Chelsie Raabe Photo

Pletcher grateful for fourth G1 Whitney score with Life Is Good

by NYRA Press Office

·    Pletcher grateful for fourth G1 Whitney score with Life Is Good

·    Golden Pal, Chi Town Lady have sights set on Breeders’ Cup following tactic-changing Saratoga stakes wins

·    Nations Pride makes the grade in G1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational

·    Dynadrive targeting G3 Bernard Baruch following Lure score

·    Cox takes G1 Longines Test loss in stride, plans undecided for Matareya

·    Rosario continues red-hot run with graded scores in G1 Longines Test and G2 Glens Falls

·    Hot Peppers now G1-placed after strong effort in Longines Test

·    Battle of Normandy has options following triumphant career debut; First Captain breezes for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

·    Trainer Mike Maker secures 3,000th career victory with Ellis Park score

When CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good crossed the finish line two lengths the best in Saturday's 95th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga Race Course, it marked the fourth time Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher was awarded the trophy for the historic nine-furlong event for older horses.

Looking back on past wins with Left Bank [2002], Lawyer Ron [2007] and Cross Traffic [2013], Pletcher acknowledged how difficult it is to find the winner’s circle in the Whitney, noting the duality between the two heartbreaking losses he suffered when second with Quality Road in 2010 and Liam’s Map in 2015, and the highest honors he achieved with his four victors. 

“It feels great [to win again]. We’ve been fortunate to win four now and I would say two of the toughest beats we have ever taken were in the Whitney, too, with Quality Road and Liam’s Map,” Pletcher said. “So, we never take for granted how hard they are to win.” 

Life Is Good, a son of Into Mischief, continues to prove his place as the leader of the older male division, building upon a victory in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational to kick off his 4-year-old campaign in January at Gulfstream Park and a runaway score in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud as his final race before the Whitney on July 2 at Belmont Park. 

He found Whitney glory with his usual frontrunning tactics, breaking sharply from the outermost post 5 under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and making every step towards the finish a winning one. He completed the nine furlongs in 1:48.97 and was awarded a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, his eighth consecutive triple-digit figure. 

Pletcher said Life Is Good’s class not only allows him to excel on the racetrack, but to do so despite difficult factors like the ones he faced yesterday with the main track rated as good and harrowed, and temperatures in the low 90s with high humidity. 

“He’s a super special horse. He’s so consistent not only in his races, but in his daily routine. He’s eager to please every day,” Pletcher said. “I was concerned about all of those variables, and we got a downpour that I kind of didn’t know what condition that would leave the track in. Then it got real steamy and humid and super-hot. The track all meet has been super challenging, but he was able to overcome it all.” 

With his Whitney victory, Life Is Good has received a berth to the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 5 at Keeneland. Should he run in the Classic and not in the Dirt Mile to defend his 2021 title, it would be the second time Life Is Good has raced at the 1 1/4-mile distance, his first try a weakening fourth in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan Racecourse in his lone off-the-board finish through 10 starts. 

Pletcher said he expects Life Is Good to handle stretching out again after his strong performance in the Whitney. 

“I think yesterday was kind of the race that was going to tell us which direction to go, and I think based on that, we’d be looking at the Classic,” said Pletcher. 

It is possible that Life Is Good could get one more start before the Breeders’ Cup with Pletcher not completely ruling out an engagement in the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward on October 1 during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. 

There were more Whitney celebrations for Pletcher and his team as his other entry, Happy Saver, ran tenaciously to stave off an outside bid from Hot Rod Charlie to hold onto place honors behind Life Is Good. The 2020 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner has now finished second in his last five appearances, all at the graded level.

Pletcher said the son of Super Saver continues to impress despite missing the winner’s circle. 

“He shows up every time and runs his race,” Pletcher said. “He put in a good showing and gave him [Life Is Good] a little run for his money there. We’re proud of his effort.”

Happy Saver has now placed in four Grade 1 races since his Jockey Club Gold Cup win, including behind top older horse Flightline in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 11 at Belmont and the Clark Handicap in November at Churchill Downs. 

Pletcher said he is unsure whether Happy Saver will go for another Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Cub Gold Cup title on September 3 at the Spa. 

