Tom Pedulla presents takeaways from Whitney Stakes day at Saratoga Race Course and the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Introduced by Oak Tree Racing Affiliation at Del Mar, each on Saturday, on a giant weekend of racing because the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Del Mar become visible.
BREAKING THROUGH: Defending Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner Sierra Leone, winless in three earlier Saratoga begins with a second- and two third-place finishes, broke by means of at a great time. He rallied from final to first and held off Highland Falls by one size within the $1 million Whitney Stakes. It was the primary Whitney triumph for coach Chad Brown, who hails from close by Mechanicville, N.Y. “Rising up round right here, the Whitney and the Travers is what the entire race meet has been constructed round since its early days,” Brown mentioned. “For me to lastly get certainly one of them with my mother and pa right here, my brother, each of my daughters, made reminiscences to final eternally.” Brown mentioned Sierra Leone, who locked up an computerized fees-paid berth within the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional by capturing the Whitney, most likely will make his subsequent begin within the Aug. 31 Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
ENCOURAGING SECOND: Godolphin homebred Highland Falls added his identify to the record of contenders in what looms as a aggressive Traditional by putting second within the Whitney in solely his second begin this season. Coach Brad Cox was inspired by every part he noticed. “That is our horse’s second run off the layoff,” he famous, “and I believe so long as he comes out of it in good order, he might transfer ahead once more. I believe he’s moved ahead as a 5-year-old primarily based off the best way he’s educated and the 2 races he’s run.” By two-time Horse of the Yr Curlin, Highland Falls cruised by 5 ½ lengths in a June 25 allowance race on the Belmont on the Large A meet in his earlier begin. He, too, will goal the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: The Clement barn has maintained a stage of excellence following the demise of Corridor of Fame finalist Christophe. His son, Miguel, earned his first Grade 1 rating when Deterministic held on by a decided head within the June 8 Resorts World On line casino Manhattan Stakes. The 4-year-old Liam’s Map colt once more delivered for Miguel on the high stage within the FanDuel Fourstardave Stakes to safe an computerized, fees-paid berth within the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile offered by PDJF. He has swept three straight races since jockey Kendrick Carmouche hopped aboard. Clement mentioned of Deterministic, “He’s gained on a number of surfaces over a variety of distances. He makes us look good as a result of he’s high class.” The 1 ¼-length choice gave Deterministic his seventh victory in 13 lifetime begins.
SOMETHING SPECIAL: Ewing, named for the New York Knicks Corridor of Fame heart, proved he’s greater than a reputation when he overcame a gradual begin and repelled highly-regarded Obliteration by one size within the $200,000 Saratoga Particular Stakes. The Knicks Go colt veered in after breaking from the beginning gate however recovered shortly for jockey Jose Ortiz to take the early lead, then withstood heavy strain from Obliteration to win for the second time in as many begins for D.J. Secure, West Level Thoroughbreds, and Kenneth Freirich. Ewing zipped by means of the 6 ½-furlong contest in 1:18.03. “That was sort of loopy. We didn’t heat him up so he would sort of get away gradual, so he might settle,” Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse mentioned. “Jose mentioned he settled for 3 strides. He’s quick.” Ewing dominated his 5 ½-furlong debut by 12 lengths on July 5 at Saratoga.
MYRACEHORSE WINS BIG: MyRacehorse, which permits followers of modest means easy accessibility to horse possession by means of microshares, partnered with Peter Leidel to win the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes with Seismic Magnificence. The 4-year-old filly led from begin to end for Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez in gaining a fees-paid berth within the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She pushed her earnings to $476,840 in finishing the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:42.33. “She’s a giant filly. She appears like she’s going straightforward, however they have been going quick,” Baffert mentioned. “She’s simply getting higher and higher. She’s nonetheless maturing, however I believe she’s going to enhance off of that.”
