The dark bay was the first Classic winner to be retired to the farm Sept. 29, 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain.

He upset the field of the 2002 GI Belmont S. at odds of 70-1, defeating Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire}) and Triple Crown contender War Emblem (Our Emblem).

Sarava concluded his racing career with a record of 17-3-3-0 and $773,832 in earnings and began his stud career in 2005 at Florida's division of Cloverleaf Farms before moving to the Kentucky division in 2007. In 2008, he returned to Florida to Bridlewood Farm where he remained for the rest of his stud career.

Pensioned in 2012, the then 13-year old stallion was donated to Old Friends and arrived at the farm Sept. 29, 2012.

“It's a sad day for our family and friends,” said owner Gary Drake when he heard the news. “We've all been Sarava fans since we met him in 2001. When you get into horse racing, you hope to have the opportunity to be involved with a horse like this. I mean it's cliche, but people say it all the time, they (the horses) take you places you would never go otherwise, and certainly Sarava did that for us.”

“Sarava attracted so many fans to Old Friends,” added Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “Most recently, a horse player said he bought a condo in Ft. Myers with his winnings from that race. But, to us, he was a lot more than the longest shot in the history of the Belmont Stakes who defeated fellow Old Friends retiree, War Emblem. He was proud, independent and, in his way, very lovable. And you can't buy that… even at $142.50. We thank owner Gary Drake and friend Tom Bozarth for allowing us to care for Sarava for more than a decade.”

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“I can't say enough about what the New York Race Track Chaplaincy organization does for the backstretch community,” Pletcher said. “It provides so much more than spiritual help. I look at it like the mayor's office where everyone goes when they need help. On behalf of Tracy and our children, thank you very much for this honor and for your support of the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy.”

As is the custom, the Pletchers were presented with a framed racing scene created by equine artist Tom Chapman from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. In a surprise appearance, Pletcher's mentor, fellow Hall of Famer trainer D. Wayne Lukas, made the presentation.

“God blessed Todd with extraordinary talent and he has shown class, dignity and integrity throughout his career,” Lukas said. “In addition to their own family, Todd and Tracy have also adopted the backstretch family and they are most deserving of this honor.”

The brunch attracted a record crowd of approximately 350 individuals from all segments of the racing industry and included such supporters as Mandy Pope, Jo Ann and Paul Oreffice and Len Green.

Among those in attendance were: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), NYS Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture and Markets Elizabeth Wolters, trainer Jena Antonucci and Hall of Famer riders Javier Castellano, Angel Cordero Jr., Edgar Prado, and John Velazquez. Liz Bishop, the longtime television news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Albany, once again served as emcee.

Previous honorees have included Andy Serling, Irad Ortiz Jr., Anne Campbell, Edgar Prado, Michael Dubb, Fay and David Donk, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, Letty and Kiaran McLaughlin, Lisa and Kenny Troutt, Debbie and Terry Finley and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

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“It's an honor to be present at Old Friends,” Prado said. “They really take care of the horses after their careers, giving them the best life possible every single day. I'm very proud to be part of that organization.

“It's an honor for me, also, to share this celebration with my buddies, Birdstone and Sarava. I'm very excited to see them again. I wish them a good, long life. I know they are in a very beautiful place, surrounded by beautiful people who really care about the horses.”

Festivities, which include a meet and greet with Prado, will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 300 p.m. EDT at the Thoroughbred retirement sanctuary. Admission is free and those interested must RSVP.

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At deadline for this story, Prado had not returned a phone from the TDN, but told the Blood-Horse that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“It was getting harder and harder and I was wasting the time that I spent with my family, with my loved ones,” he told the Blood-Horse. “I saw my kids in my house having a great time and I decided to call it off. I've been very blessed throughout my career.”

Prado's decision to retire came after one of the roughest stretches of his career. He won just 15 races in 2021 and another 11 in 2022. This year, he was 0-for-2.

“They all wanted new riders,” he told said. “I totally understand that. When I was 20, I took somebody's place and now somebody is taking my place.”

