‘TDN Rising Star’ Locked To Miss Saturday’s Sam F. Davis

'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Locked (Gun Runner) will miss an expected start in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs due to a temperature, according to a report from the Daily Racing Form's David Grening.

“We felt like if we breezed him and spiked a more significant temperature that could set us back a couple of weeks or so,” trainer Todd Pletcher told Grening. “One of the good things about being ready for some of the early preps is it gives you a window on the other side to call an audible.”

Last year's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner has yet to make a start as a 3-year-old for Pletcher and owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm.

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A Graded Stakes Saturday We Never Want To End

The parade of graded stakes races this Saturday is like a Christmas tree laden with presents. Towards the end of the celebration, as the wadded paper congregates, there will be a customary wistfulness that slowly sets in. We never want it to end.

With 17, yes 17, graded races on the docket–nine of those have Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' status–it is going to be a splendid day to receive as Belmont at the Big A, Keeneland Race Course, Woodbine Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, Hastings Racecourse and Santa Anita Park hustle to apply the Scotch tape. Cue the carols, please.

Heading to the venerable Big A in Ozone Park, the graded menu expanded when last weekend's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. was added to Saturday's slate. The 12-furlong grass test includes the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Dubawi {Ire}) who looking for some New York redemption after unseating his rider around the far turn in the late-July running of the GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga. The Charlie Appleby trainee is set to face the queen of the blades in MGISW War Like Goddess (English Channel), who still has plenty of fight in her as she faces the boys again for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

If one Grade I wasn't enough for you on this card, then we are going to add two more just for good measure. The GI Frizette S. is a passageway to the GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies and Repole Stable has the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Life Talk (Gun Runner), who broke her maiden at second asking Aug. 31 at Saratoga by 6 1/2 lengths. The Todd Pletcher trainee will have to contend with Stonestreet's Emery (More Than Ready), who scratched out of Friday's GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland to run here for trainer Brad Cox. Also present is Godolphin homebred Central Avenue (Street Sense), who debuted a winner at Colonial Downs, and will try to stretch out for trainer Michael Stidam.

“She [Central Avenue] started going seven-eighths and we thought that might be a little short for her, but she got up anyways,” Stidham said. “She always looked in the mornings like she would come running late and she would [run like that]. The mile is going to be even more helpful for her style.”

The other top race of the day at 'Belmont West' is the GI Champagne S., which offers a ticket straight to the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile. Once again, Repole Stable held David Aragona's attention with 6-5 morning-line favorite Fierceness (City of Light). The 'TDN Rising Star' had his own way in the Saratoga mud Aug. 25 when the bay colt won that debut by 11 1/4 lengths. His main rival could be fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), who is also entered in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Rounding out the action at Aqueduct is a trio of Grade III turf events which include the Waya S. with GISW McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the Belmont Turf Sprint with GSW Big Invasion (Declaration of War) and finally, English import Measured Time (Frankel {GB}) is up against GISP Webslinger (Constitution) in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational.

Locked | Sarah Andrew

The Keeneland Association which just kicked off its October meet on Friday, has its own take on Christmas come early. Taking to the Haggin Turf Course, the GI First Lady S. for older females sports a rematch of the July running of the GI Diana S. between Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) and MGISW In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The former bested the latter at Saratoga and the Chad Brown stablesmates are set to do battle again. Not to be overlooked is the Joseph O'Brien trainee Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) who returns to the U.S. after finishing fifth in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9.

Moving right along to some more Grade I festivities, the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity offers the winner a shot in the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile. 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) won at second asking by 7 1/4 lengths at Saratoga Sept. 1 with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm-owned chestnut colt for trainer Todd Pletcher will take on New York-bred undefeated hero The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) for trainer Mike Maker and possibly the aforementioned Timberlake.

“He [Locked] was impressive the time he went two turns at Saratoga,” said Pletcher. “One reason he came here and Fierceness stayed in New York for the Champagne is that I thought the Champagne suited him better with the one start. It worked well that we could find a Grade I for both of them.”

