Gill Johnston's State of Affair started fast and finished faster, romping by daylight under Tom Garner in Wednesday's Saratoga allowance hurdle for non-winners of two.
Breaking swiftly in the 2 1/16-mile contest, the 6-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, trained by Todd Wyatt, was joined by Carrington Holdings' Hurtgen Forest, with Jamie Bargary up, and the duo dueled back-and-forth, pulling far ahead of the rest of the six-horse field.
There was little change in position among the competitors as the race played out, with the field strung out by 20 to 30 lengths at one time or another. Turning for home on the final lap, Garner stepped on the gas and drew clear of Hurtgen Forest, who was eventually overtaken by Kiplin Hall's Take Profit (Graham Watters), who had sat in third from the start.
Entering the stretch, Garner continued to rouse his mount, who pulled clear as much the best. The winner was sent off as 8-1, Take Profit was 7-1. Favored Baltimore Kid (Parker Hendriks) finished third as the 6-5 choice.
For State of Affair, it was the gelding's first victory in four 2022 starts. He broke his maiden at Great Meadow in the fall of 2021, after beginning his career in the UK.
When trainer Greg Foley first saw the condition book for Arlington Million Day at Churchill Downs his excitement was evident. The reason: the inaugural running of the $200,000 Lady Tak would be staged beneath the historic Twin Spires and he could keep his prized mare Sconsin based in Kentucky to continue her path toward the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1) at Keeneland.
“Our home is at Churchill Downs and we ended up having to ship (Sconsin) to Saratoga last summer,” Foley said. “Things didn't work out that day but I'm sure excited this year she can run out of her own stall at Churchill.”
Foley began plotting a course over the winter for the Lloyd Madison Farm homebred to get to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland. When the Breeders' Cup was last staged at Keeneland in 2020, Sconsin finished fourth behind eventual Eclipse Award champion Gamine, former Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Serengeti Empress and fellow Lady Tak rival Bell's the One.
“The Lady Tak is still a tough race,” Foley said. “Bell's the One is a very talented filly and on paper it looks like there is some speed that will be in front of us early. Last time out in the Chicago (Stakes), I thought Mitchell (Murrill) gave her a great trip but we ended up begin second best that day to Lady Rocket.”
Churchill Downs leading rider Tyler Gaffalione, who was unable to be in the saddle for Sconsin's Chicago Stakes (G3) run due to his commitment to ride White Abarrio in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3), will be in town from Saratoga for Saturday's special one-day program to pilot the Include mare from post No. 2.
“We're taking things one race at a time but we're coming into Saturday's race doing great and looking forward to the next three months until the Breeders' Cup,” Foley said.
Here's the field for the Lady Tak from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
Bell's the One (Corey Lanerie, Neil Pessin, 7-5)
Sconsin (Gaffalione, Foley, 1-1)
Joyful Cadence (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 5-1)
Lovemesomeme (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tommy Drury, 6-1)
Music City Star (Jose Lopez, Chris Davis, 20-1).
The Lady Tak will go as Race 7 Saturday with a post time of 4:09 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Texas stallion My Golden Song died on Saturday of natural causes at Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas. The son of Unbridled's Song was 19.
A model of consistency as a stallion, My Golden Song was Texas' leading freshman sire in 2011 and perennially ranked among the top five sires in the state for the following decade. He sired two Texas-bred graded stakes winners: Thegirlinthatsong and Fiftyshadesofgold.
“I called him 'Big Gray,' said Valor Farm general manager, Donny Denton. “He was a very imposing individual from the first day he stepped off the van here at the farm. He was extremely well-balanced, big and strong. That carried over into his offspring. It was truly a pleasure to be with him through his career. He will be missed by everyone here at Valor Farm.”
Thegirlinthatsong earned $480,195 during a career highlighted by a victory in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes and a third-place finish in the G1 Santa Margarita Stakes, both at Santa Anita. She also earned a stakes win in her home state at Lone Star Park.
Fiftyshadesofgold earned $420,531 in nine starts with wins in the Debutante Stakes and G3 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs. She also had a stakes win in Texas at Sam Houston Race Park, and she finished fourth, beaten just over a length, in the G1 Test Stakes at Saratoga. Fiftyshadesofgold was a true Texas-bred, as the 2014 Texas Horse of the Year was out of the Texas-bred mare Hadif Cat, who was a daughter of longtime leading Texas stallion and former Valor Farm resident Hadif.
Through Aug. 8, My Golden Song was on the verge of surpassing $9 million in total progeny earnings. He is represented by 16 stakes winners and 32 stakes horses.
Undefeated in two starts as a 2-year-old, My Golden Song placed in two stakes as a 3-year-old, including a third-place finish behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes.
