It was worth the wait. After twice being rescheduled and finally run eight days late due to rain, the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga stayed on the lawn and featured a breakout performance by 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (c, 4, Lope de Vega {Ire})–Zindaya, by More Than Ready), who was taking the first Grade I event of his career after winning three other graded races, all at Saratoga. As a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, the Fourstardave gives Carl Spackler a fees-paid berth into racing's Championship Day in November.
Fresh off a Jul. 13 GIII Kelso Stakes win after an out-of-character fifth in the GIII Poker Stakes June 8, both at the Spa, Carl Spackler tracked MSW Strong Quality (Quality Road) from the gate behind :24.76 and :49.24 fractions after SW Money Supply (Practical Joke) blew the start with a leap into the air. Strong Quality looked strong on the lead as Carl Spackler kept a clear-cut second and everyone else gave them space. Carl Spackler collared the frontrunner at the top of the stretch, then went by in a matter of strides to open up and put the race to bed in short order, kicking clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths under a hand ride. More Than Looks (More Than Ready), making his first start since a sixth in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, closed from the penultimate spot to nab second over favored Ottoman Fleet (GB) (See The Stars {Ire}), who won a pair of graded events at Churchill in his last two and nosed out Strong Quality for the show.
“This sure looked like the horse that was sitting on the big number,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “He was capable of it, he had flirted with running a monster number before. He wins. I had a feeling today, and then with just a little bit of cut in the ground, I think he's even just a little bit better–or sometimes with soft turf races, it is that the other horses can't handle it is the issue, which really makes the ones that can stand out. I really felt today would be his day and it was.”
The Fourstardave is named for the beloved 'Sultan of Saratoga,' who won a remarkable eight years in a row at the Spa. This race has regularly provided special wins, including the last two years with just-retired fan favorite Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed). This year was no exception. Not only did Carl Spackler's win mark the first victory in the Fourstardave for trainer Brown, who has won just about every other major turf race in the country, but it also gave a special score to the Edwards family. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione is the son-in-law of e Five Racing principal Bob Edwards, who bred Carl Spackler through his Fifth Avenue Bloodstock. Carl Spackler's dam was one of the first horses Edwards bought when he made his first forays into racing.
“This is why we do it,” said Edwards. “For us, it is a family affair. Tyler now is part of the family and to be on a horse that we bred, my son-in-law wins a Grade I in Saratoga–the Fourstardave. Our lawn jockey gets put in front of the Fourstardave, it's special. I get to see it for another year. It's just an unbelievable event for us.
“A special horse for us, a homebred out of Zindaya. My first win ever was with Zindaya.”
Like the aforementioned Casa Creed and Fourstardave, Carl Spackler seems to have an affinity for Saratoga. In addition to his Kelso win last out, the handsome chestnut won his first career stakes event last year in the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes and followed it up with a win in the GIII Saranac Stakes, all at the Spa.
Pedigree Notes:
Ballylinch Stud's Lope de Vega (Ire) is the sire of Carl Spackler and 72 other graded/group winners from his 134 black-type winners worldwide. His 20 black-type winners in 2024 put him in a tie for second in that category this year with Dubawi (Ire) among all sires standing in the Northern Hemisphere. The European pair are just two behind the U.S.'s Into Mischief. Interestingly, Carl Spackler's broodmare sire is the late More Than Ready, who also is the sire of Fourstardave runner-up More Than Looks. More Than Ready has 179 stakes winners out of his daughters.
Like her Fourstardave-winning son, Zindaya raced for e Five Racing. She won four black-type events in the U.S., including the 2016 GII Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita. The mare has a 2-year-old full-brother to Carl Spackler named Sandtrap (Ire), who sold as a yearling in Book 1 at Tattersalls October last year for 450,000gns to A.C. Elliott. The mare delivered an Uncle Mo colt Feb. 15 and was bred back to Justify.
CARL SPACKLER is taking his superior intelligence and superior horsepower to the @BreedersCup after winning the Grade 1 @FanDuel Fourstardave with @Tyler_Gaff aboard for trainer Chad Brown and @e5Racing! pic.twitter.com/C6ofpM4AZF
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2024
Sunday, Saratoga
FANDUEL FOURSTARDAVE H.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-11, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:36.63, gd.
1–CARL SPACKLER (IRE), 122, c, 4, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Zindaya (GSW, $567,240), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Aristocratic Lady, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: American Dynasty, by Quiet American
1ST GRADE I WIN. (350,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT).'TDN Rising Star'. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-0, $979,475. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–More Than Looks, 120, c, 4, More Than Ready–Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Victory Racing Partners; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $100,000.
3–Ottoman Fleet (GB), 123, g, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Innevera (Fr), by Motivator (GB). (€290,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 425,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin, LLC; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville & Alain Jathiere (GB); T-Charles Appleby. $60,000.
Margins: 3HF, 1HF, NO. Odds: 2.05, 2.90, 1.50.
Also Ran: Strong Quality, Major Dude, Money Supply. Scratched: Master of The Seas (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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