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Dylan Davis Hopes to Keep Momentum Going at Saratoga

Jockey Dylan Davis was pretty much an afterthought at the 2021 Saratoga meet, where he won 18 races and finished tied for ninth in the standings. Expect that to change this year at the Spa. Davis, though winless through the first two days of the meet, may just be the most improved rider in the sport.

The 27-year-old jockey served notice that he had reached a new level in his career when winning the Aqueduct winter meet, his first-ever riding title, with 64 wins. He was second in the Aqueduct spring meet with 18 winners, finishing one victory behind Kendrick Carmouche.

But there have been plenty of jockeys over the years who have done well at the Big A only to have to take a back seat to the many top jockeys who return from other tracks for the Belmont Spring meet, the Ortiz brothers, Joel Rosario, Luis Saez, John Velazquez, Flavien Prat. Davis turned out to be an exception to what is more or less a rule. He won 47 races at Belmont, losing out on the riding title by one win to future Hall of Famer Irad Ortiz Jr. Davis had a four-win lead over Ortiz coming into the final weekend of racing at Belmont, but Ortiz finished up with six wins over the last two days to nip Davis for the title.

“It was the best meet I've ever had,” Davis said. “I had the leading rider in the country chasing me down. I was in a good position and I did the best that I could. Unfortunately, I finished second best, by one win. Still, it felt great.”

What's been the difference?

“Everything kind of came together this year and everything started going in the right direction,” he said. “I'm definitely improving every year and building up my confidence, which trainers and owners like to see. Also, I'm building relationships with more trainers. They have more trust in me to get the job done out there. My agent is Mike Migliore (whose brother is Richard Migliore) and we've been working hard every year and there have been a lot of stepping stones for us. I've been with him for about five full years now. He's done a tremendous job. On and off the track, he's been a big supporter of mine and always points me in the right direction. He wants the best for me and he's helped me become a better communicator and more confident. He's always telling me to be confident.”

Even with the momentum he has coming off the Belmont spring meet, Davis has fairly modest expectations for Saratoga. He knows he will not contend for leading rider, not against a group of rivals that makes up the best riding colony in the U.S.

“I was ninth in the standings at Saratoga last year and one goal is to finish higher up than that,” he said. “I'm shooting for top six, and I think that is realistic. It will be a tough meet, no doubt. But if I can finish in the top six, that would be a tremendous meet for me.”

The biggest obstacle facing Davis is that he hasn't worked his way into the very top barns on the New York circuit, a problem at Belmont but an even bigger problem at Saratoga where the likes of Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher dominate. Davis has been riding since 2012 and has never ridden for Pletcher in Saratoga and has ridden just one horse there for Brown. He normally gets the bulk of his mounts from the more blue-collar stables, like Ray Handal, Dave Donk and Charlton Baker.

“I'm not sure how much new business I will get here,” he said. “It's difficult because so many trainers have relationships with established riders. To be able to compete here and win races without the elite trainers, that feels great. Mike and I, we've established a good business and have won for a lot of people. It would be very nice to ride for the top trainers, but I'm doing ok without them.”

He has made some inroads into some of the top barns of late. Hall of Famer Mark Casse gave Davis the mount on Adora (Into Mischief) in the GIII Schuylerville S. on opening day. He will also ride Boppy O (Bolt d'Oro) for Casse in Saturday's GIII Sanford S. And Christophe Clement has been using Davis more often of late. He teamed up with Clement last year to win the GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine with Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The win was Davis's first and still only in a Grade I stakes.

Davis is the son of Robbie Davis, a top rider on the New York circuit in the eighties and nineties. He sister, Jackie, will also be riding at the Saratoga meet and another sister, Katie, the wife of Trevor McCarthy, was also riding in New York before giving birth to the couple's first child. Davis said his father is always there when he needs some help, but wonders if he's not too nice.

