In a story reminiscent of 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), Carson's Run (c, 3, Cupid–Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes) found a sequel to his own fairy tale Sunday, detailed last year here and here. The West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey runner, a winner June 23 of the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park, doubled up on his juvenile form, adding the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Sunday to his GI Summer Stakes victory last year at Woodbine. He crossed the Saratoga wire Sunday under a rainbow.
“To walk out in front of the big screen and to see that rainbow…it was good,” said an emotional Terry Finley of West Point.
After tossing his head several times in the gate, Carson's Run left cleanly and was taken back to his customary spot at the rear. The chestnut trailed early as Izzy d'Oro (Get Stormy), fourth behind Carson's Run in the Tale of the Cat, set a :23.83 and :48.30 pace while opening up on the field. As they bunched up on the final turn, Carson's Run tipped outside to circle the field several paths out. Despite GII Pennine Ridge Stakes winner and GI Belmont Derby third Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) getting first dibs on the front, Carson's Run ran him down in the final strides to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Legend of Time outfinished GSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map), who was making his second start on the turf after a runner-up finish last out in the GIII Manila Stakes, at the wire. Final time for the 1 3/16 miles was 1:55.81. After originally slated for Aug. 3, the Saratoga Derby had been rescheduled twice due to rain.
“I can't put it into words,” said jockey Dylan Davis. “I've known him since the beginning, so I knew he handled the course well. He gets a little nerve built up this year, but just working with him, talking him out of it, I was able to take him, ease him back, and then tuck him in, then he switched off for me very nicely. I loved going into that second turn, he was getting into the bridle nicely, in a good rhythm, just trying to work out a trip nice and easy for him, working my way to the outside. Once I got to the outside, I was rooting for him, I was like 'Come on Carson, let's get going,' and he responded very nicely.”
The Saratoga Derby marked the first Grade I at Saratoga for Davis, who also won the Mahony Stakes earlier on Sunday's card with Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Davis was aboard Carson's Run for the Summer score at Woodbine and the duo also placed in last year's GIII With Anticipation Stakes at the Spa. The 9 1/2 furlongs of the Saratoga Derby marked the colt's longest foray yet.
The race earned Carson's Run an invitation and an automatic berth into Australia's $5-million G1 Cox Plate, which will be held Oct. 26. Trainer Christophe Clement was not ready to commit, but said he would consider the trip.
Pedigree Notes:
Cupid, who originally stood at Coolmore America, spent the 2024 breeding season at Atlanta Hall in Maryland. Sire of 2021 Canadian champion 2-year-old God of Love and another six black-type winners, he also has additional 2024 Santa Anita GSW Desert Dawn and Saratoga's Aug. 7 Johnstone Mile Handicap winner Sterling Silver. Cupid has four graded winners overall.
West Point had picked up Carson's Run for $170,000 at OBS Spring last year after he had twice sold for lesser amounts at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton.
“I guess that's the beautiful thing about the partners and in particular David Ingordo, our bloodstock agent,” said Finley. “We go to the sales and we have the freedom to take shots and to buy horses that other people don't buy. That's a beautiful thing. Often times they don't work out, but when they work out like this there's a sweetness to this business that you can't match in anything else in life that you do.”
Hot N Hectic, dam of Carson's Run, has a yearling colt by Volatile, a Jan. 24-foaled filly by Maxfield, and was bred back to Flightline. A half-sister to MGSW & GISP Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), she's by Henny Hughes, whose daughters have produced 25 stakes winners, including champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar).
CARSON'S RUN wins the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby under @DavisJockey for trainer @clementstable and an automatic invitation to the prestigious Group 1, AUD$5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate at @TheValley in Australia! pic.twitter.com/KZBzPlzH4l
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2024
Sunday, Saratoga
SARATOGA DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-11, 3yo, 1 3/16mT, 1:55.81, gd.
1–CARSON'S RUN, 122, c, 3, by Cupid
1st Dam: Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes
2nd Dam: Wicked Wish, by Gold Case
3rd Dam: Holy Wish, by Lord At War (Arg)
($35,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $67,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL; $170,000
2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven
Bouchey; B-Frankfort Park Farm (KY); T-Christophe Clement;
J-Dylan Davis. $330,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $719,529.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Legend of Time (GB), 122, c, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Kissable
(Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT).
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc
(GB); T-Charles Appleby. $120,000.
3–Deterministic, 122, c, 3, Liam's Map–Giulio's Jewel,
by Speightstown. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'.
($625,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C.
Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable; B-Hinkle Farms (KY);
T-Christophe Clement. $72,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, NO. Odds: 5.20, 1.10, 2.70.
Also Ran: Royal Majesty (GB), Izzy d'Oro, Fulmineo. Scratched: First World War, Trikari.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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