Choo-Choo! Built Railroads His Way Thorough Vanderbilt At Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Made the favorite by the betting public in the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, Built (Hard Spun–Sea Garden, by Curlin) put coal in the firebox, ran to his odds and recorded the first higher-level win of his career.
After dancing every dance in the Louisiana series at Fair Grounds as a 3-year-old with his best finish coming when second in the GIII Lecomte Stakes, Built was well-beaten in the GII Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard. The bay took time off from the track, but returned in mid-December at Fair Grounds to hurdle an optional claimer.
The Wayne Catalano trainee finished fifth while trying the turf in the Colonel Power Stakes Feb. 14, but leveled up once again in an optional claimer in the Big Easy Mar. 13. Built’s last three races included running third in the restricted St. Matthews Stakes at Churchill Downs Apr. 30, taking an optional claimer in Louisville May 21 and serving as the runner-up to Harrodsburg (Constitution) in the GIII Bango Stakes over the same surface.
The 6-5 choice tracked to the outside of Damon’s Mound (Girvin) out of the blocks and Built remained on hold until he received his cue. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who was putting on a riding clinic throughout the afternoon, gave his mount the signal and the favorite sped to the front. Built pulled into the winner’s circle station ahead of schedule. Hymn (McKinzie) rallied to finish as the runner-up.
“Just what we thought he was going to get, he got,” said trainer Wayne Catalano. “The jock did a great job. He was a little antsy in the gate and he wanted to reset him because last time, he kind of bobbled away. Everything worked out today.”
“No, no,” the trainer said about a potential start in the GI Forego, a “Win and You’re In” for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Aug. 29. “I say no because it’s too close back. We already ran him close. I say no, but there’s somebody a little bit higher than me. He’ll go seven furlongs, six and a half. He does whatever…flat mile out of the chute.
“I’m going to tell you good horses run against other good horses,” he said. “When you run a good race, you’ve got to come back and run another good race. These are all good horses and good races, last time was a very good race. The guy who won it [Harrodsburg trained by Michael Tomlinson] is a very good trainer and the horse did great. I think we were hindered by the break.”
Pedigree Notes:
The venerable Hard Spun (by Danzig) now has 58 graded stakes winners to his credit.
The first foal for his dam, the Vanderbilt winner has a yearling half-brother by Flameaway. Herself a half-sister to Canadian GSW Glenville Gardens (Street Cry {Ire}), Sea Garden was entered in Constitution‘s book for next foaling season.
Saturday, Saratoga
ALFRED G. VANDERBILT S.-GII, $400,000, Saratoga, 7-25, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:09.14, ft.
1–BUILT, 120, c, 4, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Sea Garden, by Curlin
2nd Dam: Navy Gardens, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Marley Vale, by Forty Niner
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($82,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo ’24 OBSAPR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Low & Lawana Low (KY); T-Wayne M. Catalano; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $220,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-2-3, $699,696. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hymn, 122, g, 4, McKinzie–Salt Bae, by Paynter. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($140,000 RNA Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-Fleur De Lis Stables, Sparks, William S. and Jones, Bret; B-Fleur de Lis Stables (KY); T-Ron Moquett. $80,000.
3–Damon’s Mound, 122, h, 6, Girvin–San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll. ($270,000 RNA 5yo ’25 IGDOC1). ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’. O-Love, Cliff and Love, Michele; B-Cliff Love (FL); T-William I. Mott. $48,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, HF. Odds: 1.20, 3.97, 2.16.
Also Ran: T Kraft, Cat On Time, Nutella Fella. Scratched: Crazy Mason, Just Beat the Odds.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.