“Right now, he's telling me that I am riding great and to keep doing what I am doing because it is working,” Davis said. “I say, Dad, please tell me something, even if it is negative.' I'd love to hear that because I'm always trying to improve.”

Robbie Davis won 277 races at Saratoga, including 11 graded stakes. The list includes a pair of wins in the GI Hopeful S. Will the son eclipse his father? It looks like he's on his way.

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July 16 Insights: Pricey Medag Filly Debut at Woodbine

10th-WO, $123.2K, Msw, 3yo/up, 7fT, 5:51 p.m.
Gary Barber's $550K KEENOV buy MEDAGLIA MO (Medaglia d'Oro) makes her career bow in this spot for trainer Mark Casse. Her dam, GSW & GISP Mokat (Uncle Mo), was purchased by Springhouse Farm for $800,000 at KEENOV with this filly in utero. Mokat is a half to GSW Frolic's Dream (Smoke Glacken). Chiefswood Stables homebred Indy Champagne (Curlin) also debuts in this event. The bay is a half to graded winners Yorkton (Speightstown) and Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile). TJCIS PPs

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‘We Know we are Succeeding Because John [O’Connor] is Laughing at us Less’

They have reached dizzy heights as breeders and now Gillian and Vimal Khosla are concentrating on achieving big-race success as owners with Fennela (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of their outstanding broodmare Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks.

The Khoslas know a thing or two about breeding top-notchers. Green Room is the dam of three Group 1 or Classic winners and the owner-breeders behind the 20-year-old blue hen are hoping there is still more to come.

Lord Shanakill (Speightstown) was the first horse to put Green Room in lights. A high-class 2-year-old, he then went on to win the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly in 2009 before retiring to stud the following season.

Then came Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who fetched €680,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2013 before going on to land the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore Stud.

The Green Room secret was well and truly out by the time MV Magnier was forced to spend €900,000 on Together Forever's younger sister, Forever Together, at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2016.

But it proved money well spent when, ridden by Donnacha O'Brien, Forever Together romped to Oaks glory at Epsom, again trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Put mildly, Green Room has an outstanding track record of producing top-class racehorses and in Fennela, the only filly the Khoslas have kept out of their superstar broodmare, they are hoping that pedigree can shine through again at the Curragh on Saturday.

“The form says no but, as an owner and breeder, you couldn't do it without having hope and optimism, so we're optimistic about Saturday,” said Vimal with a heavy dollop of realism at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The Khoslas were back at Leopardstown for the first time in over two years on Thursday. It was an important visit, too, as they once again sponsored the G3 Green Room Meld S., and handed over the trophy to Jim and Jackie Bolger after Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ran out an impressive winner.

The husband-and-wife owner-breeders will be hoping that the roles will be reversed on Saturday and that they will be collecting a trophy after the Irish Oaks but are by no means underestimating the task at hand.

“We think she might want a mile-and-six-furlongs in time and she's only three so she may even do better next year. It's exciting to be a part of such a brilliant race and we're hopeful of a good run. Every position she finishes better than last will be a bonus.”

Asked to compare how the build-up to a Classic compares as an owner to a breeder, he added, “They're two totally different animals. I have never won a Group 1 and I would love to win one as an owner. I would feel like I have arrived if we managed to win the Oaks.”

The Khoslas made their fortune in the travel business and, with Green Room, they have been on the journey of a lifetime.

On their star mare, Gillian said, “Green Room has a colt foal by Waldgeist (GB). It's obviously his first crop so that will be exciting. She's extremely well-looked after by everyone down in Ballylinch Stud–there were pictures taken of her recently and she still looks amazing at the age of 20. She had a couple of years off so the Waldgeist colt is all she has coming through.”

Asked why they chose to set up their breeding and racing enterprise in Ireland, she responded, “It's part of the culture over here. It's very professional but it's also very warm and comforting and people are happy to share. We've learned so much, particularly in Ireland.”