The capstone to Keeneland's Super Saturday is the GI Coolmore Turf Mile, which allows access to the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile. Fresh off his 3 3/4-length first North American score in the GI Woodbine Mile, Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will challenge Up to the Mark (Not This Time), who was last seen winning GI Manhattan S. at Belmont. Lane's End recently announced that the 4-year-old colt trained by Todd Pletcher would head their way for stud duty at the conclusion of his racing career.

A pair of Grade II races will complete the Keeneland Saturday graded offering. First, the Woodford S. welcomes turf sprint specialist and G1 Nuthorpe S. at York victor Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) from the yard of Adam West. Meanwhile, MGSW and MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) tries to secure her spot in the GI Breeders' Cup PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint when she sets sail against six others in the Thoroughbred Club of America S.

Before heading west, both Gulfstream Park and Woodbine Racetrack card a graded race each. GSP Maryquitecontrary (First Dude) switches from Shug McGaughey's barn to David Fawkes, as she returns to her home track in the GIII Princess Rooney S, a race which also feeds into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Up at Woodbine, the GIII Durham Cup S. finds G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal {Ire}) making his first start in North America after trainer Simon Crisford scratched him from the GII Woodward S. last weekend.

Staying put in Canada, Hastings Racecourse cards the GIII BC Premier's H. for 3-year-olds and up. The race includes Accidental Hero (Mo Town), who bested his rival Sunbird (Orb) in the GIII BC Derby last month.

Anisette | Benoit

It would not be a graded Saturday without 'The Great Race Place' and Santa Anita Park has its share. Of course, the GI American Pharoah S., which TDN covered in a special edition on Friday, is a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile S. 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) will square off against seven others in the feature, which includes stablemate Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso).

Speaking of juveniles, the fillies get their chance to shine in the GII Chandelier S. On the line is the opportunity to make the starting gate in the GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies. One of the top contenders is Laurent (Practical Joke). The Peter Eurton trainee was second Sept. 9 in the GI Del Mar Debutante S. The dark bay filly is in the blocks right next to the Zedan Racing's Dua (Arrogate). The Bob Baffert trainee was third in the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar Aug. 12.

In the race before the American Pharoah S., turf routers will load at the mouth of the downhill course for the GII Rodeo Drive S. Looking for a chance to return for the Breeders' Cup Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf is the undefeated Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}). The 3-year-old will take on older females for the first time. After coming over from England last spring, the Leonard Powell trainee won three in a row, including the GI Del Mar Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths.

Anisette is going to have to try and get past the 9-5 morning-line favorite Didia (Arg) (Orpen) though. She was the runner-up in the GI New York S. at Belmont Park June 9 and has a history of winning from off the bench for trainer Ignacio Correas. Add in some seasoned Southern California stayers like MGSW Closing Remarks (Vronsky) and MGSW Neige Blache (FR) (Anodin {Ire}), and the Rodeo Drive is going to be quite the shopping spree at the windows.

Here's to a Saturday of graded racing that never ends.

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From Final 20 Hips of Keeneland September, West Saratoga Takes on Breeders’ Futurity

Veteran trainer Larry Demeritte stayed vigilant through the very end of last year's Keeneland September Sale, taking a close look at every yearling going through the ring during the final session. With less than 20 hips to go, when most buyers were long gone and many consignments were already packed up, he raised his hand on Hip 4146. Coming in with a winning bid of $11,000 for the son of Exaggerator, Demeritte signed the ticket for his longtime client Harry Veruchi.

“I stay at the sale and look at every horse that goes through the ring because I only have so much money that I can spend,” Demeritte explained. “There was not much not to like about this horse. When you look at him he's a well-balanced horse, not too much defect to him at all. When I saw him I said, 'Well, if he has the heart to go with everything else he's got going for him, he could be a nice one.'”

The colt was named West Saratoga–not after the racing town in upstate New York, but for the street in Colorado that Veruchi grew up on–and it soon became apparent that the young grey had as much potential as Demeritte had initially hoped. With the help of his longtime exercise rider and mentee Dante, Demeritte broke West Saratoga at his base at the Thoroughbred Center off Paris Pike.

“From day one I told Dante that this guy was smart,” Demeritte recalled. “That's what you like to see in a good racehorse is that intelligence. Sometimes you get on one and they get timid around other horses, but he always wanted to be the leader of the pack.”