“I don’t know. We’ll have to see how he bounces out of it and come up with a game plan on where he’ll go next,” said Pletcher. “He’s always ready to go and versatile enough – he’s run well at a mile, a mile and a quarter, a mile and an eighth – so we have plenty of options.” 

While Happy Saver’s next start is still to be determined, Pletcher’s other star older horse, the New York-bred Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap-winner Americanrevolution, scratched from the Whitney in favor of setting his sights on the Jockey Club Gold Cup. 

Pletcher said he had entered Americanrevolution, who is also campaigned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, with the hope of rain in the forecast after he showed an affinity for a wet track when scoring an 11 3/4-length victory in the Empire Classic last year at Belmont over a sloppy and sealed Big Sandy.  

“He’s doing well. We’ll target the Jockey Club. At first, we thought he appeared to really like the off track in the Empire Classic last year, so we were kind of covering that base,” said Pletcher. “Really, we thought if everything was a go with Life Is Good, we were most likely just going to wait on the Jockey Club. But if something would have went amiss with Life Is Good, we didn’t want to be in a position not to run him if it came up that way. But thankfully, it all worked out.” 

One race after the Whitney, Pletcher sent out a trio of promising contenders in the Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational but was compromised by a turf course that held moisture following afternoon showers. Pletcher was represented by graded-stakes-winners Annapolis, Grand Sonata and Emmanuel. 

Annapolis, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and finished the best of the three with a game second behind the victorious Nations Pride, was once again second-best due to trouble over softer going. Two starts prior, he finished second in the Grade 2 Penn Mile in June over a very soft Penn National course. 

“Annapolis came out of it really well,” said Pletcher. “I thought he ran great. Irad felt the turf had a little more cut to it than he really wanted and all three of my riders came back and commented that the ground was softer than they anticipated it would be.” 

Grand Sonata, who was previously a close fourth in the Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, could only manage to best two rivals and finished a distant eighth after he “couldn’t get a grip of the course.” 

As for Grade 2 Pennine Ridge winner Emmanuel, Pletcher said the More Than Ready colt’s last-place effort had an excuse. 

“Emmanuel had a bit of a temperature this morning, so I think that’s why he didn’t run to his capabilities,” said Pletcher. 

The Saratoga Derby was the second leg of the Caesars Turf Triple Series, which concludes on September 17 in the 1 1/2-mile Grade 3, $1 million Caesars Jockey Club Derby during the Belmont at the Big A meet. Pletcher said he will take some time to consider each of his three runners for the final leg. 

“I don’t know. The mile and a half is what we have to think about there,” said Pletcher. “There’s plenty of options, but we’ll give it a week or so and figure it out.” 

Aside from his graded success on Saturday, Pletcher enjoyed a strong allowance performance in Race 8 from the royally-bred Saint Tapit, the chestnut colt out of 2010 Horse of the Year Havre De Grace who took the seven-furlong sprint by 1 1/2 lengths over good and sealed going for owner/breeder Whisper Hill Farm. 

Pletcher said it was rewarding to see the son of Tapit build upon a four-length debut win on June 26 at Belmont and that a step up in class may be in order for his next outing. 

“That’s a nice horse. He’s been great in both of his starts and I feel like he’s one that wants to run further,” said Pletcher. “We’ll try to figure out a spot to stretch him out. I just need to figure out where.” 

*** 

Golden Pal, Chi Town Lady have sights set on Breeders’ Cup following tactic-changing Saratoga stakes wins

Trainer Wesley Ward changed tactics with Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Golden Pal and Castleton Lyons’ Chi Town Lady for their respective stakes engagements and was rewarded with meaningful victories from both horses this weekend.

Ultra-talented turf sprinter Golden Pal captured Friday’s 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3, $300,000 Troy at Saratoga Race Course, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure – his third triple digit number. But the 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt also gained beneficial experience in racing from just off the pace under Irad Ortiz, Jr., tracking quick early fractions and doing just enough to garner a seventh lifetime stakes victory.

Golden Pal’s previous accolades include triumphs in the 2020 Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland and last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar as only the sixth horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup events. Additionally, he has now won a stakes race at the Spa for three years straight. A maiden-breaking winner of the 2020 Skidmore, he also captured last year’s Grade 3 Quick Call, both run at 5 1/2 furlongs. 

