Susie Raisher Photo

Ship Cadet sails to victory in $150K Skidmore

by Mary Eddy

Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Kevin Haynes and John Huber’s Ship Cadet, who finished second in two consecutive stakes outings earlier this summer, put it all together for trainer Mike Maker in Friday’s $150,000 Skidmore, a 5 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles that was originally scheduled for the Mellon turf, at Saratoga Race Course.

Ship Cadet was a bridesmaid no more with his swift gate-to-wire score under Manny Franco, avenging losses on the main track in the June 11 Tremont at Belmont Park and on turf in the July 30 Tyro at Monmouth Park. The son of Midshipman now boasts two victories, adding to a debut maiden win sprinting five furlongs over the Belmont green in May.

“He’s certainly a diversified type of horse,” said Peter Proscia of Paradise Farms Corp. “We haven’t figured out which one [surface] he’s better at. We were contemplating scratching when it came off, so I’m glad we didn’t do that. It worked out really well.

“We walked the track this morning and we figured it would dry out a little bit and it did, I think,” Proscia added. “We didn’t know if he’d like the surface but we gave him a shot. He was feeling good and he showed it." 

Ship Cadet broke sharply from post 2 and quickly assumed position at the front of the nine-horse field with Five o’ Somewhere tracking in second through an opening quarter-mile in 21.77 seconds over the muddy and sealed footing.

Main track-only entrant El Grande O kept the top pair in his sights from third while Ship Cadet coasted through a half-mile in 45.47 and Antonio of Venice was swung widest of all to range into contention at the top of the lane. Five o’ Somewhere backpedaled as Ship Cadet sprinted clear from the oncoming rush of El Grande O at the eighth pole.

Antonio of Venice lost ground in the stretch run as post-time favorite Seize the Grey made giant strides from last down the center of the course to challenge late, but there was no catching Ship Cadet, who crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:05.30. 

El Grande O held onto place honors by 1 1/2 lengths over Seize the Grey with Billy the Greek completing the superfecta another 7 1/4 lengths back. Go Otto Go, Antonio of Venice, Untroubled, Sebastian Run and Five o’ Somewhere completed the order of finish. Factor U and Me In, No Nay Mets, Fandom and Jimmythetooth were scratched.

Maker, who won his first stake of the Saratoga meet, said he was more concerned with the 18 day’s rest Ship Cadet entered on rather than the surface switch.

“We debated all morning [on scratching]. The way I looked at it, we might as well run. The horse was doing well and if we waited another month something might happen,” said Maker. “I wasn’t worried about whatever surface we had. It was more or less coming back in short time.”

Franco, aboard Ship Cadet for the first time, said the track condition helped to carry him throughout.

“That was my plan. Maker never said nothing. He let me ride the horse however I see it and that’s what I did,” said Franco. “I saw when he ran on the dirt he showed speed. I was down there and the way the track is, the speed is holding today. So, that was my plan – go forward and he was there for me the entire way.”

Maker said Ship Cadet will target a trip to Kentucky Downs for either the Juvenile Mile on September 10 or the Juvenile Sprint on September 13. 

Bred in California by Mr. and Mrs. William T. Griffin, Ship Cadet banked $82,500 in victory and improved his lifetime record to 4-2-2-0. The $79,000 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders’ Yearling and Mixed Sale purchased returned $6.90 for a $2 win ticket.

Jose Ortiz, aboard the Linda Rice-trained runner-up El Grande O, said an outside move from fourth-place finisher Billy the Greek entering the stretch caused his mount to behave greenly.

“My horse was a little green with his body. I wasn't able to keep up my spot,” said Ortiz. “I was three wide, perfect, but he was a little bit shy of the horse inside of him getting out and I wasn't able to keep him there.”

Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, featuring the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales in Race 9 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.  

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet 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 summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.