Saratoga: The Fall Place to Be

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If the 2024 racing season at Saratoga Race Course wrapped up Labor Day weekend, why are so many of the best horsemen in the country still sticking around?

Overlooking the famed Oklahoma Training Track, and, at the moment, enveloped in bright fall foliage, the former home to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) seems like a good place to start.

“What did we win, five the last two years? That's not bad,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said with a smile standing outside of his office at Barn 80 as training hours began to wind down on a gorgeous Saturday morning in mid-October at the Spa.

That, of course, is five, as in, five Breeders' Cup winners.

Cody's Wish successfully defended his GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile title at Santa Anita last year with a dramatic victory over next-out GI Pegasus World Cup winner National Treasure (Quality Road). Two-time champion sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) made it two straight authoritative scores in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Just F Y I (Justify) capped her perfect three-for-three championship season in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. And, for good measure, Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) was third in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.

The common denominator? Mott prepared all four at his Saratoga base before heading out to the Championships.

“The (Oklahoma) track is good,” Mott said. “The weather is good. We enjoy it. The horses enjoy it. Some of them will grow a little fuzzy coat because they're getting ready for the colder weather. But they're doing well. They do well up here. I think they do well in the cold weather.”

Hall of Famer Bill Mott celebrating the first of Cody's Wish's two wins in the Dirt Mile | Breeders' Cup/Eclipse Sportswire

Mott continued, “Some people don't like it because they grow that little fuzzy coat and they don't look like a horse with a summer coat. You go out to California and they're all gonna have dapples all over and have those summer coats on them. But that's just the difference in the weather between the two places. I think you'll see that when some of the horses come from Europe, too.”

Mott will be well-represented by a quartet at this weekend's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, led by Glassman Racing's sensational GI Whitney Stakes winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit), who looks to bounce back in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic following a disappointing fifth in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 1.

Arthur's Ride gearing up for ⁦@BreedersCup⁩ Classic over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga pic.twitter.com/KPEaUzYiMn

— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 12, 2024

George Krikorian's popular 7-year-old mare War Like Goddess (English Channel), just a half-length shy of a third straight win against the boys in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at the Big A Sept. 28, will be making her fourth and potentially final trip to the event in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She has been consigned by Hill 'N' Dale at Xalapa, agent, as Hip 210 to Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit) heads to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint after turning back to seven furlongs with a second-place finish in the GI Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga Aug. 24. The well-related Juddmonte homebred was previously second after looking long gone in the 1 1/16-mile GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes three weeks earlier at Del Mar.

Lawrence Goichman homebred Scythian (Tiz the Law) punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with an upset victory in the 'Win and You're In' GII Miss Grillo Stakes at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet Oct. 6.

Mott has won a total of 15 Breeders' Cup races throughout his brilliant training career.

“I had some monsters going last year,” Mott said. “I wouldn't want to say I was overconfident, but I knew I was going with either the favorite or second choice in each race. Two horses (Cody's Wish and Elite Power) were already Breeders' Cup winners, they had already proven that they were that quality. It wasn't like we were guessing.”

As for this year's group, Mott concluded, “They're all nice enough to warrant giving them a chance and seeing what we've got.”

All four had their final breezes at Del Mar Oct. 27.

Grizzly Bear Season

Speaking of monsters, or in this case, ahem, 'Grizzly Bears,' trainer Ken McPeek had one stabled at the Oklahoma Annex in Barn 86 up until late October.

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) trained (and ran) like she owned the place shortly after putting on a dominating display on the first Friday in May in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

Thorpedo Anna feeling good after breezing on a picture perfect autumn morning at the Spa | Sherackatthetrack

In a league of her own in Saratoga's GI DK Horse Acorn Stakes June 7 and GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 20, the 'TDN Rising Star' lost absolutely nothing in defeat finishing a painful second to fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light)–more on him shortly–in a GI DraftKings Travers Stakes for the ages.

A just-in-time winner after some anxious moments at 10 cents on the dollar in the GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx Sept. 21–her fourth win at the top level during her brilliant 3-year-old campaign–the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling steal concluded her preparations for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, her first try versus older fillies and mares, with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.24 (1/3) over the Oklahoma Oct. 26. The move was recorded in company with her multiple stakes-placed stablemate and 4-year-old gelding Denington (Gun Runner).

Thorpedo Anna is campaigned in partnership by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing.

“She's in a really good routine up here and she's been very happy,” McPeek, back in town after purchasing 21 yearlings at Tattersalls October and Fasig-Tipton October, said after watching her final breeze from the backstretch.

