment of 2025 was undeniably Torpedo Anna’s stunning Private Ensign win. The NYRA press office recently interviewed Collanese about his photography and some of the most memorable moments from his long tenure in New York racing. To see more of his work, visit https://www.bobcogianesephotos.com/.
When asked about race day setups, Collanese explained, “Cameras are all positioned and ready before a race. We use multiple cameras to cover every angle of the track. However, there’s no certainty a horse will reach the perfect position or stride for the shot. If the stride isn’t right, I won’t use the photo. That day was special—I had six cameras across the track lanes. Everyone loves Torpedo Anna; she’s a favorite. It’s a powerful image of two horses pushing hard at the wire.”
Collanese shared, “I’ve been coming to races since 1989. In high school, I would learn photography alongside my dad and often attend on weekends. I’ve been a full-time track photographer here for 33 years, spending my entire life at the races, including summers at Saratoga. I recall visiting Suidobashi with friends in high school, parking on the lawn due to no parking spaces and long betting lines extending from the windows to the track apron.”
At Remington Park, the winningest trainer in US history, Steve Asmussen, continued his dominance. He secured his fourth victory in the $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes for 2-year-old fillies with Not a Lady during Saturday’s closing card. Often racing in Oklahoma City and a familiar presence on race nights, Asmussen’s trainee led by his son Eric Asmussen took the win. The Keith family presented the trophy to Not a Lady’s connections, which included Asmussen and representatives from Winchell Thoroughbreds. Not a Lady follows in the footsteps of Asmussen’s previous winners: Princinha Julia (2019), Optionality (2021), and Gree (2024).
Eric Asmussen led Not a Lady sharply on the backstretch, taking over the lead among a field of four horses after three-quarters of a mile. The horse’s splits were 24.73 seconds for the first quarter, 50.13 at the half, 1:15.49 at three-quarters, and 1:28.31 at seven furlongs. Not a Lady finished in 1:42.07, besting a faster Honbaba. The Kentucky-bred filly, sired by Into Mischief out of More Than Lady mare Justa Lady, earned $45,000 out of $72,750 purse money, improving her record to three wins and one second in five starts, with career earnings now at $112,056. Curtis C. Green raised the filly, who was purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling sale for $775,000.
Asmussen reflected, “A pretty face wins races, meaning neither I nor the horse gets dirty with mud. I’m very pleased to ride a mare with such a strong pedigree. Her sire has done a wonderful job.”
Steve Asmussen secured an unprecedented 20th training title at Remington Park. He said, “Winning here is always special because this is the track where I won my first training title back in 1991. Pablo Ocampo and the crew are the golden rule of this operation.”
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Fan Take: This coverage highlights the artistry behind capturing horse racing’s most electrifying moments and celebrates the ongoing legacy of excellence in training and racing. For fans, it underscores how dedicated individuals both behind the camera and in the saddle contribute to horse racing’s enduring excitement and rich storytelling.
