Mr Speaker’s 2014 Grade 1 Belmont Derby upset arrived during July 4th weekend

In 2014, the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational, formerly known as the Jamaica Handicap, shifted to the July 4th holiday weekend and attracted an international field, but it was Mr Speaker that prevailed in a thrilling 23-1 upset for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

On Friday, the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational has drawn a talented field once again as sophomores will travel nine furlongs over the Mellon turf during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. The Belmont Derby will air as part of a special one-hour Belmont Derby on FOX broadcast from 5-6 p.m. Eastern.

The Belmont Derby is slated as Race 9 on Friday’s 11-race program, which also features the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban presented by Subourbon in Race 10, the Grade 3, $200,000 Manila in Race 8; the Listed $150,000 Harvey Pack in Race 11; and the Listed $150,000 Schuylerville in Race 2. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Phipps Stable’s Kentucky homebred Mr Speaker had raced on turf, dirt and synthetic before the Belmont Derby. The dark bay son of Pulpit was out of the dual dirt graded stakes-placed Unbridled mare Salute and his second dam was Personal Ensign, the 13-for-13 Hall of Famer for McGaughey who became a Reine-De-Course broodmare.

The regally-bred Mr Speaker debuted on turf as a juvenile, graduating third-out going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park. He successfully stepped up in class to win the Grade 3 Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park before an off-the-board main track effort there in the Grade 2 Holy Bull.

The Belmont Derby was Mr Speaker’s ninth start, and he was dismissed by handicappers entering from a last-place finish in the local prep race, the Pennine Ridge in May at Belmont. He was, however, a four-length winner two starts prior on the Kentucky Derby trail in the Grade 3 Lexington going 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland’s synthetic surface.

“He was pretty versatile, but he was better on turf,” McGaughey said. “However, his best race was probably on synthetic at Keeneland in the Lexington. He was a winner when they left the gate there, and that was the only time he ran on synthetic.”

The 10-horse Belmont Derby field featured subsequent career millionaires in Gailo Chop [$3.4 million], Toast of New York [$3 million], Adelaide [$2.4 million], Bobby’s Kitten [$1.3 million], Flamboyant [$1.1 million], and Mr Speaker [$1.2 million].

“That was going to be a really good race, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said McGaughey. “He was a nice horse, but he was coming off not a good race. He still was training well going into it.”

Piloted by Jose Lezcano in the then 10-furlong test at Belmont Park, Mr Speaker exited post 8 with the field, but was patiently ridden to settle 10 lengths off the pace in last through an opening quarter-mile in 23.65 seconds on the good inner turf.

Pornichet, a Group 1-placed French invader, was well clear on the front end and rattled off splits of 48.43, 1:12.65 and 1:37.10, all while Mr Speaker saved ground towards the back, trailing by double digit lengths through the first half-mile.

“I got the position I wanted,” said Lezcano. “He actually broke really good that day. I had horses in front of me. I sat inside at the back for as long as I could.”

The field became compact in the second turn and Mr Speaker improved position along the hedge with Lezcano’s ground-saving ride. At the top of the stretch, he lacked racing room as four rivals fanned out across the track vying for command, led by the favored Irish-bred Adelaide who took the lead under Colm O'Donoghue and looked well on his way to victory for renowned conditioner Aidan O’Brien.

As Pornichet faded, Lezcano immediately capitalized on a new opening at the rail, with Mr Speaker bursting through in the nick of time en route to a neck victory over the future Group 1 Cox Plate-victor Adelaide in a final time of 2:01.18.

“When I had the spot, I went for it,” Lezcano recalled. “He gave me an unbelievable race that day. He was always a good horse, but especially on that big day. That was a very good race.”

French-breds Flamboyant and Gailo Chop rounded out the superfecta, with Sheldon, Toast of New York, Global View, Bobby’s Kitten, Pornichet and Gala Award completing the order of finish. Dance With Fate was scratched.

“Lezcano rode a great race, saving all of the ground, and it helped us beat a very good horse. Saving all the ground at the rail is kind of what you need to do on the turf. I was very pleased with that ride,” McGaughey said. “That win was a lot of fun. We needed that, at the time.”

Mr Speaker exited to finish a respectable 5th-of-10 to V.E. Day when giving dirt another try in the Grade 1 Travers over 1 1/4 miles at the Spa. His 18-race career featured six wins, including an additional graded score in the 2015 Grade 2 Commonwealth Cup at Laurel Park, amounting to $1,247,544 in total earnings.

The now 14-year-old horse stands at Forks of the Paluxy Farm in Bluff Dale, Texas.

“He’s doing quite well,” said Mark Collinsworth, owner of Forks of the Paluxy Farm. “He’s in excellent shape, health wise. He seems to enjoy his job very much as a sire, and he’s all good. He looks like he could step out onto the track and still do it.”

Mr Speaker has sired two Grade 1 winners, Speaking Scout and Speech, and also among his progeny is millionaire Three Technique, winner of the 2023 Grade 2 John A. Nerud at Belmont Park.

“I remember watching Mr Speaker race years ago and he was impressive,” said Collinsworth. “He is a beautiful horse, very well put together. He has a nice paddock area where he likes to run around and kick his heels when it is nice and cool outside, so he still is very athletic. He’s produced some fine runners, who will do well on any surface, it just depends on the individual horse.” 

*

Daily admission for the July 4th Racing Festival will be available for $7 when purchased in advance or $10 day-of. For additional information on hospitality and tickets, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/.

For the complete stakes schedule for the July 4th Racing Festival, please visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, 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 July 4th Racing Festival. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.