Prior to the Troy, Golden Pal had won all of his races in gate-to wire fashion. On Friday, he sat just off a swift pace set by the Graham Motion-trained True Valour, and did just enough work to get the job done, dueling with the pacesetter and holding off a late rally by Thin White Duke.

“He had been training that way for quite some time from the onset when he came back here in his Turfway Park works earlier in the spring with [exercise rider] Julio [Garcia],” Ward said. “This gives us another option, especially moving forward with the Breeders’ Cup and all the hot pace that will be in there. The fastest turf sprinters in the world will be there. This way, we aren’t committed to the lead. I think both he learned a lot [on Friday], both the horse and Irad, about how he can do that.” 

Ward said the Troy win was perhaps Golden Pal’s biggest learning experience. 

“Usually he’s so quick and agile, he breaks so fast and moves like a cat the first few jumps out of there to where we’re essentially committed to the lead,” Ward said. “But now he has other options now. If someone goes early, Irad can sit back and just ride his race instead of being committed to the front.” 

After trying new tactics, Golden Pal could switch things up surface wise and is likely for the Grade 2, $300,000 Phoenix on October 7 over the dirt at Keeneland, where Ward is primarily based.

“Being a dirt sprint on his home track, which is Keeneland, he’s trained there his whole life,” Ward said. “We’re going to have a few workouts on the dirt in the coming weeks and that will tell the tale.” 

The Phoenix – the oldest stakes race in North America – is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but Ward said he would be more likely to pursue a title defense in the Turf Sprint. 

“I’d prefer to stick to the turf plan, but that will be discussed with Coolmore as we’re getting the most important thing for the horse, which is stallion value. That’s the reason for the Phoenix,” Ward said.

Despite winning by a slim margin, Ward said he was not the least bit concerned with Golden Pal due to his exceptional abilities. 

“For me, just watching him and having so much confidence in his abilities, I just knew when they turned for home and he wasn’t in behind horses or trapped or in trouble, that he had a clear run, I was very confident and I was just watching the last three-sixteenths of a mile unfold,” Ward said. “If it were another horse I would be grabbing on to my seat and screaming, but with him I was just watching it and taking it all in. Even though it was a small margin of victory, and Graham’s horse ran a huge race, don’t take anything away from him, I was pretty confident down lane.” 

The next day, Ward visited the winner’s circle following an upset victory from Chi Town Lady in the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test. The Joel Rosario-piloted Verrazano sophomore filly came from 11 lengths off the pace down the backstretch and gunned down graded-stakes-winner Hot Peppers and Grade 1-winner Matareya to secure her first graded stakes win. 

Like Golden Pal, Chi Town Lady also changed tactics and conveyed a deep closing style in the seven-furlong Test. A winner of last year’s Bolton Landing over turf at the Spa, Chi Town Lady showed tactical speed in some of her previous races. 

“The filly ran a powerful race,” Ward said. “We had a plan going in. So often in racing, no matter what level of racing you’re at, it’s hard to win a race. To win a Grade 1 in a race like the Test, that’s what everybody is here for.” 

Ward said Chi Town Lady will likely train up to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 5 at Keeneland. 

*** 

Nations Pride makes the grade in G1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational

Godolphin's Irish homebred Nations Pride, expertly handled by William Buick in his Saratoga debut, stalked and pounced to a 1 3/4-length score in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational, the second leg of the Caesars Turf Triple series.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Teofilo colt entered the 1 3/16-mile test for sophomores from a troubled runner-up effort to returning rival Classic Causeway on July 9 in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational where he broke slow under Frankie Dettori from post 10-of-12 and was checked in upper stretch before launching a determined late bid to miss by less than a length. 

Although Nations Pride was again off slowly from post 4 Saturday, Buick coaxed the bay into a stalking position in third as Classic Causeway led the field of 10 through splits of 24.55 seconds, 50.66 and 1:12.96 over the firm footing. Buick gave Nations Pride his cue, rallying four-wide at the top of the lane and securing command at the eighth pole. Annapolis, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, launched a late bid but could not reel in the winner, who stopped the clock in 1:54.72. 

"Will was switched on and gave him a great ride," said Appleby's travelling assistant Chris Connett. "Although he was slow away, he got himself up on the pace and a nice seam down the inside. It was pretty key to how the whole race panned out." 