This is the first in a new monthly series spotlighting the behind-the-scenes work of people at accredited aftercare organizations who are helping horses begin the next phase in their careers.
When Raina Gunderson began her foray into the world of horse racing, she never thought it would lead to a vital role in Thoroughbred Aftercare.
“When I got on the backside in 1980, aftercare wasn't even a thing,” said Gunderson. “If a horse didn't work out on the track, they left. There was no discussion of a second career. Many of them went on to become ponies and riding horses.
“I did everything. From hot walker and groom to exercise rider. I was an exercise rider for some of the best in the business: John Veitch, Nick Zito and David Whitely.”
During her time on the back side, Raina would occasionally find homes for horses that weren't suited for the track.
While still galloping as an exercise rider, Raina began working on the front-side at Gulfstream Park. She started in customer service, where her hard work earned her the role of Director of Customer Service and (Horseman's) Relations. In that role, Raina says she learned a lot about owners and how much people love horses. It was during this time that aftercare would come to the forefront of racing consciousness.
“I was galloping and working the front-side when I learned about Ferdinand going to slaughter in [Japan],” said Gunderson. “It was a tragedy and the horse deserved better. A son of his, El Gran Fernando, came my way as a horse that needed a home. He lived with me until he passed away at the age of 31.”
It was a perfect fit when The Stronach Group (now 1/ST Racing) reached out to Raina in 2020 for a new role as Thoroughbred Aftercare Liaison at Gulfstream Park.
“I was recommended for the position by Stacie Clark-Rogers of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). At the time, another aftercare organization, FL TRAC, had an overflow of horses and Stacie and I worked together to help place horses using TAA accredited facilities,” said Gunderson.
As an aftercare liaison, Raina is often the first point of contact for a trainer or owner looking to place their horse. Other times, exercise riders and other backstretch workers will tell Raina about a horse they know of that needs placement. That means Raina is always on call.
“The job is very demanding, but the rewards far outweigh that. I love to find horses their new homes,” Gunderson said fondly.
Gunderson galloping a horse for Butch Reid at Saratoga
A recent success story is one that Gunderson is very proud of.
“I was told that a horse named Cowboy's Hero was slated to leave Gulfstream for Camarero Racetrack in Canóvanas Puerto Rico. The girl who had been galloping him came up to me and told me that the connections were planning on sending him to Camarero,” said Gunderson. “We were concerned because the horse had been on the vet's list and as an 8-year-old gelding, he deserved a soft landing.”
Gunderson, along with the help of Aidan Butler, 1/ST Racing's Chief Operating Officer approached the connections of Cowboy's Hero and explained that it would be better for the bay gelding to be retired and that Raina would be more than happy to find him a home where he could begin a new career. After the connections agreed, the challenge was to get Cowboy's Hero situated at a farm until he could be adopted.
“We had to move him immediately, so I called my friend Maureen Benashski, who has a farm in Davie [Florida], where he could go for the time being,” recalled Gunderson.
While on the farm, Benashski noticed Cowboy's affable nature and quiet demeanor. She had a friend, Olivia Lefferts, who was looking for a horse that was quiet that she could take to English shows and do Dressage with.
“The stars were aligned for this horse. He was an absolute sweetheart of a horse who was a 'been there, done that type of horse,' so when Olivia met him, it was meant to be,” explained Gunderson.
Since retiring from the track, Cowboy's Hero spends his days with Lefferts where the pair show in the Dressage Ring. Recently, they competed at the Intro Level in dressage at the Southeast Horse Shows Summer Sizzler 2 in Newberry, Fla., where they earned two blue ribbons. Lefferts hopes to build on this success when the pair compete in the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover this fall.
“When adopters reach out to me to share their success stories and I see the horses blossom in the next phase of their life, that's the greatest feeling, knowing I played a role in that,” Gunderson said. “This is the kind of happy ending that Gunderson and 1/ST Racing strives for.”
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This piece is co-authored by Raina Gunderson, Thoroughbred Aftercare Liaison for Gulfstream Park and Jeanne Schnell, Thoroughbred Aftercare Liaison for Santa Anita Park.
At the end of each edition of The Horse Comes 1/ST, we will spotlight a different TAA-accredited facility that could use your support. The Paulick Report will donate up to $100 to each facility featured, and encourages our readers to do the same.
Aftercare Facility Spotlight: Second Stride Inc.
Located in Prospect, Kentucky Second Stride is a 501(c)(3) TAA accredited organization made up of horsemen and industry professionals who are committed to thoroughbred aftercare and educating the public and racing industry on retiring a horse safely. They offer many programs including castration clinics and retraining and rehabilitation for horses coming off of the track and broodmares. To learn more about Second Stride or to donate, please visit their website: https://secondstride.org.
