From the DraftKings Travers Stakes day at Saratoga Race Course, featuring five Grade 1 contests, and the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar, Tom Pedulla presents his analysis, highlighting top horses securing positions in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships scheduled for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
SIGNIFICANT DAY: On Saturday, Saratoga showcased top-tier talent under optimal racing conditions, drawing a substantial crowd. With sunny skies, 48,255 attendees placed $10,369,950 in on-track wagers, contributing to a total handle of $54,309,929. Spectators witnessed exceptional performances from admired horses such as Sovereignty, a 3-year-old homebred from Godolphin, in the Travers; champion filly Thorpedo Anna in the Personal Ensign Stakes; and Book’em Danno, a New Jersey-bred sprinter, in the Forego Stakes. “This is incredibly beneficial for both the fans and the sport,” remarked Michael Banahan, bloodstock director for Godolphin USA. Sovereignty achieved a notable feat, becoming the first horse since Thunder Gulch in 1995 to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes.
UNYIELDING SPIRIT: Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna, reaffirmed her champion status in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, demonstrating remarkable determination to narrowly defeat a late surge from Dorth Vader. “This experience will likely enhance her condition for the upcoming race,” noted trainer Ken McPeek. “Although the victory wasn’t as straightforward as we hoped, she showcased her champion qualities. That is why she wins.” With this victory, her seventh Grade 1, Thorpedo Anna secured an automatic spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, where she won last year’s Distaff by 2 ½ lengths. McPeek intends to give his 4-year-old star one more race before the Breeders’ Cup, choosing between the Sept. 28 Delaware Handicap and the Oct. 5 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.
AN UNCOMMON STAR: Horses from New Jersey rarely dominate major races, and ownership by smaller groups is also uncommon. However, Book’em Danno and Atlantic Six Racing are defying expectations. The 4-year-old Bucchero gelding, ridden by Paco Lopez, secured his 10th victory in 16 starts in the Grade 1 Forego over seven furlongs, trained by Derek Ryan. This race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, granting the winner entry into the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. “Sixteen starts, and he’s performed consistently,” said Jeff Rubenstein of Atlantic Six Racing. “It is important for the industry to see an ownership group with a limited number of horses and budget achieving success on this stage.”
A STRATEGIC CHANGE: Trainer Brad Cox initially considered Patch Adams as a contender for the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. However, fourth-place finishes in the Southwest Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby led him to reconsider, and the Into Mischief colt has since excelled at shorter distances, achieving consecutive Grade 1 wins at seven furlongs. On Saturday, he added the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes to his previous victory in the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun, both with Luis Saez as the jockey. Cox now faces a decision regarding the next step. “Securing a spot in the Breeders’ Cup would be ideal,” he stated. “The question is whether to enter him in the two-turn dirt mile or the three-quarters of a mile Breeders’ Cup Sprint.”
PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES: A fast early pace combined with Umberto Rispoli’s patient ride allowed Dr. Venkman to claim a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with a win in the Pat O’Brien Stakes. “He’s a smart horse, a true competitor who understands how to race,” Rispoli said about the 5-year-old Ghostzapper gelding, trained by Mark Glatt. The top three finishers in the six-horse race all came from behind. Rispoli believes Dr. Venkman has the potential to be a strong contender in either the Dirt Mile or the Sprint. “He always races with passion and gives his all. He is versatile and can perform well at a mile or in a sprint,” the jockey commented.
