United States of America
White Abarrio dominates Whitney for Richard Dutrow, Jr. barn
Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., has been on the sidelines for more than 10 years after having his licence suspended by New York State racing regulators, enjoyed by far his biggest win since returning in the spring courtesy of White Abarrio (USA) (Race Day {USA}), a jaw-dropping 6.25l, stalk-and-pounce winner of Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Whitney S. at Saratoga.
Zandon (USA) (Upstart {USA}) completed the exacta while the heavily favoured Cody's Wish (USA) (Curlin {USA}), looking for his first career win beyond one mile while drawn widest of all in post six, had to settle for a distant third after a flat-footed start.
Previously campaigned by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano's White Abarrio enjoyed his breakthrough victory in the 2022 G1 Curlin Florida Derby prior to a 16th-place finish in the G1 Kentucky Derby. He was also second in the G3 Ohio Derby late last June and a close third in the G1 Cigar Mile H. in December. The handsome grey, eighth at a well-backed in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. on January 28, made one prior start for Dutrow, finishing a very good third with a 106 Beyer Speed Figure behind Cody's Wish and Zandon after stumbling at the start in the G1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park June 10.
“Very, very happy for everybody involved,” said Dutrow, who was celebrating his 64th birthday on Saturday. “The owners trusted me to train the horse and now we get to go further with him now. We can even think about the (G1) Breeders' Cup Classic. After we've been looking at him and trying to figure him out, he runs huge between two and three months. Today was two months, last time he ran was about three months. He ran big last time, even though he didn't get the money, we were extremely happy. We're sitting in a good spot. We're very happy.”
Originally ticketed for the seven-furlong G1 Forego S. at the Spa on August, 26, connections called an audible for the Whitney.
“If they (Elite Power and Gunite) would have both run up the track (in last Saturday's G1 A.G. Vanderbilt), then maybe we would have (gone to the Forego),” Dutrow said. “But those two horses ran their races. Even if we went to the Forego, we would not have been afraid to do that. We would have went in with confidence because we have a nice horse.”
Dutrow, trainer of 2008 dual Classic winner Big Brown (USA), saddled subsequent Horse of the Year Saint Liam (USA) to a painful second as the favourite in the 2005 Whitney.
“We're headed towards the Breeders' Cup the right way and that's a thrill,” Dutrow said. “We don't want to run him again, we want to go straight to the race.”
Last term's G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish, meanwhile, had a six-race winning streak snapped in the Whitney.
“He jumped okay and the second jump, I don't know, the ground broke underneath and he felt very awkward from behind,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “That might have taken a little out of me, but I don't think he ran his race today. It might have been the distance. When I hit the three-eighths pole, I was very worried. I had never got this feeling with him before and today I knew I was in trouble. I tried to keep him confident to keep him going, but right when he switched to the right (lead), he got flat on me. I had to ask him at the three-eighths and start riding and he started picking it up, but he wasn't quite as fast as I wanted.”
Program Trading tenacious in Saratoga Derby Invitational
Klaravich Stables' Program Trading (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) showed grit and determination that belied his relative inexperience and dug down deep to stave off a bid from tough-trip Webslinger (USA) (Constitution {USA}) to win Saturday's G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational over a Mellon Turf Course left yielding by torrential rains that spelled doom to the final four races on Friday's program. Favoured Far Bridge (USA) (English Channel {USA}) plugged on at one pace to be third. It was a second Saratoga Derby for Seth Klarman's operation following on from Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the COVID-delayed 2020 renewal. Like that one, Program Trading was also sourced out of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
“Me and Flavien (Prat) talked about if (Mondego) was going to leave out of there or not,” winning trainer Chad Brown said. “He was the only other speed horse. We were just a little faster on paper. We decided to break, stay off the rail and just see if we could nurse him along. He passed early in the stretch. For an inexperienced horse to come back on the inside, he showed a tonne of heart and I think it might be even a little softer down on the inside where he was. He really overcame a lot in the stretch to show his heart and ability.”
Brown was non-committal about an appearance in the G3 Jockey Club Derby Aqueduct on October 7.
“I'm not sure. I'll have to think away,” he said. “That's an awful long way to go. We're just going to enjoy this win here. He's only ran three times and he's three. I'm hoping to have this horse for many years down the road.”
Program Trading becomes the 119th worldwide stakes winner for the Ballylinch Stud-based Lope De Vega (Ire).
