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Delgados Derby Dreaming With Late-Blooming Caracaro

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – This summer, the road to Churchill Downs runs through upstate New York and has brought Caracaro (Uncle Mo) from South Florida for the historic GI Runhappy Travers S. Saturday.

Though the Travers is often the late-August goal for the owners and trainers of talented 3-year-olds, the COVID-19 pandemic has produced a serious rewrite of the schedule for elite races and briefly changed its status. Long ago dubbed the “Midsummer Derby,” the 2020 Travers at Saratoga Race Course is a stepping stone to the GI Kentucky Derby Sept. 5.

In their quest for Derby points, trainer Gustavo Delgado and his son and assistant Gustavo Delgado, Jr. shipped lightly raced Caracaro to Saratoga Race Course last month. Caracaro earned 20 points with his narrow second-place finish to Country Grammer (Tonalist) in the GIII Peter Pan S. on opening day, July 16. Those Peter Pan points have him in 25th place, close, but still outside the safety zone to secure one of the 20 berths. The Travers, with 100-40-20-10 points available, is their last chance.

“We’re thinking about qualifying for the Derby,” Delgado, Jr. said. “If he runs in the top three and he comes out good, hopefully we will make the Derby.

Caracaro is making his fourth career start for co-owners Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing and drew post seven in the eight-horse Travers. He will be ridden by Javier Castellano, who holds a record six victories in this event.

Delgado, a hugely successful trainer in his native Venezuela, laughed as he said that the colt–who was injured after his maiden victory Jan. 11 and had six months between starts this year–might make it to the Derby after all.

“Right now, with the pandemic there is a chance,” he said. “If there is no pandemic there is no chance.”

Delgado, Jr. stepped in and translated the rest of his father’s words: “I would say that the only good thing about the virus is that we have a shot in the Derby again.”

If Caracaro delivers a big performance in the 151st Travers, he would take the Delgados to their third Derby. Since emigrating from Venezuela in 2014 and opening a stable in Florida, they have had Majesto (Tiznow), 18th in 2016, and Bodexpress (Bodemeister), 13th last year. Delgado, Jr. said they did everything to get to Louisville with Majesto and Bodexpress.

“There is no comparison to this horse,” Delgado Jr. said. “This horse is way more talented than the last two.”

Caracaro showed that ability in his six-length win in the one-mile maiden score at Gulfstream, the second start of his career. The performance made him a Derby prospect and Rafael Celis of Global Thoroughbreds and his partner Lucas Noriego, who competes as Top Racing, had offers to buy the colt. During the vetting process, he was found to have a bone issue in is hind end that scuttled the sale. Caracaro did not need surgery, but required a three-month layoff.

“After the maiden race, there was a big group interested,” Delgado, Jr. said. “When we were doing the X-ray for the sale, that’s when he found out he had that. We did the right thing and gave him time. Our guess is that he was running with that problem before. He always showed something behind, nothing major, but that’s when we found out. Then we did the right thing and gave him time. We always considered him a good horse.”

Caracaro stayed with the Delgados at Gulstream Park West and returned to light training after his three-month hiatus. He had five breezes before making the trek to Saratoga to try to earn his way into the Derby. He moved to the lead of the Peter Pan in the stretch, but was collared by Country Grammer and lost by a neck. Delgado said he would have skipped the Travers if Caracaro had won the 1 1/8 miles Peter Pan and earned 50 points.

“We would go seven weeks [to the Kentucky Derby] not three weeks [to the Travers],” he said. “Seven weeks is very good. For the horse. For me. Every owner in the world likes to get to the Kentucky Derby.”

Delgado, Jr. picked up the translation for his father: “Normally, we would like to have more time between races, but right now we don’t have any more options.”

After the Peter Pan, Celis and Noriega–who also are partners in Bodexpress–heard from interested buyers, but they have retained ownership.

This weekend Caracaro will try again in the Travers, first run in 1864 and the marquee event of the Saratoga season. It was moved ahead a few weeks from its usual spot in late August to make it a Derby prep. This will be the earliest running of the race since 1916.

“We are here. The horse really likes the track,” Delgado, Jr. said. “He ran second and he ran a helluva race. The Travers is close to the Derby, but it will be hard for us telling the owners we don’t want to run in the Travers. Javier Castellano is open for us and the horse is doing good. So, a lot is going on from the owner’s standpoint. Everybody wants to try. If you have the horse now. It’s not like you are going to save time and see and then something happens after. You have the horse now and the horse is doing good now.”