So why exactly did the Kentucky-based McPeek decide to keep Thorpedo Anna at the Spa all this time?

“I've got a solid team up here and I wanted the continuity of it all,” he replied. “I also didn't want to change surfaces. Once a horse gets used to a surface and their routine, I think it's important to keep 'em in it if you can.”

He continued, “Normally, I would've brought her and any others back to Kentucky. But because we've got a good set up up here and she was doing good, I left her. It's the first time I've ever done that–this is the latest we've ever stayed. It's a beautiful place to train. It's nice and quiet. She's thrived here. There wasn't any reason to switch it up. It seemed like the right thing to do.”

McPeek concluded, “It's gorgeous up here, it's really beautiful.”

The ageless Danny Ramsey (has 74 ever looked better?), a longtime employee of McPeek's and the regular exercise rider of Thorpedo Anna, is not lacking for confidence heading to the big dance.

“I'm looking for her to win the Breeders' Cup. I'd be shocked if she got beat,” the affable Ramsey said of the Distaff 4-5 morning-line favorite in between sets as Thorpedo Anna drew a nice crowd of media (and blowing leaves) while cooling out following her Oct. 12 breeze.

“She's great. She's beautiful. She's just going with the flow. She really is. The track is much better (in the fall). With a lot of horses on that track (in the summer), it gets real real deep on you. But now the track is pretty good because there's not a lot of horses training on it. Kenny made the decision (to keep her at Saratoga), and he made the right one, because she gallops beautiful on this track, she really does.”

Thorpedo Anna cooling out back at the ⁦@KennyMcPeek⁩ barn following her breeze pic.twitter.com/GjopkxULeR

— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 12, 2024

Dermot Magner, McPeek's boots on the ground since setting up shop at the Spa this spring, added, “She just likes it here. She's in a good rhythm here. She likes the Oklahoma track. She's breezed weekly here consistently and ran consistently well from training here, too. The weather is also a big factor and we've been pretty lucky.”

McPeek, also responsible for this year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), will be looking to break through with his first Breeders' Cup winner after getting shut out with his previous 37 previous starters. McPeek became the first trainer to pull of the Oaks/Derby double since Ben Jones did so in 1952.

Pletcher Power

With the rising sun beginning to reveal that aforementioned autumn backdrop worthy of a postcard, Mike Repole's Breeders' Cup-bound homebred City of Light full-brothers Fierceness and Mentee looked the part while training in their white bridles during Todd Pletcher's 7 a.m. set over the Oklahoma on the second Saturday in October.

Fierceness enjoying the fall at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic morning-line 3-1 second-choice Fierceness remained at Pletcher's Saratoga base following his heart-stopping victory over Thorpedo Anna in the Travers. His 2-year-old full-brother and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf contender Mentee returned upstate after making his grass debut a winning one in the GIII Futurity Stakes at Aqueduct Oct. 4.

Pletcher's Saratoga base was also the home of GII FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes winner Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) (Turf) as well as narrow GII Pilgrim Stakes runner-up and maiden of three career starts Noble Confessor (Quality Road) (Juvenile Turf) this fall.

Pletcher's remaining four Breeders' Cup entrants–Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Distaff), Gate to Wire (Munnings) (Juvenile Turf Sprint), Tapit Trice (Tapit) (Classic) and Tenacious Leader (Not This Time) (Juvenile Turf)–were split between Belmont Park and Keeneland, respectively. Pletcher has won a total of 15 Breeders' Cup races.

“The main benefit (of staying in Saratoga) is that the surface seems to really do well this time of year,” Pletcher said. “It's the lightest traffic flow that it has during the course of the season, so that's part of it. The cooler weather–we've had some crisp mornings–but not much different than you would have in Lexington. We were in a position that if we felt like we needed to make a move, we could, but with things going well, we decided to not mess with it.”

Breeders' Cup Brothers

Repole paid $200,000 for Fierceness and Mentee's second dam Nonna Mia (Empire Maker)–named in honor of his grandmother–at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and she was a talented 2-year-old in her own right, breaking her maiden by 12 lengths at second asking at Belmont Park before finishing third to stablemate Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) in the 2009 GI Frizette Stakes.

Full-brothers Mentee and Fierceness with Luis Parrilla at Todd Pletcher's Saratoga barn | Sarah Andrew

Nonna Mia, a close relative of MGSW sire Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile), was an immediate hit in the breeding shed, first producing the multiple stakes-placed Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor) before a mating with Uncle Mo resulted in Outwork, the 2016 GI Wood Memorial S. hero.

Fierceness and Mentee were produced by her third foal, the 10-year-old mare Nonna Bella. She is a daughter of Repole's 2011 GI Travers S. hero Stay Thirsty.