Demeritte was undeterred when West Saratoga drew post 1 in three of his first four starts this year and still had yet to find the winner's circle. He finally got the trip he was looking for on Aug. 5 going a mile at Ellis Park when he claimed the lead early and stayed there, defeating next-out winner Generous Tipper (Street Sense).

From there it was on to the GIII Iroquois S., where this time the juvenile came from off the pace to draw clear in the stretch, besting favored Risk It (Gun Runner) by just under two lengths.

“All week long we were saying that they had to run really well to beat this horse because he come out of the race he won so good and was ready to move forward,” Demeritte said. “We had all the confidence in the world. A lot of times–and I think most trainers do this–we size up the horses in the paddock and see how they act. He was so much more mature and he showed a lot of class about him.”

While it was a monumental victory in Demeritte's career, this wasn't his first graded stakes win. He proudly points out how his old trainee Memorial Maniac (Lear Fan) holds a track record at Arlington Park from his win in the 2010 GIII Stars and Stripes Turf S. Even so, the Iroquois score might be the horseman's most notable career win as West Saratoga became the first point earner on the road to the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby.

Winner's circle for the GIII Iroquois S. | Coady

This Saturday, West Saratoga returns to the starting gate for the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. With a nine-horse field that features 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) and GI Hopeful S. runner-up Timberlake (Into Mischief), West Saratoga drew post 5.

Despite 20-1 morning line odds, West Saratoga's conditioner could not be more confident as he makes a rare Grade I race appearance at his home track.

“I love my horse a lot,” Demeritte said. “I wouldn't trade him for any horse in the race. There's a horse [Timberlake] in there that beat him before and that horse could be moving forward also. We're not worrying about who else is there. Once we take our horse into the race, if we do the best we can do at this stage of the game–win, lose or draw–I could handle it.”

“I like training this horse because he doesn't have too many bad days,” he continued. “When we breeze him in the mornings, he's excited and feels good about himself. He eats a lot and that's what you like to see because when a horse is getting to their peak they back off the tub a little bit, so he's showing that he still has some room for improvement.”

Demeritte learned many tricks of the training trade from his father, who was a trainer in the Bahamas. From a young age, Demeritte showed a passion for horses and he soon followed in his father's footsteps. He was a leading trainer in the Bahamas for two years before moving to the U.S. with the goal of someday making it to the GI Kentucky Derby.

Decades after saddling his first starter here and with a stable of less than a dozen horses, Demeritte might just be on his way to overcoming his long odds.

“I still might not get there because it's a long way off, but I'm a praying kind of person and the Lord controls our footsteps so whatever He blesses me with, I'm comfortable with my career in the horse game,” he explained. “Hopefully I'll be blessed enough to go on to the Derby.”

Demeritte has had to overcome more than his share of challenges. Over 20 years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and was given five years to live. Six years ago, he again was diagnosed with cancer in the form of multiple myeloma and given six months to live.

“I'm still here,” he said with a wide grin. “I'm just going day by day, trying to do what God asks me to do. Sometimes you go through hardships. I remember I would get so frustrated because I don't see people have the love for the horses like I have. I never get bored, even for as long as I've been in the game, so I try to encourage young people in the game to love it.”

The idea of earning a Grade I at Keeneland, a track that has been like his second home for decades, brings yet another bright smile to Demeritte's face.

“It would mean so, so much, you know? But it's not the end of the world. You know what's more important to me? I thought it was so cool after I won the Iroquois, I had people like Pat Day, Jacinto Vasquez and Jean Cruguet call me. These guys rode for me over the years and I think a lot of them. Besides, I have so many friends that it's like I'm doing it for a whole group of people, not just me.  They were so happy for me and that made it all worth the while.”

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Breeders’ Futurity Runner Up Loggins Off Derby Trail

GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity runner up Loggins (Ghostzapper), who hasn't had a recorded work since before the Breeders' Futurity, was officially removed from Kentucky Derby consideration by trainer Brad Cox Monday.

“He's not here,” said Cox in reference to where the colt is currently training. “He's off the Derby trail. He's in light training. At this point, it's too late in the season to bring him here (Fair Grounds). We will get more serious with him when we get back to Kentucky.”

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