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‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory

After numerous close defeats in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup including a disqualification from victory in last year's edition, trainer Todd Pletcher secured the elusive win Saturday when Wertheimer and Frere's unbeaten sophomore Happy Saver rode the rail to victory in the prestigious classic-distance race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Pletcher, who had finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup previously with Keen Ice [2017], Palace Malice [2013], Stay Thirsty [2012], Quality Road [2010], Lawyer Ron [2007] and Newfoundland [2004], saddled Vino Rosso in last year's running. Vino Rosso crossed the wire first but was ultimately disqualified to second for interference with Code of Honor in the stretch run.

Pletcher said the long-awaited victory with the son of Super Saver was welcome.

“That was a race that had been alluding us for a while,” Pletcher said. “I thought we broke through last year only to be disqualified. Not only had we not won it, but we had seven seconds, a number of which were very close. It was a very rewarding win for the whole team and it was nice to do it for the Wertheimers, who have been loyal supporters of ours for a long time. He's by Super Saver and out of a mare we trained, so it was a great win all the way around.

“He looks good,” Pletcher said the morning after Happy Saver's win. “He seemed to bounce out of everything well. He's a little bit tired, which I would expect after running a race like that. It seems like he's in good shape.”

Following a debut victory on June 20 at Belmont Park, Happy Saver bested older winners going two turns at Saratoga en route to a triumph in the September 7 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, ahead of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he earned a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pletcher praised his newly minted Grade 1-winner on being able to make such a swift climb up the ladder.

“What he's been able to accomplish you don't see very many other horses do,” Pletcher said. “He went from a seven-furlong maiden on June 20 to a mile and an eighth allowance at Saratoga, to a mile and an eighth stake at Laurel and came back to Belmont and then to win a Grade 1 going a mile and a quarter against older horses is something you don't see very often.”

In winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” event, Happy Saver earned an all-fees paid entry into the Grade 1, $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, which Pletcher said is under strong consideration.

“That's what we're going to think about,” Pletcher said. “We'll see how he bounces out of this and let him take us there when he wants to. Speaking to the Wertheimers last night, they're in no rush and they plan on racing him next year.”

Should Happy Saver make the trip for the Breeders' Cup, he would seek to give Pletcher a second straight win in the Classic after winning last year's edition at Santa Anita with Vino Rosso. Wertheimer and Frere have never won the Classic, but owned Breeders' Cup heroes Halfbridled, who took the 2003 Juvenile Fillies for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, and international superstar Goldikova who captured three consecutive runnings of the Mile from 2008-10.

Happy Saver's sire Super Saver gave Pletcher his first triumph in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2010 after a slew of placings.

“I don't see a lot of similarities,” Pletcher said. “The one thing I would say is that from a physical standpoint, they're both very good-looking and well-balanced horses. Super Saver could get a little intense in the paddock and this one is more laid back.”

Other possible Breeders' Cup contenders for Pletcher include Grade 1-winners Valiance [Distaff] and Halladay [Mile] as well as impressive maiden winner Likeable [Juvenile] and Grade 2 Bourbon winner Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf].

Pletcher also spoke of recent first out maiden winner Malathaat, who gave Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 2,000th win at Belmont Park, and said that the $100,000 Tempted on November 6 going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct could be in play for the regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.

“I thought she ran really well the other day,” Pletcher said. “She's obviously bred to be a very nice filly.”

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Galilean Emerges From Stretch Duel, Inquiry With California Flag Win

Trainer John Sadler's classy Galilean cut back in distance, added blinkers and survived a stewards inquiry to prevail in Sunday's $100,000 California Flag Handicap at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo was up to nip Ultimate Bango by a head while getting 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:02.13.

Away alertly from his outside post, Galilean tracked pacesetter Mikes Tiznow and Ricardo Gonzalez into and around the far turn and was one length off of him a quarter mile out. As Mikes Tiznow began to shorten stride, Galilean drifted inward some, causing Gonzalez to steady at the sixteenth pole and from there, Galilean was able to outrun Ultimate Bango late.

“Unfortunately, my horse didn't want to switch leads and he was hanging in the whole way,” said Rispoli, who had ridden him for the first time at Del Mar on Aug. 23. “I was obligated to just ride it with him and to try to make him as straight as I can, but he's a huge horse. I got (the win) because he was the (best) horse in the race.”