The Khoslas are learning from the best. Their seven-strong broodmare band is based at Ballylinch Stud, of which, John O'Connor has been a massive help to the couple, while Jessica Harrington has produced the goods on the track.

“It has all happened by accident,” Vimal explains. “I bought a filly called Polly Perkins (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) back in 2004. She had won two listed races when I bought her and was shaping up to be something special but she damaged a stifle during the winter and couldn't race again.

“I hadn't a clue about racing at the time, had only been involved in the sport a few years but someone recommended that we breed from her. She did well as a broodmare and we actually kept one of her fillies and had our first foal from her this year.”

The Khoslas describe Ballylinch Stud, based in the picturesque countryside of County Kilkenny, as an idyllic place for their broodmares to be based and O'Connor's expertise and knowledge about breeding comes in for special recognition from Gillian.

She said, “Particularly the expertise of John O'Connor and all the team at Ballylinch, the knowledge they have about breeding, and they are so good at sharing it.”

Vimal is in agreement, and adds, “John is a wonderful teacher. Of course, we take for granted that he is a wonderful horseman with tremendous knowledge but he is very generous with his knowledge and is a wonderful teacher. We wanted to learn the business and he has taught us and continues to teach us to this day. That's the main thing.”

There are plenty of wealthy businessmen and women who get involved in racing purely for the entertainment factor that goes with a good day out at the races. Not the Khoslas. They have adopted a hands-on approach to their operation and it's working.

Vimal joked, “We know we are succeeding because John is laughing at us less and less. I used to send all the mating plans to John and he'd fall around the place laughing. He would do it very kindly I must say,” to which Gillian admitted, “We still go a big rogue sometimes.”

Asked to explain, Vimal said, “We bought a Sea The Stars (Ire) mare called Compostela (GB) a few years ago. She never raced, but is a tank of a filly, and so far she has bred a Group 3 winner [Stela Star (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus})] and her other two foals of racing age have won as well. She's on the up.

“We like being quirky with sense. We're not into mini-skirts or fashion and don't pick a stallion because he's in fashion. We chose a stallion and a mare if we think we can breed something decent.

“In the early days, we went for first-season sires and made a lot of mistakes. Shamardal worked for a lot of people. He didn't work for us. The same with Duke Of Marmalade (Ire). He worked for a lot of people and was a tremendous racehorse but he just didn't work for us.

“We went for them because the fees were relatively low, but also because they were tremendous racehorses on the track. But, you learn.”

The Khoslas have learned alright. Now it's over to Fennela to teach her rivals a thing or two on Saturday and continue the trend of Green Room's progeny hitting the heights on the racecourse.

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Background Check: Diana

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Saratoga's GI Diana S., contested at 1 1/8 miles on the lawn.

These days, the Diana is restricted to fillies and mares ages four and up. That wasn't always the case, as a number of 3-year-old fillies have won in the past. That's not the only thing that's changed: the Diana is such a fixture on the grass that it may come as a surprise to learn it was originally run on the dirt, not moving to the turf until 1974. The 84th edition will be run Saturday, but with two divisions run a few times and several mares who won the race twice–including most recently Sistercharlie (Ire) (2018-19)–there have been 78 individual winners of the Diana.

Following are the most compelling Diana winners in reverse chronological order. They haven't been reviewed by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.

Wonder Again (1999, Silver Hawk–Ameriflora, by Danzig): This mare produced more foals that didn't race than ones that did, but her two winners include Japanese MSW & MGSP Red Raven. An unraced daughter produced 2021-22 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. winner Colonel Liam, who also captured the 2021 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S.

Starine (Fr) (1997, Mendocino–Grisonnante {Fr}, by Kaldoun {Fr}): She only had two foals: a gelded son and an unraced daughter. However, that daughter is making the most of her opportunities: she produced Irish champion Order of Australia (Ire), winner of the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Mile; Iridessa (Ire), multiple Group I winner in Ireland and England and winner of 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and Santa Barbara (Ire), winner of the 2021 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and GI Beverly D. S.