Nations Pride shipped to Saratoga and Connett's care following his Belmont Derby effort to train into Saturday's test. Appleby indicated Saturday that Nations Pride will now target the final leg of the Turf Triple series, the Grade 3, $1 million Caesars Jockey Club Derby on September 18 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. The 12-furlong test offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Keeneland. 

Connett said the Saratoga Derby effort, contested over a course dampened by showers earlier in the afternoon, provided confidence that Nations Pride will be able to stretch out in distance after finishing eighth in the 12-furlong Group 1 Epsom Derby in June. 

"He showed a nice finishing kick and really ran through the line. It gives you hope he might be able to go a little bit further," Connett said. "The ground, to be fair, wasn't really to his suiting. When the rain came, there were a few long faces but he handled it well enough." 

Connett said Nations Pride has thrived during his time at Saratoga where he has trained with Grade 1 Belmont Oaks runner-up With The Moonlight, who features in today's Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, second leg of the Caesars Turf Triple series for fillies.

"From seeing him train these weeks up here, he really has got stronger and filled out in his frame. Fingers crossed he'll find a little more in the future as well," Connett said. "He came out of the race nicely. He ate up last night and had a hand walk this morning and a pick of grass for half an hour. He's in fine fettle."

Buick will pilot With The Moonlight from post 3 in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks. 

*** 

Dynadrive targeting G3 Bernard Baruch following Lure score

Flying P Stable and James Schurman’s Dynadrive is in good order following his $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure upset Saturday and will target the Grade 3, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on September 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

“He came out of it really, really well. He looks great this morning,” said Morley. “His weight is good and he ate up last night. We’re thrilled with that and [will] point to the Bernard Baruch.” 

Improving to 2-for-2 since being transferred to the care of Tom Morley from former conditioner Robertino Diodoro, Dynadrive has lit up the toteboard at both Belmont Park and Saratoga. 

In his first start off a nearly four-month layoff, Dynadrive stalked a field of nine traveling ten furlongs in non-winners of two company on July 1 at Belmont to post a 45-1 shock under Eric Cancel. Cancel returned to the saddle again Saturday where he had Dynadrive in the rear of the field, 19 lengths behind the runaway Somelikeithotbrown at the half-mile fraction. He found a seam between the rail and the Chad Brown trained Sifting Sands down the stretch to get his head down at odds of 23-1. 

“He was tough as nails yesterday. He went down into that hole on the rail and fought like a tiger all the way down there,” said Morley. 

Having revitalized his career under the care of Morley, his conditioner thinks he may get more attention at the windows going into his next race. 

“I hope so. Yesterday, I understand why he was 23-1. He’s coming out of a two-other-than that he won at 45-1, but I didn’t understand why he was 45-1 at Belmont,” said Morley. “This is a horse with a lot of back class and he’s at the perfect age now where he should be at the peak.” 

A half-brother to graded stakes winner Tell Your Daddy, who Morley also conditioned and won last year’s running of the Bernard Baruch with, Dynadrive is a special part of Morley’s stable. 

“We did very well with Tell Your Daddy, and he [Dynadrive] has done well in our barn,” said Morley. “It’s great when you get to train the family and the mare throws very talented runners.”

Haltered by his current owners for $62,500 last November at Churchill Downs, Dynadrive’s impressive resume includes a lifetime record of 8-5-2 in 24 starts and $415,543 in earnings. 

*** 

Cox takes G1 Longines Test loss in stride, plans undecided for Matareya

While conditioner Brad Cox went into the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test with full confidence in his post-time favorite Matareya, he was by no means dejected after the Pioneerof the Nile filly was handed her first loss of the year when third in Saturday’s seven-furlong sprint for sophomores at Saratoga Race Course. 

“It was unfortunate, but listen, she didn’t run bad,” said Cox on Sunday morning. “She came out of it good and was tired. Yesterday just wasn’t her day. She wasn’t quite travelling as easy up the backside as I like to see and how I’ve seen in her previous races. 

“Maybe Saratoga just isn’t her thing – it’s the ‘Graveyard of Champions,’” Cox added, with a laugh. “It is what it is.” 