Fifth to world-class turf miler Mo Forza in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap on turf Aug. 23, Galilean was off as the 3-2 favorite in a field of five California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up and paid $5.00, $3.00 and $2.20.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, William Sandbrook, John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, Galilean, who is out of the El Prado mare Fresia, notched his sixth win, all stakes, in his 12th career start. With the winner's share of $60,000, he now has earnings of $577,098.

“He's a really good horse,” said Sadler who took over training duties five starts back on Feb. 29, 2020. “This is the third stakes we've won with him. … He's got so much class. We changed things up today, running short, but we added blinkers and as you saw, he's got a ton of natural speed. Long range, it's exciting because these Uncle Mo's are becoming great stud prospects and that's very encouraging for him.

“We're excited about the new turf chute here at Santa Anita and we'll look at running him in a stake going six and a half (furlongs) this winter. We'll probably stick with the state-bred program, there's just so much money there.”

Ultimate Bango, who was also adding blinkers in his first start for Mark Glatt, tracked Galilean to the far turn, kept inside of Mikes Tiznow through the stretch drive while making the lead inside the furlong pole, but couldn't keep the winner safe late. Off at 9-2 with Abel Cedillo, Ultimate Bango paid $5.00 and $3.20 while finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Rookie Mistake.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Rookie Mistake finished well at 9-1 and paid $4.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.71, 45.09 and 56.29.

Named for the Hi Card Ranch-bred winner of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the California Flag is for eligible California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up and is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA.

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Canadian Horseman James T. Sabiston, 97, Dies; Remembered For ‘The Integrity Of His Handshake’

Woodbine Entertainment in Toronto, Ontario, extends its condolences to the family and friends of Canadian breeder and owner James (Jim) T. Sabiston, who passed away on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the age of 97.

A longtime member of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society and supporter of the Ontario breeding program, Sabiston operated Longview Farm near Stouffville, Ont. for more than six decades, beginning in 1956 with his first stallion Bimini Bay. He went on to build a successful breeding operation and stood numerous sires including Dawn Flight, Triumphant, Ground Cover, Good Old Mort and Bold Revenue.

Among the stars he bred were stakes winners Rose and Shine, Grecian Touch, Silent Fleet, Katahaula County, Big Blunder and Bold Agent. Rose and Shine, winner of the 2011 Muskoka Stakes and Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine, went on to produce last year's Eclipse Award-winning two-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup champion British Idiom.

Highly respected by his fellow horsemen and clients, Sabiston was known for the integrity of his handshake and the time he put into nurturing his partnerships and the horses he raised.

Sabiston was awarded the Mint Julep Cup in 1996 by the CTHS in recognition of his dedication and lifetime contributions to the Thoroughbred industry.

A private funeral service will take place, with a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.

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Columbus Day Program At Gulfstream Park West Features $175,000 Rainbow 6 Jackpot Guarantee

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $175,000 on Monday's special Columbus Day card at Gulfstream Park West near Miami, Fla.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the sixth straight racing day of the Fall Turf Festival Meet Sunday, when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $1,314.14.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $5,285.56 heading into Monday's card.

Monday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9 on a program that features a pair of strong maiden special weight races.

In Race 1, several well-bred, well-connected 2-year-olds are scheduled to run five furlongs on turf, including first-time starters trained by Todd Pletcher and Saffie Joseph Jr. The Pletcher-trained Speight is a son of Speightstown. The Joseph-trained Under the Couvers is a son of Vancouver. Kelsey Danner-trained Doctor K, a son of Speightster, is scheduled to make his second career start, after finishing second behind impressive debut winner Drain the Clock in a Sept. 12 off-the-turf maiden test.

n Race 3, Pletcher-trained Aqaareb is set to debut in a mile maiden special weight race on turf. The Shadwell Farm homebred is a son of Bernardini.

In Sunday's feature race, a mile optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares, Joseph-trained Gibberish withstood race-long pressure while setting the pace and fought back to prevail by a nose over Bella Ciao. The 3-year-old daughter of Lea, who is owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, collected her second straight optional claiming allowance while winning around two turns for the first time.

Defending Gulfstream Park West titlist Edgard Zayas guided Gibberish ($4.20) to her Race 3 victory before scoring aboard Arrivederia ($6.80) in Race 5 and Unpublished ($8.80) in Race 7.

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