Built much the best in G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Built made the grade with a prominent performance in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a six-furlong sprint for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Wayne Catalano and piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the 4-year-old Hard Spun colt broke well and tracked the early foot of Damon’s Mound before asserting through the turn and powering away to a 2 1/2-length score.
The victory provided a belated birthday gift to Catalano, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday.
“Just what we thought he was going to get, he got. The jock did a great job,” Catalano said. “He [Built] was a little antsy in the gate and he wanted to reset him because last time, he kind of bobbled away. Everything worked out today.”
Multiple graded stakes-winner Damon’s Mound acted up in the gate but, once settled under Junior Alvarado, broke alertly to show the way through an opening quarter-mile in 22.69 seconds over the fast main track.
Ortiz, Jr. was content to track from second position aboard Built as Damon’s Mound reached the half-mile in 45.13. Built advanced readily through the turn with T Kraft following his move and Hymn stirring into action as well.
Built enjoyed a two-length lead at the stretch call and was never threatened down the lane, crossing the wire a comfortable winner in a final time of 1:09.14. The Ricardo Santana, Jr.-piloted Hymn arrived in the final jumps to complete the exacta by a neck over Damon’s Mound.
The victory marked the fourth win on the card for Ortiz, Jr., who one race later would add a fifth, capturing the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks with Counting Stars. The five-time Eclipse Award-winning rider also scored Saturday with Power of Women [No. 3, $3.54*] in Race 2, Chambersville [No. 11, $21.64] in Race 5, and Wynstock [No. 2, $12.06] in Race 6.
“I broke clean, so after that it was pretty easy, honestly,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “I just let him go. He put me in a good position, I took my time with him, and he did the rest. Every step of the way, I felt like I had horse."
T Kraft, Cat On Time and Nutella Fella rounded out the order of finish. Crazy Mason and Just Beat the Odds were scratched.
Santana, Jr. said the Ron Moquett-trained Hymn performed admirably in his graded stakes debut.
“Second best. He did everything right. The winner was much the best,” Santana, Jr. said.
Built was on the Kentucky Derby trail at Fair Grounds Race Course, taking part in a trio of qualifiers last year topped by a close second in the Grade 3 Lecomte and a distant third in the Grade 2 Risen Star. He raced on Derby Day, finishing off-the-board in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile over sloppy and sealed footing.
Built has focused on sprint racing since returning to action in December with an optional-claiming score at Fair Grounds. He posted three triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in four starts leading into the Vanderbilt, including for optional-claiming wins in March at Fair Grounds [106 BSF] and in May at Churchill Downs [100 BSF], along with a close second to the Michael Tomlinson-trained Harrodsburg after a bobbled start in the Grade 3 Bango [103 BSF] on June 27 at the Louisville oval.
Catalano said he was happy to see his charge bounce back with a clean break on Saturday after the tardy beginning hampered an otherwise strong performance in the Bango.
“When you run a good race, you’ve got to come back and run another good race. These are all good horses and good races, last time was a very good race,” Catalano said. “The guy who won it [last time] is a very good trainer and the horse did great. I think we were hindered by the break.”
Catalano was skeptical about pointing Built to the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego on August 29 here. The Forego offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in October at Keeneland.
“No, no. I say no because it’s too close back. We already ran him close. I say no, but there’s somebody a little bit higher than me,” Catalano said.
Built is out of the Curlin mare Sea Garden – a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Glenville Gardens. His third dam, Marley Vale, won the 1999 Grade 1 Test here for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Built was purchased for $260,000 at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low, Built banked $220,000 in victory while improving his record to 14-6-2-3. Sent to post as the 6-5 favorite, he returned $4.40 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Honorable Miss presented by Mionetto in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Saratoga Live presents daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