Though his work tab shows two breezes since the Peter Pan, Delgado said he really could not work Caracaro between races.

“Everything is good. No problem,” he said. “He has only been galloping because he only had three weeks. It was six months, no races. Now it’s very difficult. We considered only galloping, to the Travers. It’s possible that we have good luck.”

The Delgados said they think the mile and a quarter distance of the Travers will suit their colt.

“The horse is going to be relaxed, he’s going to be on his own gallop,” Delgado, Jr. said. “We will feel better in the 10 furlongs. The 10 furlongs will be even better for our horse, that’s what we think. He’s a galloper. You can tell the way he strides he covers a lot of ground. We think he can go even better in the 10 furlongs than in a mile or a mile and an eighth.”

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Nostalgic Champions TALK Event Benefits NYRTC

Angel Cordero, Jr., Dale Romans, Ramon Dominguez and Terry Finley discussed some of their fondest racing memories in the New York Race Track Chaplaincy’s Champions TALK roundtable Wednesday evening. It can be viewed here.

The discussion, filmed at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, NY, was moderated by former track announcer Tom Durkin. Viewers are encouraged to make a donation to the chaplaincy. The organizations two annual fund-raising events in Saratoga Springs, NY were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the discussion, the NY Chaplaincy also honored the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) for its longtime dedication and support of the backstretch community.

“The roundtable discussion was really a fun event for both the participants and those who tuned in to see it,” said Humberto Chavez, the chaplain of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. “We hope that those who saw it and those who see it in the days and weeks ahead will consider making a donation because the needs of the backstretch workers are even greater in the midst of this pandemic.”

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Bidding For Ballerina Repeat, Come Dancing To Face Serengeti Empress, Bellafina

Blue Devil Racing Stable's homebred Come Dancing emerged as one of the country's leading older female sprinters last summer at Saratoga Race Course, and trainer Carlos Martin is hopeful the 6-year-old mare will flash that same form when she goes after a second straight victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Ballerina presented by NYRA Bets at the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., track.

The 42nd running of the seven-furlong Ballerina for older fillies and mares is one of five graded stakes worth $1.95 million on a Runhappy Travers Day program highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers for 3-year-olds going 1 1/4 miles.

Also on the card are the Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Test for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs; Grade 3, $200,000 Troy for 4-year-olds and up sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass; and Grade 3, $150,000 Waya at 1 1/2 miles on turf for older fillies and mares. The card will be broadcast on Saratoga Live on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

Named for the inaugural winner of the Maskette, now contested as the Go for Wand, in 1954, the Ballerina also serves as a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on November 7 at Keeneland. Maryfield won the 2007 Ballerina en route to victory in that year's first running of the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Come Dancing is attempting to become only the second horse to win multiple editions of the Ballerina following Shine Again in 2001 and 2002 for late Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens.

“She really seems like she's thriving. She loves Saratoga. She's put on some weight since her last race and everything has gone pretty good,” Martin said. “We haven't had any setbacks, haven't missed any training, so I'm excited about the opportunity for her to do something special and hopefully get back-to-back Ballerinas. That would be like a dream.”

Martin is the grandson of late Hall of Famer Frank “Pancho” Martin, perhaps best known as the trainer of Sham, runner-up to Secretariat in the 1973 Kentucky and Preakness, but also led New York in wins for 10 straight years (1973-82). Martin's late father, Jose, trained three year-end champions and won the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga in 1986 and 1987 with Groovy.

Only Jerkens, fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas (1985-86), and future Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher (2011-12) have won the Ballerina in back-to-back years.

“It's always exciting when you win a big race, especially at Saratoga with so much tradition and so many special times growing up, watching my father with Groovy win back-to-back Foregos and my grandfather and all the success they had here for years,” Martin said. “It helps validate that the Martin name is still around. Unfortunately, they're not around anymore. I'm never going to be the trainer they were; they trained six champions between them. I'm not trying to be them, but I just like the fact that the name is still out there and hopefully they're looking down somewhat proud and we can keep it going.”

A multiple graded-stakes winner of more than $1 million in career purses, Come Dancing has raced just twice this year. She was 12th in her season debut, the Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom on April 18 at Oaklawn Park when she was saddled by Lukas, and second as the favorite behind fellow Ballerina aspirant Victim of Love in the Grade 3, 6 ½-furlong Vagrancy June 27 at Belmont Park.