Matareya entered from a cool 6 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Acorn on June 11 at Belmont Park, the first top-level score for the bay filly after earning graded wins in the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs and Grade 3 Beaumont at Keeneland earlier this spring. 

The Test had an eventful end after Hot Peppers dictated terms throughout the seven furlongs over a demanding good and sealed main track. There was a stewards’ inquiry after subsequent winner Chi Town Lady drifted in from the outside while Hot Peppers veered out on the inside and both bumped a tiring Matareya. 

Cox said he was fine with there being no change to the order of finish.  

“She was [beat] a length and three quarters and it got a little tight late, but the running was over at that point and it didn’t cost her a placing,” Cox said. 

Cox added it is too early to say where Matareya may race next, but that he would like to keep her around one turn with the Grade 1 La Brea on December 26 at Santa Anita as a potential long-term target.  

“In the 3-year-old filly division around one turn, all the Grade 1s are pretty much over with the exception of the La Brea at the end of the year, so we’ll see,” Cox said. 

On Sunday, Cox saw multiple graded-stakes winner Caravel return to the work tab a bit sooner than he anticipated after finishing a troubled ninth in the Grade 3 Caress on July 23 at the Spa. The daughter of Mizzen Mast breezed a half-mile in 48.72 seconds over the Oklahoma turf training track. 

“I didn’t really know what to do with her out of her last race, but she’s doing well and I decided to breeze her because she’s doing good,” Cox said. “She worked really well.” 

In the Caress, Caravel lost much of her chance at the start when she broke slowly from the inside post and then steadied behind rivals at the seven-sixteenths under Tyler Gaffalione.

“She missed the break and got squeezed in the turn – it was not a good race. Tyler obviously kind of galloped her late and made the right decision. But she came out of it great and had a fantastic work this morning.”

Cox said he will keep his eye on the 5 1/2-furlong $150,000 Smart N Fancy on August 20 as a potential next start for Caravel. 

Among Cox’s other recent turf workers was duel Grade 2-winner Set Piece, who fired an impressive bullet half-mile work in 47.41 seconds over the Oklahoma turf Friday. The work was a bit different than expected after two trainees from the barn of Wesley Ward angled up to his inside and gave him company down the stretch, but the flashy dark bay responded professionally and finished up well.  

Cox said he was particularly impressed with the work from the 6-year-old son of Dansili and that he will target the Grade 1, $1 million Arlington Million on August 13 at Churchill Downs rather than try the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, a race he finished second in last year, on the same day at the Spa. 

“He’s really doing well. He’s a strong possibility for the Arlington Million,” said Cox. “We were looking at the Fourstardave because he was second last year, but I just don’t feel comfortable with the inner turf for him and his running style. He comes from so far out of it that for whatever reason, the inner turf favors speed. He’s a beautiful horse.” 

***

Rosario continues red-hot run with graded scores in G1 Longines Test and G2 Glens Falls

Joel Rosario, the reigning Eclipse Award-winner as Outstanding Jockey, notched a graded-stakes double Saturday to bring his meet total to 10 just 18 days into the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. 

Other jockeys to reach double digits in graded wins during a Saratoga meet include Hall of Famers Jerry Bailey [10 in 2001], Javier Castellano [10 in 2016; 11 in 2015], and John Velazquez [11 in 2005]. 

Heading into Sunday's card, Rosario's 84 career stake wins at Saratoga put him in fifth position following Velazquez [197], Castellano [135], Bailey [110] and Irad Ortiz, Jr. [87] per Equibase statistics dating to 1976. 

The 37-year-old native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, guided War Like Goddess to a smart score in her title defense in the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls as the odds-on favorite in Race 7 and two races later piloted Chi Town Lady last-to-first for a 17-1 score in the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test. 

"First off, we're fortunate to be getting on the right horses and then he's just making all the right decisions," said Rosario's agent Ron Anderson. "Like any athlete, they can get in a rhythm and in a groove, but if you start getting on the right ones, one thing leads to another and it can snowball. It feels good. This is what you get up and work every day for." 

The lucrative double added to an impressive ledger that includes wins in the Grade 1 Diana [In Italian], Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap [Jackie's Warrior], Grade 2 Shuvee [Clairiere], Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap [Kimari], Grade 2 Jim Dandy [Epicenter], Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame [Ready to Purrform], Grade 3 Forbidden Apple [City Man] and Grade 3 Quick Call [Big Invasion]. 

