Saratoga Race Course Notes

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Saratoga Race Course Notes

Clement considering all options for dual G1-winner Carson’s Run
Carl Spackler garners lifetime best 104 BSF for G1 FanDuel Fourstardave
She Feels Pretty set for G2 Lake Placid presented by Caesars Sportsbook
Jimmy P points to G1 Grand National off G1 Jonathan Sheppard romp
Awesome Czech nets career-best 82 BSF for Suzie O’Cain
HOF jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Jena Antonucci to sign Arcangelo poster by Greg Montgomery on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement ran first and third, with Carson’s Run and Deterministic, respectively, in Sunday’s rescheduled running of the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

A bit of cut in the ground might have been beneficial to Carson’s Run as the 3-year-old son of Cupid tracked the field through much of the running before unleashing a devastating turn of foot under Dylan Davis to sweep past Legend of Time and post a three-quarter-length victory.

“He came out in good order from the race. I am really happy for the ownership group, it was a really exciting race,” Clement said.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey, Carson’s Run was able to re-assert himself as a player in the turf division now having Grade 1 scores at ages two and three. As a juvenile, he broke his maiden on debut at Saratoga before a try in the Spa’s Grade 3 With Anticipation where he finished a half-length second and quickly returned to annex the Grade 1 Summer at Woodbine, warranting an off-the-board try in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

This year, Carson’s Run started with a troubled running in the Woodhaven at Aqueduct Racetrack where he blew the final turn and caused some bumping at the top of the stretch. He was able to find his stakes-winning form again at Monmouth Park in the June 23 Tale of the Cat, taking that race by a widening three lengths.

The Saratoga Derby triumph marked a new career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure and gave his pilot and Saratoga native Dylan Davis his first Grade 1 win in the United States.

The Saratoga Derby also offered a spot in the AUD$5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate on October 26 at Mooney Valley Race Course thanks to a partnership between NYRA and Mooney Valley Racing Club.

When asked where we might see the chestnut next, Clement said he had not finalized any plans: “We are making him eligible for everything. Trying to keep our options open. Over the next week or ten days or so we will sit down and see how he is doing and find the right spot. Australia is on the table. It is something we must consider.”

Clement also trains the third-place finisher in the race, Deterministic. The son of Liam’s Map was making his second start on the grass after a good second in the June 29 Grade 3 Manila at Belmont at the Big A. Since breaking his maiden first out on the dirt, he has competed exclusively, in stakes company taking down the Grade 3 Gotham at the Big A en route to two off the board finishes there going nine furlongs on dirt. He subsequently moved to the lawn.

“He came back in good shape as well. He lagged a little bit in the stretch and really found his stride after the wire. It is something we need to work on, but he is clearly a very talented colt,” Clement continued. “Same thing as Carson’s Run, we are going to nominate to everything and find the right spot for him.”

On Wednesday, the barn debuted Annascaul, a 2-year-old New York-bred daughter of American Pharoah for owner and breeder Waterville Lake Stables. Annascaul, under Frankie Dettori, led the field of 2-year-old state-bred fillies from gate-to-wire in impressive fashion. She stopped the clock in 1:03.13 for 5 1/2-furlongs with a comfortable three lengths back to second. She earned a 68 Beyer for her debut and lived up to the expectations of her conditioner.

“We have always thought highly of the filly, and she proved us right yesterday. I think we will look for a stake for her next out. She was a very impressive winner yesterday and so far it looks like she has come back from it well,” Clement said.

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Carl Spackler garners lifetime best 104 BSF for G1 FanDuel Fourstardave

e Five Racing Thoroughbred’s newly-minted Grade 1 victor Carl Spackler was awarded a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his breakthrough victory in Sunday’s rescheduled Grade 1, $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap, a one-mile inner turf route for 3-year-olds and up, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega chestnut stalked and pounced to a 3 1/2-length victory under regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione, drawing off strongly down the lane to soundly defeat his five rivals in a final time of 1:36.63 over good footing.

The win came on the heels of another impressive showing when capturing the local Grade 3 Kelso on July 13, bringing his Spa ledger to 4-for-5 after wins last summer in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and Grade 3 Saranac.

Carl Spackler is named for the character from the cult classic film “Caddyshack,” and has a distinctive white marking on his face that makes him easy to recognize on the track.

“He’s a real consistent horse and is a real fan favorite with his name and his big white face,” said Brown. “He’s a neat horse, and it’s a great story. He’s a family-owned and bred horse, and their son-in-law Tyler Gaffalione rides him. It was really great for him to break through in the Fourstardave. It’s a race I hadn’t won here at Saratoga.”

The win was special for Brown, who lacks few of the Spa’s marquee races on his resume. A native of nearby Mechanicville, Brown spent his childhood attending the races at Saratoga with his parents, and fondly recalled rooting for the race’s namesake Fourstardave, who won at least one race every summer at Saratoga for eight straight years to earn the nickname “Sultan of Saratoga.”

