The connections of the winners of Saturday’s four graded stakes at Saratoga,
as well as some of the vanquished, appeared to be satisfied with the condition
of their charges Sunday morning, and with each of the winners securing a berth
in a corresponding Breeders’ Cup championship race, attention for most now
shifts toward choosing their final prep or two prior to the October 24-25
Breeders’ Cup programs at Santa Anita.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito gave every credit to COMMENTATOR (Distorted
Humor) after the seven-year-old gelding won his second Whitney H. (G1) by 4 3/4
lengths over STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo). Zito was thrilled that the New
York-bred can now be counted alongside multiple Whitney winner Kelso.
“This was one of our main goals,” Zito said. “After he won the (March 8)
Richter Scale (Sprint H. [G2]) by (13 3/4) lengths, there were a lot of good
races to look ahead at. Then (owner) Mr. (Tracy) Farmer and I talked about
winning the Whitney again. With the tradition of the Whitney, him winning the
race again in three years, and now being in the circle of the likes of Kelso, it
was great.”
Kelso, a five-time Horse of the Year, captured the Whitney in 1961, 1963 and
1965. Discovery, who won the Whitney in 1934, 1935 and 1936, is the only other
multiple winner of the race.
With Commentator’s Whitney victory, he is now guaranteed an entry in
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 25. Among the races Zito is considering
for Commentator is the Massachusetts H. over nine furlongs at Suffolk Downs on
September 20.
Trainer Steve Asmussen did not suggest any future plans for Student Council,
who earlier this year captured the Pimlico Special H. (G1).
“I was pleased with his effort,” Asmussen said. “He ran hard and well. We’ll
evaluate him and discuss it with the owners and see what is best for him. I
think he is an elite horse.”
GRASSHOPPER (Dixie Union), who returned to the site of his near-upset in last
year’s Travers S. (G1) against Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense to finish
third in the Whitney, 13 1/4 lengths behind Commentator, looked good Sunday
morning according to trainer Neil Howard.
“He came out good,” Howard said. “Nothing is definite yet (for the future).
We’re going to wait a little while, make sure he’s doing well in the next couple
weeks.”
When asked if the August 30 Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga was a possibility,
Howard replied, “Sure. We’ll keep all our options open and kind of get a feel of
what everyone else is doing and then make a decision. But not right away,
though.”
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard reported this morning that FOREVER
TOGETHER (Belong to Me) came out of the Diana S. (G1) in good shape after
defeating DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer) by three-quarters of a length. It was the first
graded turf win for the four-year-old filly, who has dramatically improved since
switching over from the dirt in April
“She seemed to do remarkably well,” Sheppard said. “She didn’t seem too
distressed at all. It’s amazing what she has done. She goes from finishing
fourth in an allowance race at Gulfstream to winning a Grade 1 race.”
Sheppard is now trying to establish a schedule for Forever Together, who
earned an automatic bid into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) on October
24. Two races under consideration are the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) over 1
1/4 miles at Belmont Park on September 27 and the E.P. Taylor Stakes (Can-G1),
also at 1 1/4 miles, at Woodbine on October 4.
“Regarding future plans, we haven’t completely finalized anything,” Sheppard
said. “We are still trying to map out a campaign for her. We are looking at one
or two races before the Breeders’ Cup.”
Last year, Forever Together won the Forward Gal S. (G2) on dirt and finished
second in the Beaumont S. (G2) on Polytrack, but could not sustain that form. In her first start on grass,
she won the Reluctant Guest S. at
Arlington Park, and in the Just a Game S. (G1) at Belmont rallied to a
third-place finish behind Ventura (Chester House) and Lady of Venice (Fr) (Loup
Solitaire).
“I thought it was time to try something different,” Sheppard said. “She
trained very well over the Keeneland Polytrack. Since Arlington was not that far
away, we took a shot at the overnight stake. I knew it was a big jump for her in
going into the Just a Game. Turning for home in that race, I knew we had
something good. She ran very well.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was pleased with how Dynaforce came out of
Saturday’s affair.
“She looks pretty nice, she looks good,” Mott said. “We would like to make
the Flower Bowl. Whether we do something in between, we don’t know.”
The Christophe Clement-trained duo of RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) and VACARE (Lear
Fan), third and fourth, respectively, in the Diana, appeared no worse for wear.
“Both fillies came back in good order,” Clement said. “The horses looked good
to me this morning, they cleaned up good and they look OK.
“I will keep them both eligible for the (August 21) Ballston Spa (H. [G2] at
Saratoga), and maybe Vacare will also be eligible for the (August 30) Palomar
(H. [G2])at Del Mar.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel was still amazed with the way GINGER PUNCH
(Awesome Again) managed to defend her Go for Wand H. (G1) title by muscling her
way between horses after being boxed in at the top of the stretch.
“I was nervous watching the race live,” Frankel said. “I didn’t know what was
going to happen. I thought I was dead. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t like to be
that excited. She’s fine and everything was all right this morning.”
Ginger Punch, who will be defending her title in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
(G1), now renamed the Ladies’ Classic, on October 24, will “probably” run in the
Beldame S. (G1) over nine furlongs at Belmont on September 27, Frankel said.
Another possibility is the August 22 Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga, a race
which is under consideration for fellow Frankel trainee SPRING WALTZ (Silver Charm), the Rampart H.
(G2) winner who was scratched from the Go for Wand.
“Who knows? I could change my mind and run (Ginger Punch) in the Personal
Ensign,” Frankel said. “There’s good money ($400,000). I think she (Spring
Waltz) could have won that race yesterday. She’s a nice filly.”
COPPER STATE (Jump Start), whose only stakes victory to date occurred against Illinois-breds
two years ago, finished only 1 1/4 lengths behind Ginger Punch in finishing
second in the Go for Wand.
“I think this was a big jump forward for our mare; she got beat by a
champion,” Asmussen said. “This establishes who she is. She’s solid. Now, we
just want to get that effort in a spot where she can win.”
Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) winner ABRAAJ
(Carson City), was happy with how his horse ran and how well he exited
Saturday’s race, which automatically qualified him for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint
(G1) on October 25.
“He came out of the race great,” McLaughlin said. “We were very happy with
the race at the finish. At the beginning, we were worried when, at the
three-eighths pole, he kind of went back.”
Nothing is definitely etched on Abraaj’s schedule, but the August 30 Forego
H. (G1) at Saratoga is a possibility.
“We’ll look at the Forego, but we also have Lucky Island (Arg) (Lucky
Roberto) pointed to that race for the same owner (Shadwell Stable),” McLaughlin
said. “So, we’ll discuss it with Rick Nichols and Sheikh Hamdan and decide if we
want to run one or both. We’ll see who’s doing better of the two.”
Frankel said FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled’s Song), 2 1/2 lengths behind in second in the Vanderbilt, may
run in the Forego.
“I thought he ran OK,” Frankel said. “He lost position down the backside in
the first eighth of a mile. I don’t know if he would have won the race, but I
think it did cost him a length or two when he checked out. If he gets the lead,
he can go from there.”
Trainer Mike Hushion had no plans decided for the Vanderbilt third SAMMARCO
(Johannesburg), who captured a maiden race in his start prior to the Vanderbilt.
Sammarco was reported to have come out of the race in good order.
Saturday’s Whitney Day card produced a total handle of $25,017,332, the
third-highest, non-Travers Day total in Saratoga Race Course history.