“Physically, they're different types,” Pletcher said. “Mentee is a more compact sort. They're both very good-looking horses, they just don't look like full-brothers, necessarily. But they are both conformational very good horses and have similar personalities in a lot of ways. They're both pretty laid back, quiet colts on a daily basis that on occasion will throw you a curve ball and rear up like Fierceness did in the paddock at the Jim Dandy. But for the most part, they're really straightforward, easy horses to train. They'll go easy if you want them to, they'll go fast if you want them to. Pretty push button that way.”

Pletcher added, “It's a credit to Mike's program. I know those mares (Nonna Mia and Nonna Bella) are important to him and he named them after his grandmother. It's kind of cool that this mare has turned out to be a real blue-hen and just keeps giving.”

Only six mares–Hasili (Ire) (dam of Banks Hill {GB}/Intercontinental {GB}), Leslie's Lady (Beholder/Mendelssohn), Primal Force (Awesome Again/Macho Uno), Senta's Dream (GB) (Iridessa {Ire}/Order of Australia {Ire}), Sweet Life (Life Is Sweet/Sweet Catomine) and Win Approval (World Approval/Miesque's Approval)–have produced multiple Breeders' Cup winners.

“It's amazing having these full-brothers racing in the Breeders' Cup,” Repole said. “Nonna Mia and Nonna Bella have always been special because they were named after my beloved grandmother. That the sire of Nonna Bella is Stay Thirsty, who won the Travers for me, is extremely special.”

Repole added that he currently owns approximately 50 broodmares.

The Grass is Greener

Off the strength of top-level wins in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 24 and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Aqueduct Sept. 28, 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) has established himself as the leading hope for 'Team America' in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The LSU Stables colorbearer was stabled with Christophe Clement's Saratoga division–overseen by his son and assistant trainer Miguel Clement–since the spring.

Far Bridge (outside) working over the Oklahoma turf Oct. 25 | Sarah Andrew

“The only negative is perhaps the weather,” Miguel Clement said while watching the day's final set train through binoculars over the sun-splashed Oklahoma Training Track. “Because it really changes season-wise on you. You might be more prone to having a thicker coat. It's probably the only negative. The positives are that you're on the same track, you have a great training surface here, there's less traffic and you have access to turf. There are many benefits, but it's without a doubt that we are about 10 degrees cooler than on Long Island. Believe it or not, we're just three hours north.”

As the $455-million transformation of Belmont Park continues, there is currently no option to train on grass downstate. With Oklahoma's turf course looking as pristine and green as it did when first opening for business this season in April, Far Bridge concluded his preparations for the 1 1/2-mile Turf with a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.11 (1/2) Oct. 25.

“The majority of Far Bridge's works have been taking place on the turf and we're very comfortable with this turf course and we're able to read his works quite well,” Miguel Clement said. “He shows an affinity here. He's got winning ways at the moment, so let's maybe not try to change too much.”

Clement added, “I think he's already established and stamped himself as the best horse in America on the grass. Nevertheless, the Breeders' Cup is no easy task. We not only have to face the best Americans, but also the best in the world.”

Big Invasion (Declaration of War), beaten just a neck in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, will attempt to go one better for the Clements in the five-furlong dash Saturday. He was based at Belmont this fall.

Leading Candidate for Juvenile Turf Sprint

Governor Sam (Improbable) will carry a four-race winning streak (there's no way he's anything near that 12-1 morning-line quote, right?) into Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Trainer George Weaver sent him out for a four-furlong spin in :50.66 (1/1) over the Oklahoma turf Oct. 17. For Weaver, a former assistant to the legendary D. Wayne Lukas as well as Pletcher, Saratoga is home.

“This is our base and has been ever since I've been on my own,” Weaver said. “We keep horses at Belmont as well, but I spend the majority of my time in Saratoga from May to November. Obviously, it's a great place to live and a great town, but the horses do very well up here and we've done very well basing our horses out of here for all these years. There's access to the turf course and the track is great to train over.”

He continued, “After the meet ends, it quiets down quickly as far as the town and the amount of horses up here training. We've had a very nice September/October for the most part. It's been really nice. Every year you can expect it to cool off quicker than it would down by Belmont Park. You get some pretty crisp mornings up here.”

Governor Sam, a $50,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling turned $275,000 OBS April breezer, is campaigned by Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables. His four career victories have each come over four different turf courses, led by his neck victory in Keeneland's Indian Summer Stakes last out Oct. 6.