“I remember betting on Fourstardave in the picnic area with my parents. It was one of the sure things of the meet that the horse would win. The [payouts] weren’t big, but as a kid I probably shouldn’t have been betting,” Brown said, with a laugh. “It was a nice race to break through in and it’s a race I hold in high regard. For the reasons I just said – being named after a great horse that was part of my childhood – to win the race was terrific, and my parents were here. That made it all the more special.”

For his victory, Carl Spackler was awarded a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar as part of the “Win and You’re In” series. The colt now holds a lifetime record of 9-6-1-0 with earnings of $979,475.

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She Feels Pretty set for G2 Lake Placid presented by Caesars Sportsbook

Lael Stables’ Grade 1-winner She Feels Pretty must be respected in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid presented by Caesars Sportsbook, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the Karakontie chestnut opened her sophomore season with a 5 3/4-length score in the one-mile Hilltop on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course and was last seen finishing a prominent third in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational when three-quarter lengths back of the victorious Cinderella’s Dream. That opponent set a new course record of 1:53.42 for the final time.

In the Lake Placid, She Feels Pretty cuts back in distance and has been tabbed as a 2-1 morning line favorite.

“It was probably a little too tough in the Belmont Oaks, so we will cut her back in distance,” said DeVaux, adding that she was just a nose back to Segesta for place-honors last-out. “She was not as good as the winner, but she was right there for second.”

Most recently, She Feels Pretty worked a half-mile in 49 seconds flat over the Oklahoma dirt on August 11, 20th-of-111 workers at the distance. She covered the same course one week prior in 48.48, a near-bullet ranking 2nd-of-112.

“She Feels Pretty is coming into this race in good order,” DeVaux said. “She’s been training really well since that race.”

She Feels Pretty boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 5-3-0-2 topped by a 4 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Natalma in September at Woodbine. She exited to a half-length third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Santa Anita Park.

DeVaux also entered last-out maiden winner Deep Satin, who drew post 1 and the conditioner said would be scratched.

DeVaux plans to send out another likely favorite with Grade 1-winner Vahva in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, a seven-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares. The 4-year-old Gun Runner bay is 2-for-3 this year, all at the distance, entering off scores in the Grade 3 Chicago in June and Grade 1 Derby City Distaff in May at Churchill Downs.

“She’s doing really well,” said DeVaux. “This is a race we targeted early in the year.”

A Ballerina score would boost Vahva’s chance of winning the Eclipse Award for Female Sprinter. A victory would also grant a “Win and You’re In” ticket to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, contested in November at Del Mar.

DeVaux said she also plans to run multiple graded stakes-placed Cagliostro on Travers Day in the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Forego, a main track sprint for older horses. The 4-year-old Upstart bay has not run less than one-mile in his 10 starts since an off-the-board finish over the Forego course and distance on debut in September 2022.

Cagliostro won the one-mile Listed Hanshin last-out on June 30 at Churchill Downs. The performance earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It is a little cutback in distance, but he ran so well at one-mile, it should be in his wheelhouse,” said DeVaux. “The Forego at seven furlongs is the best option.”

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Jimmy P points to G1 Grand National off G1 Jonathan Sheppard romp

Madaket Stables, Molly Willis and Paul Willis’ Jimmy P posted a dominant victory in Wednesday’s Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard at Saratoga Race Course, romping by 34 1/2 lengths to lead a Keri Brion-trained exacta over stablemate Going Country in the 2 3/8-mile steeplechase test for older horses.

“I try to base my approach with these jumpers around Saratoga, and it matters so much to win these races,” said Brion. “It really worked out this year.”

Jimmy P entered the Sheppard after two well-beaten Grade 1 efforts this year, including last out in the Beverly R. Steinman in June at Belmont at the Big A. The 6-year-old Slumber gelding finished second in this event last year, and broke through in a big way this year after tracking in fourth through the first half of the race under Stephen Mulqueen.

Mulqueen made a decisive move into the final turn to get the jump on the closing Abaan, a graded stakes-winner on the flat. The move proved more than enough to keep Abaan at bay as Jimmy P was never threatened and widened his margin down the stretch from the chasing Going Country, who was second throughout and held his position well for the placing.

Brion said she wasn’t surprised to see Mulqueen make the move he did.

“It was what we talked about doing, because he seems like a horse who can run all day. Knowing a horse like Abaan with proper flat form is behind you, the thought was to get a jump on him,” said Brion. “He [Mulqueen] did exactly what we talked about, and Abaan was starting to move as well, but there was nothing to worry about. When he made the move around the turn, that was wild.”

Though Jimmy P had failed to threaten in his last three outings at the Grade 1 level, Brion said she knew what kind of horse she was leading over yesterday.

“I don’t normally say this, but I was very confident with him into the race,” Brion said of Jimmy P. “I didn’t expect him to do it like that. Who would ever expect that? He was sensational. I’ve always felt like this was a really, really good horse, and I’ve only just now figured out what works for him.”

What worked for Jimmy P was an adjustment to his training regimen heading into the Sheppard as Brion pushed the talented gelding for a bit more in his morning exercise.

