SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.: The GI Whitney Stakes turned into a perfect prep for Arthur's Ride (Tapit) for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sunday.
- The Glassman Family 4-year-old colt showed that he had legit speed in his first try in a stakes race.
- With regular rider Junior Alvarado as his pilot, he confirmed that that his resounding 12-length victory in his two-turn debut on June 7 was no fluke.
- He stayed and won at 6-1, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first victory in one of Saratoga's most prestigious stakes races.
The Whitney's “Win and You're In” ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic is secured and he is on to the race Mott has been aiming for.
“Just hope he fires the same shot back that he did last time,” Mott said. “I think if you look at his races this year, I think he's had four races and three of the four have been really good efforts. The only bad one was in a mucky track at Churchill.”
That was on May 3, on the GI Kentucky Oaks program. He failed to break alertly, did manage to get within four lengths in the sloppy going after six furlongs, but ended up ninth. He did handle the wet track in the Whitney, though.
Arthur's Ride was purchased for $250,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale. He ran second both starts at Saratoga in 2022 and broke his maiden in February 2023. A tendon injury kept him out of racing for 13 months. He returned in mid-March with a 7 ½ length win at Gulfstream.
Mott said the June victory during the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga meet at the Gold Cup distance of 10 furlongs was where Arthur's Ride showed himself being ready to graduate to the top level of the sport.
“It was an allowance race, but he was very impressive,” Mott said. “I think he impressed a lot of people that saw it, visually. Then I think the speed figures came back good, too.”
Flanagan Completes Name Game Trifecta
Chancer McPatrick | Sarah Andrew
What's in a name? Sean Flanagan thoughtfully packed a bit into the one he gave to Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), who will make his second career start in the historic GI $300,000 Hopeful Stakes Monday
Flanagan chuckled Saturday morning as he described the process.
“I never named a horse for my son, and his name is Patrick,” he said. “That's a tough name to work with. I was thinking of just going with McPatrick, but he's a bit of a prankster and a jokester. Nice kid. Nicest kid in the world.”
Flanagan said that a couple of months ago he asked a visitor from Ireland about ta word he was considering.
“I said, 'what do you know about what's a chancer because I've heard that?” Flanagan said. “I've been in Ireland a couple few times. 'It's not a derogatory term is it?'” He said,' Oh no, no. It might be a guy that's been at the local pub that might hustle you in a game of darts or something like that.'
“I said, 'Perfect.' I just thought it had a nice ring to it, that it was a very unique name. I threw the Mc in there for McKinzie. Solved all three of those puzzles.”
Flanagan was at home isolating with a case of Covid when Chancer McPatrick broke his maiden at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown on July 27. The $725,000 OBS April purchase had a bad start and was last of 10 early.
“That cost him six lengths, easy,” Flanagan said. “I looked up, and he's back in the field.
Flanagan said he was looking at the horses who were near the lead when he realized that Chancer McPatrick under Flavien Prat was making a move.
“I'm thinking that hopefully he finishes well and he learns from this,” Flanagan said. “All of a sudden, I see him coming on the outside, and I was just hoping he got second or third.”
Chancer McPatrick, sent off as the 2-1 favorite, did better than that. He completed the last-to-first rally and won by one length.
“I really wish I was there, because my parents were there in the stands, and my father said to me, 'I've never seen a horse fly like that in the stretch in my life.' And he's been going there for 60 years. It was very, very exciting. We have our fingers crossed for Monday, but it's a very tough field.”
Beckman Said Nothing on the Schedule for Honor Marie After Travers Disappointment
Honor Marie with Whit Beckman | Sarah Andrew
Better things were expected for Honor Marie (Honor Code) in last week's $1.25 million GI Travers Stakes
Trainer Whit Beckman said he was still trying to figure out what went wrong after Honor Marie ran the worst race of his career when finishing eighth-and last-in the Midsummer Derby.
“Maybe it was the blinkers, I don't know,” Beckman said by phone.
Honor Marie was equipped with blinkers for the first time in his eight-race career in the Travers. He finished 34 lengths behind Fierceness (City of Light) and was never a factor.
“A little bit,” Beckman said when asked how surprised he was with the effort. “It was the only time he hadn't really run for us.”
Beckman said that Honor Marie could be shut down for the rest of the year and be pointed to a four-year-old campaign.
“I think a four-year-old year for him could be pretty productive,” said Beckman, who was starting his first horse in the Travers. “We have options. Some time off between now and then would not be the worst thing for him.”
Beckman said at this time it was not probable that Honor Marie would be pointed to the $1 million GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 21.
Before the Travers, Honor Marie had finished fourth in the GI Belmont Stakes and eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby after less-than-desirable trips. He was second in the GII Louisiana Derby and that made him a player on the Triple Crown trail.
Beckman says the long campaign might have caught up with his horse. Honor Marie is owned by Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein and Dave Fishbein.
“He really hasn't had a break since April,” Beckman said. “You get to a point where when has he had enough? I don't think Parx is on our radar, but things can change. Right now, I think everyone is content to say he had a strong 3-year-old campaign. He competed in all those top races against the top ones, and he ran very legitimately. Give him the time if he needs it. That is more likely the option than going to Parx.”
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