Come Dancing won the Grade 3 Distaff and Grade 2 Ruffian and was second in the Grade 1 Odgen Phipps heading into last year's Ballerina, and Martin said he has not seen a drop off in his stable star despite a lighter schedule largely due to the skewed racing schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“She still has the enthusiasm. She was a little laid-back last year as a 5-year-old. She doesn't really get too hot and bothered, but she'll get a little bit excited if somebody goes by her galloping on the track or somebody goes inside of her. She's got those competitive juices,” Martin said. “I would say she's pretty similar to last year. She knows when it's game time.

“She can work in a minute, like she did the other day, or she can go a little too fast. She'll fool you. She went in in 57 and 4 before the Vagrancy. It just depends,” he added. “I just think she's in a good place right now, mentally and physically. I think as they get older the mental aspect is just as important as the conditioning aspect. You have to put a little bit more thought into it, as far as keeping them fresh mentally as well as physically.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride Come Dancing from outside post 7.

Joel Politi's 2019 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress will cut back to a sprint for the first time since last summer at Saratoga in an effort to regain her winning form. The 4-year-old Alternation filly captured the Grade 2 Azeri in front-running fashion on March 14 at Oaklawn Park, ran 11th in the Apple Blossom and fourth last out in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on June 27 at Churchill Downs, contested at 1 1/8 miles.

“It was a strong effort that day in a race where she kind of just got run into the ground. I didn't think we did a very good job of kind of rating her speed,” trainer Tom Amoss said of the Fleur de Lis effort. “Having said that, she's recovered well and she's training well.”

Serengeti Empress set the pace and was game to the wire in a half-length loss to Covfefe in the 2019 Test at Saratoga. Covfefe would go on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and be named both Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Champion Female Sprinter.

“The move to shorten up to seven-eighths has a lot to do with last summer at Saratoga. That was a really good seven-eighths race for her, so we feel that this might be something that we can use to our advantage,” Amoss said. “That was last year and it's this year now. A lot will be made of what Serengeti is right now compared to what she was last year at this time. That's a fair question. All I can tell you is that she is doing well and we're very comfortable with trying her at seven-eighths.”

Serengeti Empress tuned up for the Ballerina with a half-mile breeze in 46.93 seconds July 26 at Saratoga, the fastest of 74 horses. Luis Saez will ride from post 1.

“She's a really, really good work horse, so anything less than an attractive work pattern would be a cause for concern with her. She likes her job a lot,” Amoss said. “I think her overall weight as well as her brightness of coat are as good as I've seen it this year, so Saratoga definitely agrees with her.”

A Grade 1 winner at 2 and 3, Kaleem Shah Inc., Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bellafina looks to extend that streak to her 4-year-old season in the Ballerina. Based in California with trainer Simon Callaghan, the Quality Road filly has raced three times in 2020, winning the Grade 3, six-furlong Desert Stormer on May 17 at Santa Anita. Third in last year's Grade 1 Test at Saratoga, Bellafina posted Grade 1 wins in the 2018 Del Mar Debutante and Chandelier and 2019 Santa Anita Oaks.

Jose Ortiz gets the call from post 4.

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Victim of Love upset the Vagrancy by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 27-1 for her first career graded triumph and second in a stakes, following the 6 ½-furlong What a Summer on January 18 at Laurel Park to kick off her 4-year-old campaign. Based at Penn National with trainer Todd Beattie, she ran second in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on February 15, also at Laurel. Jose Lezcano rides from post 3.

Beattie is approaching the Ballerina with a similar mindset as he had prior to the Vagrancy, giving an opportunity to a filly that's doing well.

“That's the way I'm looking at it, I'm taking a shot,” Beattie said. “She's going to obviously have to run her best race to get it done, but think there's a chance that she might be ready to run a good one. I feel pretty comfortable with how she's doing, thought everything was in line and it was perfect timing. We thought we'd take a swing.”

St. George Stable's homebred Letruska will make her New York debut in the Ballerina for trainer Fausto Gutierrez. A two-time Group 1 winner in Mexico, the 4-year-old Letruska beat males in the 1 ¼-mile Copa Invitacional del Caribe last December and last out won the one-mile Added Elegance on June 27, both at Gulfstream Park. In between, she traveled to Oaklawn Park for a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance victory under Ricardo Santana Jr., who returns to ride from post 5.

“She won a tough allowance at Oaklawn Park after the layoff. The last race she had at Gulfstream, in my opinion, was spectacular. She ran very fast. She covered six furlongs in 1:08 and change,” Gutierrez said. “This was the reason I came here. I'm sure she is ready for this level of competition.”