“The thing about him is that he’s a fat little thing and he just does what’s asked of him – he doesn’t train himself that hard in the morning,” said Brion, with a laugh. “I was training him with my other jumpers that don’t take as much training, and he needs to be trained harder. He’s had some flat horse-type work and I think he has to run himself fit. Moving forward, we’ll keep that in mind.”

Brion added that Jimmy P will skip the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Handicap this fall at Belmont at the Big A in favor of the Grade 1 American Grand National on October 19 at Far Hills. Brion is likely to point dual Grade 1-placed Freddy Flintshire to the Lonesome Glory.

“I think we’ll go straight to the Grand National with Jimmy; it’s just too close in timing,” said Brion. “Going Country is likely to skip the Lonesome Glory, too, but I have Freddy Flintshire and he’ll go there. Trying to get longevity out of these horses is a big thing.”

Jimmy P improved his record to 21-5-2-2 with $253,615 in total purse earnings. He was bred in Kentucky by Head of Plains Partners and Madaket Stables.

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Awesome Czech nets career-best 82 BSF for Suzie O’Cain

Barry Schwartz’s New York homebred Awesome Czech was an impressive 2 3/4-length winner of Wednesday’s $125,000 Suzie O’Cain, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for state-bred sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Horacio De Paz, the Mendelssohn bay traveled 9 1/2 lengths back early before displaying an “awesome” turn-of-foot under Manny Franco to win impressively over stakes-winner Brocknardini and stablemate Munny Grab. The performance earned a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It was good. We were expecting her to run well and she delivered. It was good to see,” said De Paz. “She’s doing good. She came out of it well. We will see what is out there and where we can spot her. She looks to be in good order.”

Awesome Czech graduated at third asking in September at Belmont at the Big A while making her grass debut. She followed with a trio of open-company stakes attempts there, landing fifth in the Listed Chelsey Flower in October, a close second in the Tepin in November and fourth in the Listed Wild Applause in her seasonal debut in June.

De Paz thinks Awesome Czech has the necessary ability for winning an open stakes but a next race is still up in the air.

“I’m just trying to take a look at what is available distance-wise. I know there’s some races going one mile, but I think she is better going longer than that,” said De Paz. “I’ll keep her against 3-year-olds. Those three and up stakes are tough. I mean she could run into [Grade 1-placed stablemate] Be Your Best in those type of races. I’d rather keep her in 3-year-old company right now.”

De Paz was pleased with Munny Grab’s show-honors, where she closed from 14 lengths back to miss second by just a head to the George Weaver-trained Brocknardini.

“She was doing really well. I knew it would be tough against Awesome Czech, but she fit in the group and it wasn’t a bad effort on her part.”

The conditioner also saddled Red Burgundy [fifth] and Downtown Channel [seventh]. He said he was pleased with Red Burgundy showing the way on the front end under Dylan Davis off a layoff since October.

“Dylan didn’t do anything wrong, she is just very forward and strong. I think the third quarter down the backside was a little quick and maybe cost her a bit. At the quarter-pole, it still kind of looked like she was going to get there,” said De Paz. “No worse for wear for her. Off the layoff, being so aggressive and strong, I’m happy with her. We will probably regroup with her in allowance company.”

The Noble Mission gray is a New York homebred for Schwartz’s Stonewall Farm.

De Paz said that upcoming stakes action could include Schwartz’s graded stakes placed state-bred Stonewall Star trying the grass in the 1 1/16-mile $200,000 Yaddo, for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-and-up, on August 25 here.

Out of the Proud Citizen mare Jonata, Stonewall Star is a half-sister to state-bred stakes winning turfer Whatlovelookslike for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

“Whatlovelookslike, who is a half to her, may be going in that race as well, so that would be interesting. On paper, you’d be like why would you do that [run on turf]? It opens more doors for her,” De Paz explained.

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HOF jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Jena Antonucci to sign Arcangelo poster by Greg Montgomery on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Jena Antonucci will be signing posters of 2023 Eclipse Award winner Arcangelo to benefit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Museum’s satellite location at the track, the former Saratoga Walk of Fame space.

Renowned artist Greg Montgomery has produced exclusive limited-edition poster prints featuring Arcangelo, Castellano, and Antonucci for the Museum.

Last year, Castellano and Antonucci teamed up to win the 2023 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets with Arcangelo, providing Antonucci the distinction of being the first woman to train a winner of a Triple Crown race. It was also Castellano’s first Belmont Stakes win, completing a career sweep of the Classics for the 2017 Hall of Fame inductee.

Arcangelo went on to win the 2023 Grade 1 Travers and secure a record-extending seventh win in the Mid-Summer Derby for Castellano, while Antonucci became the second woman to train a Travers winner, joining Mary Hirsch, who won the 1938 edition with Thanksgiving.

Each autographed poster is $20. Any additional items fans would like signed will also be $20 per autograph. The Museum’s open-air satellite facility is located behind the grandstand just across the pedestrian path from the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call (518) 584-0400.