Prado was born in Lima, Peru, where he rode his first winner in 1983. He began riding in the U.S. in 1986, starting out at the Florida tracks before moving on to Suffolk Downs. He had his breakthrough at the Maryland tracks, where, in 1997, he won 536 races. He was the leading jockey in Maryland six times, 1991 through 1993 and 1997 through 1999. Prado led all riders in the nation in wins three times, in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

In 1999, Richard Migliore, who was riding regularly for trainer John Kimmel had a spill and Kimmel needed a new rider. He summoned Prado from Maryland and that began a very successful run at the NYRA tracks for the talented Peruvian jockey. He would go on to win 11 riding titles at the NYRA tracks.

He won the 2002 GI Belmont S. with Sarava (Wild Again), the longest shot ever to win the race, and the 2004 Belmont with Birdstone (Grindstone). He also won five Breeders' Cup races. But Prado will always be best known as the rider of the ill-fated Barbaro (Dynaformer). After a rousing win by Barbaro in the 2006 GI Kentucky Derby with Prado aboard, the colt appeared ready to sweep the Triple Crown, but he broke down in the GI Preakness S. and was euthanized several months later.

Prado won an Eclipse Award in 2006 as the nation's leading rider and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

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“There are only a few other racing towns that can garner the enthusiasm and love for racing as Hot Springs, Arkansas, and we know this event will be a huge hit among our fans,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We are excited by the response we have received from the Hall of Fame members in the first year of this event, and we look forward to honoring some of our industry's greats.”

Scheduled to appear are 11-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen, Bill Boland, Calvin Borel, Ramon Dominguez, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Chris McCarron, Bill Mott, Don Pierce, Laffit Pincay Jr., Edgar Prado, Jose Santos, Gary Stevens and Nick Zito.

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“It happened suddenly,” said Prado of the death of his father, Jose. “I went to see him in the hospital, but he passed away before I could get there.”

Prado, one of 12 children, said returning to Peru has brought back a lot of memories, feelings, and appreciation.

“Everything I know I learned from him,” said Prado of his father, an assistant trainer and groom. “He was very dedicated to his horses, and I learned to love and respect horses through him.

“When you go back you start thinking, especially when you start opening boxes of memories. Your mind starts to go back, and you think about everything that has happened in your life. You realize in order to achieve success sometimes you have to risk something…you pay the price of missing parents and family. But maybe I would have missed more if I didn't take the chance.”

Prado returns Saturday with two mounts for trainer Timothy Hamm. In the second race, Prado rides the debuting 2-year-old colt Cloud Play, a son of Into Mischief bred and owned by Patricia Pavlish. In the fifth, a maiden claiming event on the turf, Prado rides Mission Brief.

Prado, who is represented by agent Cliff Hopmans, is three wins shy of 7,100 and is ranked eighth all-time in wins. The 53-year-old is 45 wins shy of surpassing Chris McCarron for seventh. Prado, who makes his home in South Florida, says he is looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

“I feel good, physically and mentally,” he said. “My kids want me to stop, but I like what I'm doing. I feel a passion for the game, and I love winning and riding.”

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For the first time, the fundraiser will feature three distinct bottles, each with its own label featuring the work of artists Sandra Oppegard, Andre Pater, or Tyler Robertson. The bottles are all pre-signed by the artist who created each label along with Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin, Maker's Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels, and one of three active Hall of Fame jockeys who have won the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland multiple times: Javier Castellano, Edgar Prado, and John Velazquez.

The three bottles will go on sale Friday, Apr. 2. This begins a three-year series benefiting LexArts initiatives, with the same three artists creating new labels each year for the commemorative release.

“To have the immeasurable support of these two iconic brands, Keeneland and Maker's Mark, is meaningful in so many ways for LexArts and our entire arts community,” said Ame Sweetall, LexArts President and CEO. “The support of the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden this partnership will further engage and enrich the East End community and build upon the early work of those who made the art garden a reality more than ten years ago.”

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“Since his arrival on the New York Racing Association circuit, Irad has demonstrated a deep appreciation for our backstretch community, and his actions have directly and indirectly improved the quality of life for those who make their living caring for horses,” said Humberto Chavez, the chaplain for the NY Chaplaincy.  “He is immensely deserving of this honor.”

