Al Stall Jr

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Last summer, we hardly knew Kentucky-based trainer Al Stall Jr. During the 40 days of the 2023 Saratoga meet, Stall came up with one win in 12 starts. It's a little different a year later. Four days into the Spa season and Stall has started three horses. He has won with two of them and finished second with the third. "This pays the bar tab and the food tab," Stall said inside his office at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning. "We have to start working...

   'TDN Rising Star' Carribean Caper ran her record to five wins from as many starts with a first victory at the graded level in Saturday's GIII Dogwood S. at Churchill Downs. A midfield fourth through the opening exchanges, the $250,000 KEESEP grad was angled out into the clear with a bit less than a half-mile to race. Working her way into it nicely three wide approaching the quarter pole, Carribean Caper struck to the lead with a furlong and a half to go and sprinted home in complete command....

'TDN Rising Star' Carribean Caper took the next step Sunday to earn her first stakes win and fourth victory overall from as many trips to the post. An eight-length romper at Fair Grounds Feb. 13, the dark bay had an easy time with first-level optional claiming foes at Keeneland Apr. 2, and resurfaced from a freshening to clear another condition here July 10. Favored in the wagering over formidable foe Magic Quest--who had run faster than Carribean Caper in her last two, both wins--she tugged her way up in between...

FTGGG Racing's graded stakes-winner Masqueparade (Upstart) breezed a half-mile in :47.59 in company over a fast main track Friday in preparation for Saratoga's GII Jim Dandy S. July 31. The bay enters this year's Jim Dandy off a trio of wins for trainer Al Stall, Jr., including the GIII Ohio Derby most recently June 26. "We're happy with the breeze. He's right on track," Stall, Jr. said. "We'll give him a chance to see how far he can take his talent. We were patient getting to where we got to...

2nd-Ellis, $52,460, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($40,000), 7-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:16.18, gd, 4 1/2 lengths. CARRIBEAN CAPER (f, 3, Speightstown--Checkupfromzneckup {SP, $187,470}, by Dixie Union) continued to justify the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction with her third win from as many starts Saturday. An eight-length romper at Fair Grounds Feb. 13, good for an 87 Beyer Speed Figure, the dark bay took a Keeneland optional claimer by 4 1/2 lengths going seven panels Apr. 2 and was pounded down to 1-5 off the brief freshening here. She was off a...

Ours is the most nostalgic of sports, sustained by trusted cycles. And if the calendar pauses somewhat, between the end of the Triple Crown and the renewal of beloved summer rituals at Saratoga and Del Mar, that won't preclude an evocative resonance in some of the things we can enjoy Saturday. True, the idea that Letruska (Super Saver) is any kind of throwback, just because she is managing a second start in three weeks, is a measure of how effete the modern Thoroughbred has become. I've drawn attention previously to...

4th-KEE, $81K, OC 75k/N1X, 3yo, f, 7f, 2:45 p.m. ET CARRIBEAN CAPER (Speightstown) takes on winners for the first time following a 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut on the  GII Risen Star S. undercard at Fair Grounds Feb. 13. The dark bay, a $250,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Columbine Stable LLC, earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure in that eight-length victory. "She's very smart and does everything right," trainer Al Stall, Jr. said in a recent column in TDN. "First, we'll just get a little bit more of a...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 8th-Fair Grounds, $55K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 5:23 p.m. ET An intriguing cast of sophomore colts seek their diplomas at Fair Grounds Thursday. Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. paid $500,000 for K C Rocket (Kantharos) at OBSAPR '20 off a powerful :10 flat breeze and strong gallop out before turning him over to Al Stall, Jr. A $75,000 KEENOV weanling and $165,000 KEESEP yearling, the chestnut is out of a Midnight Lute daughter of dual champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy). While that Hall of Famer...

As former stable star and popular GISW Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) gets his career at stud underway at WinStar Farm, a pair of flashy 3-year-old maiden winners and an emotional stakes victory have helped propel the 2021 season for veteran trainer Al Stall, Jr. "Trying to fill the shoes of horses like Blame and Tom's d'Etat are awfully tough," said Stall, who trained the former to a heart-stopping victory over Zenyatta in the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Classic. "When horses like that leave the barn to go to Claiborne Farm...

6th-Fair Grounds, $47,000, Msw, 11-27, 2yo, f, 1m 70y, 1:45.79, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. SOCIAL DILEMMA (f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro--Singing Kitty {MSW & GSP, $398,478}, by Ministers Wild Cat) was let go at debut odds of 21-5, better than twice her morning line of 2-1, and worked out a good trip beneath Colby Hernandez to graduate at first asking going an extended mile Friday afternoon at the Fair Grounds. Four wide around the first turn, the $575,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buyback stalked the pace outside and poked her nose in front...

In these days of wilful division and reluctant separation, perhaps the wider world could for once learn something from our own community. For while our preoccupations may be frivolous, relative to such momentous challenges as the securing of democracy or public health, they do at least inculcate precisely the kind of calm forbearance most needed, right now, to quell the hysteria and despair infecting national wellbeing. It's pouring with rain? Go feed your horse and clean out the stall. Middle of a heatwave? Go feed your horse and clean out...

Sackatoga Stables' GI Belmont S. winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law (Constitution) capped off his serious work ahead of next Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a five-furlong breeze at Keeneland Saturday morning. With his regular work rider Heather Smullen in the irons, the New York-bred drilled five furlongs in :59.20 and galloped out an extra eighth of a mile in 1:12.20 (video). "I saw just what I wanted. He went perfectly," said trainer Barclay Tagg who will send out his 11th Breeders' Cup starter next weekend....