Pretty Mischievous wins Test; Maple Leaf Mel euthanised after fatal injury
The unbeaten New York-bred filly Maple Leaf Mel (USA) (Cross Traffic {USA}), well on her way to a powerful, front-running win in Saturday's G1 Test S. at Saratoga, tragically went amiss in the shadow of the wire and had to be euthanised on the track.
The G1 Kentucky Oaks winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), racing one from last for most of the seven-furlong journey, crossed the wire first, a head in front of longshot Clearly Unhinged (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}). 'Rising Star' Munnys Gold (USA) (Munnings {USA}) was third.
Maple Leaf Mel led by 2.05l at the stretch call and was well clear and being geared down by Joel Rosario approaching the wire as Pretty Mischievous and Clearly Unhinged gave chase.
Maple Leaf Mel, tragically, took a bad step about 70 yards from home and fell, unseating Rosario.
Both Pretty Mischievous and Clearly Unhinged were steered clear of their ill-fated and fallen rival and Rosario, and hit the wire together, with the former narrowly in front.
Maple Leaf Mel, owned by legendary former football coach Bill Parcells of August Dawn Farm, was humanely euthanized on the track with a catastrophic injury to her right front, per Dr. Luis Castro.
Rosario incurred a cut to his lower lip and was taken to Albany Medical Center via a private vehicle for stitches, but was otherwise alert and in good order. He was off the remainder of his mounts.
“It's just cruel what happened,” winning trainer Brendan Walsh said. “I just feel terrible for (trainer) Melanie (Giddings) and that whole team. That must be gut-wrenching. My filly ran her race, but that's another story. I don't know what to think right now.”
Added Gaffalione: “To be honest, I'm a bit lost for words right now. I feel so bad for the connections of Mel. It's hard to enjoy this one thinking about that. My condolences go out to their team. Hopefully they're able to get through this and God bless them.”
“The health and safety of horses and jockeys competing at NYRA tracks is our highest priority and one that stands above all other considerations,” said Pat McKenna, NYRA VP of Communications. “NYRA, HISA and the New York State Gaming Commission will closely review the circumstances around this incident to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment for racing and training at Saratoga Racecourse.”
Adare Manor takes fourth straight with Clement L. Hirsch win
Adare Manor (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) had to keep a late challenger at bay, but the 3-5 favorite kept her win streak in tact with this score in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch as well as secured a spot in the gate for the G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. The hard-trying Arizona-bred Desert Dawn (USA) (Cupid {USA}) fought hard but had to settle for second while an equally determined Elm Drive (USA) (Mohaymen {USA}) held her spot for third after setting the pace.
Europe
Marquand stars again on Nathaniel's Sumo Sam in the Lillie Langtry
Saturday was all about “Mr Goodwood” as Tom Marquand again led his weighing room comrades a merry dance on the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. shock winner Sumo Sam (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
As he had on Tuesday's brilliant G1 Goodwood Cup hero Quickthorn (GB) by the same sire, the meeting's leading rider made all on Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib's homebred 3-year-old on ground turned heavy by ever-worsening conditions. Far from caving in with two furlongs remaining, the Paul and Oliver Cole-trained 25-1 shot whose previous best was a third in Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly S. continued to pile it on. At the end of the mile-and-three-quarter feature, she had won with relish by 8.05l from River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in an exhibition of power in the testing ground.
Co-trainer Oliver Cole said of the winner, who had also been third behind Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. here in June, was rewarding the efforts of the Whatcombe team having become renowned as a slow-starter. “Sumo Sam has always been a very good filly,” Cole said. “We have done a lot of stalls work with her since her last run. In her last two races, she has been left and that hasn't been helpful. Full credit to the team at home and thanks very much to the guys at the stalls who are the unsung heroes. Also to the boys who have ridden her in the stalls at home, because I know I wouldn't ride her.”
Sumo Sam becomes the 32nd stakes winner for Nathaniel (Ire).
OTI Racing to the fore in France
The Australian-based OTI Racing were represented by Sevenna’s Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Listed Prix Michel Houyvet over 2800 metres at Deauville.
The progressive André Fabre-trained 3-year-old was having his first start in stakes company and showed he’s up to the class with a 1.25l victory.
Sevenna’s Knight is the eighth foal from the Galileo (Ire) mare Sevenna (Ire). She won the G3 Lillie Langtry S. and has produced the Group 3 winners Sevenna Star (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice) and Savanne (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Sevenna’s Knight is the 54th stakes winner for Camelot (GB).