Ortiz, a native of Trujillo Alto in Puerto Rico, has won nearly 2700 races and earned nearly $200 million in purses in his career. He won the Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding jockey in both 2018 and 2019.  He also took home the title of the leading jockey of the 2020 Saratoga meet.

He won the 2016 Belmont Stakes aboard Creator and has won 11 Breeders' Cup races.

“Racing would not exist without the dedicated individuals who care for the horses,” said Ortiz.  “It is a blessing and an honor to support them through the work of the NY Chaplaincy.”

Previous honorees have included Anne Campbell, Edgar Prado, Michael Dubb, Fay and David Donk, Marylou Whitney/John Hendrickson, Letty and Kiaran McLaughlin, Lisa and Kenny Troutt, Debbie and Terry Finley and, last year, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

The honoree is presented with an original painting by equine artist Tom Chapman at a brunch typically held at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs. The event was held virtually under a different format in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are extremely hopeful that we will be able to once again host our annual event in person and make the presentation to Irad,” said Chavez, “but we will go forward with it only when we can ensure the health and safety of our attendees. We will make those decisions when we get closer to August and will get the word out.”

The NY Race Track Chaplaincy, which will soon be expanding its services as it breaks ground on a dedicated building at Belmont Park, serves the NY backstretch community with children's enrichment, social service, recreational, and educational programming as well as non-denominational religious services.

Additional information may be found at www.rtcany.org.

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The Monroe and the $75,000 Mr. Steele, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up, co-headlined Monday's program, wrapping up a seven-stakes Labor Day Weekend schedule that included Cool Arrow's victory in Saturday's $100,000 Smile Sprint (G3).

Always Shopping ($9.40), unplaced on dirt in the Ruffian (G2) at Belmont Park and the Summer Colony at Saratoga in her two most recent starts, was making her second start on turf and first start with blinkers Monday. Prior to shipping north, she finished fourth in her turf debut at Gulfstream in the June 7 Treasure Coast, in which she became involved in an early speed duel before fading late.

Ridden by the Spring/Summer Meet's leading rider Edgard Zayas, Always Shopping offered a much more professional performance, stalking the pace on the outside before kicking in through the stretch to win by a neck over Bienville Street, who saved ground behind pacesetter Crown and Sugar before taking over the lead heading into the stretch.

“The blinkers helped her get into the race and relax at the same time. It completely changed her,” said Zayas, who was aboard the Pletcher trainee in the Treasure Coast. “The last time I rode her, I got an inside position and got her running out of there and kind of got stuck in a speed duel. Today, I wanted to get her in position to stalk the pace. When it was time to ask her, she came running in the end.”

Always Shopping, who captured the Gazelle (G2) over Aqueduct's main track last year, ran 1 1/16-miles over a 'good' turf in 1:43.36. Bienville Street finished second, 2 ¼ lengths clear of late-running Kelsey's Cross.

Always Shopping is out of Stopshoppingmaria, who was graded-stakes placed on turf and dirt and won the 2013 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

In the Mr. Steele, trainer Louie Roussel III's Sailing Solo had things his own way Monday at Gulfstream Park while collecting his third win in a row under Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado. The 5-year-old son of Smart Strike was allowed to set a leisurely uncontested pace while preserving sufficient energy to turn back all challengers in the stretch on the way to a 1 ½-length victory.

Sailing Solo, who had won three of 11 starts the Midwest before joining Roussel's string in South Florida, captured a June 26 optional claiming allowance and the July 25 Mecke Stakes over the Gulfstream turf course prior to Monday's front-running score.

“It seems like we get along pretty good,” Prado said. “I watched his races in Louisiana for different riders, and I learned something from that. I learned more when I got on him the first time. He seemed like he wanted to do things his way, nice and relaxed. That's what he's been doing the last three times. He goes right to the front, relaxes and waits for me to ask him.”

Sailing Solo ran 1 1/16 miles on a 'good' turf in 1:42.44. Louder Than Bombs saved ground behind the victorious pacesetter and finished second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of David Fawkes stablemate Galleon Mast, who finished third after a wide trip throughout the running of the Mr. Steele.

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McPeek, who put the finishing touches on a productive 2019-2020 Championship Meet by saddling Swiss Skydiver for a 3 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), is maintaining a stable at Gulfstream Park during the Spring/Summer Meet for the first time.

