It is certainly a monumental weekend for a stable if the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), endowed with one million dollar, is the “other” race of the day.
But for Terry Finley and his partners, this explains their to-do list for September 3.
While Finley and the majority of his army will always be bright sea Saturday to see the unbeaten Airline in TVG Pacific Classic (G1) worth $ 1 million, a few hours earlier First captain will compete in your main base in Recent York in the 1 1/4 miles gold cup Saratoga racetrack.
“I'm a little sorry for First Captain. In a normal year he would be the star of the show on Saturday on Saturday. At the moment he is not, but that's all relative. That is not a charge against his talent. ”Or racing record. He simply has a classmate who has done really very, very well so far, ”said Finley, founder and president of West Point. “We feel very joyful and blessed. It will be an invigorating weekend. We also have a few two -year -olds who make their debut or run again. “
Apart from the West Point investors, some of whom have shares in flightline and first captain, First Captain Woodford Racing, Siena Farm and the breeder Bobby Flay, the renowned celebrity chef.
Register Bloodhorse Daily
Woodford Racing from Bill Farish also has a share of flightline.
Both four-year-old had proud prizes because Flightline cost $ 1 million and first Captain for even more pricey $ 1.5 million from the Stone Farm delivery as a sales hit at Saratoga Sale 2019, Fasig-Tipton's Select, was bought annual sales In Saratoga Springs, NY
First captain with Jockey Luis Saez wins the Pimlico Special on the Pimlico Race Course
In contrast to Flightline, which has won several times in class 1, First Captain took longer to find its best step on the race track. A third grade winner last year, the son of Lure has matured for coach Shug McGaughey, the Pimlico Special (G3) won on May 20 and has stayed behind the gold cup starter in terms of length Lively After a dramatic stretch duel in the Suburban Stakes (G2) on July 9th, a 10-year-old stakes test at Belmont Park.
“Racing like the suburban are challenging to cope with because you don't have many chances of winning a huge race,” said Finley. “That hurt. The first captain has a great physical appearance. It only took it a little longer until everything fit together. “
First Captain will get another chance of a huge win in a race on Saturday, which not only keeps him on the right track for a start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) – which is also the goal of FlightLine – but also to him A chance can give a class 1 victory at a classic distance, which will make it a warm stallion keeper.
“It's a huge test for him. If First Captain is going well, I think we come directly to the Breeders' Cup and that could bring him to a collision course with flightline, but there is still a lot of time up to the Breeders. “” Cup and you never know what happens, “said,” said Finley.
“But if both first captain and flightline are able to play a role in the race, you will both start. The same applies to trainers who have a few horses in a race. You have to beat all competitors, and you have that. ”Be fair to all of your owners. You paid your challenging -earned money for the horse and deserve it.
From a financial point of view, the start fees for the Classic for the First Captain-or any other who wins the Gold Cup-can drop to zero, since the 104th edition of the operations in November is a “win and you're in” test. 5 classics at Keeneland.
The connections West Point and Woodford will also be employed on Saturday, coach Todd Plletcher will also have their hands full in the spa and saddle four of the eight starters.
The four include Role Stable, PHIPPS Stable and Lively One of St. Elias Stable, who also developed into the winner of the graded operations with 4 and won the suburban and Blame Stakes in his last two starts.
Lively One wins the suburban stakes in Belmont Park
“Every horse deserves it in its own way, and we will see how it works,” said Pletcher about a group, which also includes the stallion bred in the first class of the state of Recent York American revolution ,, Untreated And Keep me in mind .
Lively One, bred by Phipps Stable, beat First Captain at the Curlin Stakes in Spa last year, but then got seventh place for the rest of the year after he had occupied seventh place at Runhappy Travers (G1).
“Lively One has had a good run in the suburban. It seems that every race had run a little better for him. After the travers we put it on our so -called “race”.red wine “Program” indicates a four -year -old campaign, “said Pletcher, referring to Reppole and the winner of the Classic Classic 2019 in St. Elias.
The American revolution of CHC and Winstar Farm is tested for the first time for 1 1/4 miles. Last year he won the Cigar Mile Handicap presented by Nyra Bets (G1), was fourth in the blue and penultimate gold cup starter Olympics in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2).
“We had thought about using it in Whitney (Stakes, G1), but Winstar had done it Life is good “In there we decided to split them up and try two first graders,” said Pletcher about the son of Constitution . “He trained well last year and went well here (he won the Albany Stakes for state -bred breeds with a five -length lead). He is a class 1 winner on a mile, so we will show us which direction we should go to the Breeders' Cup. ”
Untreated material from Team Valor International (Nyquist ) became third in the suburban and lost a little less than a length after specifying the early pace.
He also finished third in the Pimlico Special.
Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Keepmeinmind from Spendthrift Farm will start for the second time for Platcher after you have won an admission race in the spa on July 22nd. Laoban's son was second behind the three-year champion Vital quality In the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) last year in the spa when he ran for coach Robertino Diodoro.
“Untreated in the suburban, fought to the end, and we have concentrated on this race ever since,” said Pletcher. “Keepmeinmind had a good preparation and we hope that we can get ahead. He is an impressive horse that can be observed in training. It runs really well and it seems that the further he comes, the better. “
Olympiad (Speechstown ) will try to get back on his feet after it has become fourth in the 1 1/8 Mile Whitney race and lost 9 1/4 lengths, while a series of five wins in a row ended.
“He had a bad day (in Whitney). I don't know what else to say, ”said coach Bill Mott.
The field also includes Tax Winner of the Jim Dandy 2019, and Chess chief .
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, September 3, 2022, race 11Entries: Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1)