“He's put together a real nice resume as a 2-year-old, he's undefeated ever since getting beat in his first start in a stake race (Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream May 11) that probably was a little bit of a push,” Weaver said. “I respect that it's the Breeders' Cup, they don't give these races away, and I'm sure these will be nice horses that we're competing against. I'm happy with the condition of the horse and the way he's training going into it. At the end of the day, he's gonna have to go over there and prove that he's the best of this group again.”

Saratoga Saffie

After enjoying a breakthrough meeting at Saratoga this summer saddling 11 winners from 35 starters (31%), it was hardly a surprise to see the blue-and-yellow saddle towels of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. still in action over the Oklahoma once the leaves began to change color.

Joseph will saddle four Breeders' Cup runners this weekend: Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) (Dirt Mile), Batucada (Union Rags) (Distaff), Honor D Lady (Honor Code) (Distaff) and Soul of an Angel (Atreides) (F/M Sprint).

Skippylongstocking (outside) breezing at Saratoga Oct. 25 | Sarah Andrew

Both Skippylongstocking, third in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and second in the GII Woodward Stakes Sept. 28, and GII Beldame Stakes runner-up Batucada, recorded their final breezes for the Championships in Saratoga Oct. 25. Honor D Lady remained in Lexington following a fifth-place finish in the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes Oct. 6 while Soul of an Angel stayed in South Florida following her win in the GIII Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Sept. 21.

“They were all in Saratoga the whole summer,” Joseph said.

“Last year was the first year we did it (kept a division in Saratoga after the meet). Skippy ran from there last year and he ran third in the Mile. We liked staying there after, it's a good place to train. It's very quiet. We did well with the horses when they left from there. We figured we'd follow the same protocol.”

He continued, “You always try to learn and get better. We learned that getting in there early was a plus. The horses acclimatize and they get to work over the track. It's quite deep early in the meet. We did it last year and we followed it this year. That's gonna be our routine that we're gonna keep now. Try to get in there in May and stay to the end of October. I feel like It compliments the horses. They strive up there and they gain weight. There's a lot of grass areas to graze and they run well even when they leave there to ship to other races. It's a good base that we want to keep going.”

“Saratoga has been good to us,” Joseph concluded.

'The Best Place in the World to Train a 2-Year-Old'

Snowyte (Good Magic), a maiden of two career starts for trainer Danny Gargan, including a distant runner-up finish in the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct Oct. 5, will look to emulate her leading young sire with an upset victory on the 'Future Stars Friday' program.

Good Magic also finished second in his first two career starts, including the GI Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, before graduating in style in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Sealed With a Kiss: Danny Gargan celebrates Dornoch's Belmont Stakes victory | Sarah Andrew

“I think she can be any kind of horse in the future,” Gargan said in these same pages in our 'Second Chances' series following her runner-up finish on debut this summer.

Snowyte, a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by Pine Racing Stables, Belmar Racing and Breeding, LLC and R. A. Hill Stable. Breeder Don Alberto Stable is also on the ownership line.

Snowyte breezed four furlongs for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in :49.77 (6/29) over the Oklahoma Oct. 18 before shipping to Del Mar.

“I couldn't rave enough about that surface and the job that (NYRA's Executive Vice President, Operations and Capital Projects) Glen (Kozak) does,” said Gargan, who trained the recently retired Dornoch (Good Magic) to a 17-1 upset victory in this year's GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

“I've been going up there for three years and we've already won a Classic race. I credit Saratoga. I credit Glen and the track maintenance crew. It's the best place in the world to train a 2-year-old. That's why I go there. The big key is keeping them sound and keeping them racing. Being able to train on those tracks is the key to where the future stars come from. It's a tremendous place. You've got so many good horses that are trained up there and stay sound and run and become legends. I'm fortunate enough that I've trained one.”

Stay Until November

Open annually for training from April to November, the Oklahoma features a one-mile dirt surface and a seven-furlong turf course. There's also access to the infield for galloping.

The New York Racing Association completed a major renovation of the Oklahoma in the spring of 2021, adding a limestone base, a renovated surface layer, a modernized drainage system and an inner safety rail. The track was also widened by 10-to-14 feet. Serving as consultants on the Oklahoma renovation were Dr. Mick Peterson and the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory.

“The work that was done up at the Oklahoma, it just complimented what that track was and what Saratoga is for spring and fall training, really,” Kozak said.

“The capital that was invested up there got it just the way we wanted from the ground up with the drainage, base, and cushion, and having that be consistent with what we have on the main-track side and also what we're building at Belmont for the main track.”

Kozak concluded, “The thing about Saratoga that's so special is a horse can be a horse up there. It's a great environment.”