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has won the Ballerina a record five times, and will send out Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen's Pink Sands. A maiden winner in 2018 at Saratoga, the 5-year-old Tapit mare captured the Grade 3, one-mile Rampart and Grade 2, seven-furlong Inside Information over the winter at Gulfstream Park then went unraced for five months before finishing fifth in the Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile Ogden Phipps on June 13 at Belmont Park.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the mount from post 6.

McGaughey's Ballerina wins came with Lass Trump in 1984, Cadillacing in 1988, Queena in 1991, Roamin Rachel in 1994 and Furlough in 1999.

Arindel homebred Cookie Dough, trained by Juan Alvarado, placed in five graded stakes before her triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta on February 15 at Gulfstream Park. She has not started since fading to last after racing on or near the pace in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom April 18 at Oaklawn Park, but has fired three consecutive bullet workouts in preparation for her return, most recently going five furlongs in 57.77 seconds on July 24.

Fourth in an optional claimer last summer at Saratoga, Cookie Dough will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez from post 2.

The Ballerina is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 12-race card, which offers a first post of noon Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Jack Sisterson Talks Vexatious, Returning Calumet to Glory On TDN Writers’ Room

Two years ago, when it was announced that legendary Calumet Farm was hiring Jack Sisterson as its primary trainer, there was skepticism. At just 33 years old, with only experience as an assistant to his name, it was fair to question whether or not Sisterson was prepared to carry the flag for such a powerful racing and breeding brand. Those questions have now been answered–resoundingly in the affirmative, as just a short while later, Sisterson has not only proved equal to the task, but appears on his way to the even larger accomplishment of restoring historic Calumet to the glory of its heyday.

Still in the afterglow of pulling off a colossal upset of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) with Calumet’s Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway) in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga, Sisterson joined the TDN Writers’ Room podcast presented by Keeneland Wednesday to talk about his first Grade I victory, his hands-on education in racing and the bright future for him and Calumet.

Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Sisterson spoke on how he adapted his training approach to fit Vexatious, who is reaching her career peak at the age of six.

“She has an extremely high cruising speed, and she can carry that over a distance of ground,” he said. “What we found with her, she’s a filly that loves to train at 5:30. She goes right out when the track opens, because that’s what she wants. She’s very businesslike and wants to get on with it. And when I initially got her, if I asked her to go three-quarters of a mile in a workout, she would put so much effort into it that she was doing too much in the mornings and not leaving it for the afternoon. So we decided to back up all of her works to half a mile and crossed our fingers that would result in her being a little bit more energetic in the afternoons. It’s slightly worrisome when you just breeze them half a mile–do they have enough foundation in them to compete at that classic type of distance on the dirt? But with her, she puts so much effort into her gallops and half-mile breezes that she’s in that happy stage of her career at the moment.”

Asked about the process that led to his hiring by Calumet, Sisterson credited former boss Doug O’Neill and compared the aura of Calumet to another iconic brand from his upbringing playing soccer in England.

“Initially, when I had this small conversation with them, I’d never been to the farm before,” he said. “I was working for Doug at the time, who still to this day is very supportive of everything I do, which I’m very grateful for. It was Doug who pushed me out there, saying, ‘If you don’t do it, I’m going to do it.’ Being from England and a soccer player, when you grow up, there’s Manchester United, at the top of the league with so much history and success. I assumed Calumet was the Manchester United of farms. Why would they want someone like me? I’m nobody. It was honoring, humbling. I’m just a very, very, very small piece of so much hard work that goes in behind the scenes that people don’t see.”

It was soccer that first brought Sisterson to the United States and sent him on his path to stardom in the Thoroughbred racing world. Having a lifelong passion for both sports, Sisterson killed two birds with one stone by enrolling at the University of Louisville, which led to a first racing gig working alongside a Hall of Fame trainer.

“From as far as I can remember, there was racing on TV or we were going to some big racing events in the Northeast of England,” he recalled. “I fell in love with it from day one and always wanted to have some involvement in it. I was fortunate enough to be offered a soccer scholarship at Louisville, which offered the equine program. And in return, I worked summers for Todd Pletcher. That was my first introduction to the American side of racing.”

Elsewhere on the show, the writers analyzed last weekend’s major stakes action, previewed Saturday’s GI Runhappy Travers S. and took stock of where the 3-year-old picture stands exactly one month away from the GI Kentucky Derby. Then, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, they reacted to the news of increased restrictions on out-of-state jockeys attempting the ride in the Derby, even as fans are still slated to be on track with much more lax requirements. Click here to watch the podcast on Vimeo, and click here for the audio-only version.

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