His graded winners include scores for six individual trainers and at distances from six furlongs to nine furlongs on dirt; and from 5 1/2-furlongs to 12 furlongs on turf. 

Anderson said that variety showcases Rosario's versatility, in particular, the gate-to-wire score with In Italian for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown and his continued excellence aboard Jackie's Warrior, the reigning Champion Male Sprinter for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. 

"He's the complete package. People want to say maybe not speed - but look at Chad's filly on the turf. Look at Jackie's Warrior. He can do it all," Anderson said. "He's an exceptional rider and there are a lot of exceptional guys up here, so you better be on your game."

One of those exceptional riders is Velazquez, also represented by Anderson, who has notched a record 48 Grade 1 wins at Saratoga and is within six victories of 1,000 career wins at the Spa to lead all riders.

Anderson said he is looking forward to the moment Velazquez, the co-chairman on the Jockeys' Guild, hits the four-digit mark at Saratoga. 

"I'm excited for him. There's been a lot of big riders come through here. I worked for Jerry Bailey, so I know about big riders at Saratoga, but I'm sure that will be a big feather in his cap when that day comes," Anderson said. "He's another humble, unassuming type that the business needs more of. He works tirelessly for the other riders with the Guild. The effort he puts in on a day-to-day basis is incredible. He's so dedicated to his fellow teammates that he rides with." 

The Longines Test score provided Rosario with his 16th Grade 1 win at the Spa, putting him on even terms with Hall of Famer Angel Cordero, Jr. and current meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. according to Equibase statistics that date to 1976. The only active riders with more Grade 1 wins at Saratoga are Velazquez [48], Javier Castellano [37] and Mike Smith [29].

While Velazquez has set a high bar for Saratoga excellence, Anderson said Rosario has the skills, personality and professionalism to take aim. 

"He's so kind, considerate and has no ego whatsoever," Anderson said. "I can't even convince him that he was on the third best horse in a race [after a win]. He'll say it was the horse. Most athletes, to a fault, will say it's all about them. He has none of that. He's just different. He's the whole package." 

*** 

Hot Peppers now G1-placed after strong effort in Longines Test 

Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso’s Hot Peppers is in good order and now a Grade 1 stakes-placed filly after running second in the $500,000 Longines Test to Chi Town Lady Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. 

Over a good and sealed main track, Hot Peppers, under guidance from returning rider Luis Saez, broke on top and took the field around the turn, holding off a challenge from the odds-on favorite Matareya, but was unable to fend off a furious run down the lane from the Joel Rosario-piloted Chi Town Lady. 

“She looks good and tried hard,” said Rodriguez. “It’s a tough beat, but we’re happy with the effort.” 

Finishing ahead of a Grade 1 winner like Matareya gives Hot Peppers’ conditioner confidence she can remain at the level she raced against Saturday. 

“She’s a filly that can be very competitive. She doesn’t want to give an inch and that’s what you want to see in fillies,” said Rodriguez. “She kept digging in.” 

Hot Peppers earned a career high 88 Beyer Speed Figure. She owns a record of 8-5-2-0 with earnings of $377,950. 

*** 

Battle of Normandy has options following triumphant career debut; First Captain breezes for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing’s Battle of Normandy displayed a strong career debut in the Whitney Day opener, going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. 

“I don’t think Shug was expecting as good of a race, but I know he was very confident in his Shug way,” said Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds. “When I saw him in the paddock, I could tell he had come so far in the last few months. That’s exactly what these types of horses are supposed to do.” 

Battle of Normandy is a 2-year-old son of Grade 1-winner City of Light, a freshman stallion held in high regard by Finley. 

“We’re big fans of City of Light. We have a big group of partners that are shareholders in him,” Finley said. “Obviously, we supported him last year at the yearling sales. We bought three or four of them. The stallion is right for us, this horse should get better and better. On a day like yesterday, Whitney Day, he put a smile on a lot of people’s faces.” 

Finley expressed gratefulness in having an abundance of options for the talented colt moving forward, including the Grade 3, $175,000 With Anticipation on September 2 at Saratoga, the Grade 1 Summer on September 17 at Woodbine, or the Grade 2 Bourbon on October 9 at Keeneland. 