“We've got a significant number of young horses that are based at Summerfield now. We're able to rest and rehab older horses and younger horses, there, and then rotate them. If some need to come north [to Kentucky] or if they need to go back to Gulfstream, we have those options,” said McPeek, who has saddled Swiss Skydiver for subsequent victories in the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and a second-place finish against the boys in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland. “I think, logistically, it's a pretty good setup. I think we're going to be even more successful than we were this year.”

The Kentucky-bred colt subsequently hit somewhat of a rough patch during an eight-race losing streak that included an off-the-board finish in the Korea Cup at Seoul Racecourse. He returned to winning form during the past Championship Meet in dramatic fashion, again closing from last to score by more than five lengths in a Feb. 29 optional claiming allowance.

“He's a set-up horse. When things go his way and unfold in front of him, he can make his run and be right there,” said McPeek, who co-owns the stretch-running veteran with Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott Akman, Paul Braverman and David Bernsen LLC.

Harvey Wallbanger will be looking to rebound from an off-the-board finish in the March 28 Hal's Hope (G3).

“He's doing fine. I think it's a good first start back for him. He likes the track at Gulfstream. He's had some successes there,” McPeek said. “Our expectations are pretty high. I don't think it's an easy race by any means, but he fits.”

Hall of Famer Edgar Prado has the call on Harvey Wallbanger, who is scheduled to meet six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

St. George Stable LLC's Kukulkan, also a horse that has shown a fondness for the Gulfstream track, is scheduled to make a return off a six-month layoff since an off-the-board finish in the Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds. The Fausto Gutierrez-trained 5-year-old son of Point Determined first ventured to Gulfstream for the Clasico del Caribe in December 2018. The 2018 Mexican Triple Crown champion with an undefeated record captured the prestigious race for 3-year-olds by 10 ½ lengths.

After incurring his first loss in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) seven weeks later, Kukulkan captured an allowance race at Churchill Downs off a four-month layoff. He became graded stakes-placed two starts later while finishing second, beaten a half-length by Silver Dust, in the West Virginia Governor's Cup (G3). He went to the sidelines after finishing off the board in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill last September.

The Mexican-bred Kukulkan again came off a layoff impressively, scoring by a dominating six lengths in the Copa Confraternidad del Caribe on the Dec. 8 Clasico International del Caribe program at Gulfstream.

“He is training very good. This is a good race for him,” said Gutierrez, who has enjoyed considerable success at Gulfstream this year since transferring his stable from Mexico to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training center in Palm Beach County. “He likes the track at Gulfstream.”

Miguel Vasquez, who ranks second in the Spring/Summer Meet standings, is scheduled to ride Kukulkan for the first time Saturday.

Gelfenstein Farm LLC's Identifier will be looking to rebound off a 12th-place finish in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Saturday. The Oscar Gonzalez-trained 4-year-old son of Creative Cause previously pulled off a 60-1 upset victory in the Hal's Hope, in which Harvey Wallbanger finished well back.

Marcos Meneses, who was aboard for the Hal's Hope, has the call.

Trainer Steve Budhoo's Eye of a Jedi, who won the Sea of Tranquility last year, captured the June 13 Coaltown Handicap over multiple graded-stakes winner Diamond Oops at 17-1. He rallied under Meneses to win by 1 ¼ lengths while being in receipt of seven pounds from Diamond Oops.

Hector Berrios is scheduled to ride Eye of a Jedi for the first time Saturday.

Harold Queen's Noble Drama, a multiple-stakes winner trained by David Fawkes, will seek to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Coaltown Handicap. The 5-year-old son of Gone Astray will be reunited with Emisael Jaramillo, who scored back-to-back wins aboard the homebred gelding in an optional claiming allowance and the Sunshine Millions Sprint during the Championship Meet.

IAB Stables and Walter Fralick's Quenane and Equine Authority Inc.'s Red Crescent, a pair of rugged veteran stakes performers, round out the field. Cristian Torres is named to ride Quenane, whom he guided to an optional claiming win last time out. Samy Camacho, who rode Red Crescent to a third-place finish in the Coaltown Handicap, has the return call Saturday.

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