“We’ll let Shug make the call. He likes this horse and I think there are several good spots for him,” said Finley. “It’s indicative of where, in America, we’re trying to migrate more and more to the turf. So you look at things like the With Anticipation, Kentucky Downs, the Grade 1 at Woodbine and the race at Keeneland. I love the fact that we’re starting to move in that direction, so we have options with an exciting colt like this. Now, we have to pick our one spot to hopefully get to the Breeders’ Cup.” 

Bought for $500,000 from the Lane’s End consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Battle of Normandy is out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Adorable Miss, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Noble Beauty. 

In other West Point Thoroughbreds-related news, two-time graded stakes winner First Captain worked five furlongs over the main track in 1:01.66 on Sunday morning in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 3 at Saratoga. It was his third work since a narrow defeat to Dynamic One in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 9 at Belmont Park. 

“He worked well today and finished with a lot of enthusiasm,” Finley said. “He has a nice confidence about him and we’re looking forward to the rematch in the Jockey Club Gold Cup with Dynamic One. I know Dynamic One won’t be the only one we have to contend with, there will be a really nice group of older handicap horses in that race.” 

The 10-furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. After watching multiple Grade 1-winner Life Is Good take Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney, also a WAYI qualifier for the Classic, he welcomes the opportunity to face a horse of his ilk in the Classic. 

“I thought the Whitney was so intriguing. Those kind of races, we’re fans of the business for. Give a lot of credit to Life Is Good,” Finley said. “He showed up and threw down the gauntlet. We’re excited about the prospect of facing him at some point. He’s a tough horse on appear to want to run against. I think the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be one of the most competitive upper-level races of the Saratoga meet.” 

*** 

Trainer Mike Maker secures 3,000th career victory with Ellis Park score 

Veteran conditioner Mike Maker secured the 3,000th victory of his career when Palatial Times took down Race 5 on Friday at Ellis Park. 

Maker celebrated the victory when Gerardo Corrales piloted the son of Palace Malice from off the pace to take the lead at the head of the stretch and hold off a late challenge from Money for Mischief to win by 2 1/4 lengths. 

"Every milestone is important, especially to the staff and clientele that have supported us over the years,” Maker said. “All credit to them, my name is just down as trainer." 

Maker, 53, began his racing endeavors in his native Michigan when walking hots for his father, George Maker, at Hazel Park Raceway and the now-defunct Detroit Race Course. Maker bought his first horse at age 13 with earnings from his Detroit Free Press paper route and won his first start. After working as an assistant for his father, Maker accepted a job with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in 1993 and 10 years later, started his own stable.

In 2004, Maker earned his first graded-stakes win when Freefourinternet won the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap. Maker would go on to score his first Grade 1 in style when Furthest Land captured the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in 2009 at Santa Anita. 

Since then, Maker has conditioned two other Breeders’ Cup winners in 2011 Juvenile victor Hansen, who went on to be awarded the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, and Fire at Will in the 2020 Juvenile Turf. Other top Grade 1 performers for Maker include Zulu Alpha, Bigger Picture, Henley’s Joy, Stately Victor, Admiral Kitten, Kitten’s Dumplings, Joha, King David, Al’s Gal, and Aquaphobia. He also trained Da Big Hoss to five graded-stakes victories, capped by half-length win in the 2016 Grade 2 Elkhorn. 

“There's been so many good horses - Hansen, Zulu Alpha, Da Big Hoss - and so many more if I sat down to think about it,” Maker said has he reflected on his most memorable runners. “I wouldn't want to discredit anyone. There's also a lot of lesser horses that no one's heard of.” 

Maker enjoyed a career year in 2021 in purses earned [$14.9 million], ranking him as the fifth highest-earning trainer in North America for the year. Last year saw him visit the winner’s circle for 13 graded events, including the Grade 2 Bowling Green with Cross Border and Grade 2 Dinner Party with Somelikeithotbrown, both New York-bred millionaires. In total, Maker boats nearly $140 million in total purse earnings and over 4,200 other on-the-board finishes. 

Maker said he looks forward to continuing to leave his mark in the industry.

"I still love the game,” said Maker.