Memories of Silver (1993, Silver Hawk–All My Memories, by Little Current): A Phillips family mare, like Wonder Again above, she produced four stakes winners (two graded), including Winter Memories, also a winner of the Diana and a stakes producer. Five of her six daughters have thus far produced black-type winners.

MGISW Elate has deep family ties to the Diana | Coady

Wild Applause (1981, Northern Dancer–Glowing Tribute, by Graustark): She is the dam of GISW Eastern Echo, MGSWs Roar and Yell, and additional GSW Blare of Trumpets. Her descendants include MGISW Elate, MGSW & MGISP Ironicus, MGSW On Leave and Tax, two full-brothers better known as top sires in GSW & MGISP Congrats and GSP Flatter, and several other GSWs.

Hush Dear (1978, Silent Screen–You All, by Nashua): C.V. Whitney sold this mare and his widow, Marylou, bought her daughter Dear Birdie while trying to revitalize his breeding program. The latter became a foundation mare for Marylou Whitney and was named Broodmare of the Year in 2004. Her descendants include champion and Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, Belmont/Travers/Champagne winner Birdstone, and MGSW Bird Song.

Javamine (1973, Nijinsky II–Dusky Evening, by Tim Tam): This mare deserves a mention even though she won't live on in pedigrees. She lived only long enough to produce four foals, only two of which lived past age three. However, those two foals were MGISW Java Gold and English GSW Spicy Story. Both were sires, with the best of their combined progeny being the wonderful Eclipse champion Kona Gold, who was a gelding.

Glowing Tribute (1973, Graustark–Admiring, by Hail to Reason): In addition to producing two daughters who also won the Diana–the phenomenal Wild Applause detailed above and two-time Diana winner Glowing Honor–she also produced MGISW Hero's Honor, Kentucky Derby/Travers/Champange winner Sea Hero, GSW & GISP Mackie, and GSW Coronation Cup (who almost made it a third daughter to win the Diana). In addition to Wild Applause's wildly accomplished offspring, descendants of Glowing Tribute also include European champion Mozart (Ire) and Chilean champion Il Campione (Chi). She was named Broodmare of the Year in 1993.

MGISW Colonel Liam is out of an unraced daughter of Wonder Again | Horsephotos

Tempted (1955, Half Crown–Enchanted Eve, by Lovely Night): This two-time winner of the Diana, for whom Aqueduct's Tempted S. is named, produced only one stakes winner. However, when taking into account her daughters and granddaughters, more than 50 black-type winners trace to her. And the line is continuing; for example, she is the fifth dam of GISW Rutherienne, who won or placed in 17 graded stakes.

Searching (1952, War Admiral–Big Hurry, by Black Toney): A granddaughter of the immortal La Troienne, Searching won the Diana twice and produced multiple champion Affectionately, MSW Priceless Gem, and SW Admiring. She is granddam of the abovementioned Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute, as well as Horse of the Year Personality, French Horse of the Year Allez France, and the prolific top-level producer Lady Winborne. Additional Grade I winners who trace to her include the popular Lite Light and La Gueriere.

Misty Morn (1952, Princequillo–Grey Flight, by Mahmoud): Named Broodmare of the Year in 1963, her five stakes-winning foals included champion and Met Mile winner Bold Lad, champion Successor, and Test winner Bold Consort. Among her top descendants were MGISWs Dispute and Adjudicating.

Vulcania (1948, Some Chance–Vagrancy, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): She produced two minor black-type winners, but her daughters and granddaughters included a Broodmare of the Year and produced the likes of Horse of the Year Ferdinand and MGISW Tallahto. The latter produced two MGISW and is the granddam of Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller.

Busanda (1947, War Admiral–Businesslike, by Blue Larkspur): Another granddaughter of La Troienne, this mare produced Horse of the Year and four-time leading broodmare sire Buckpasser, as well as two other stakes winners. Her female-line descendants include champion Outstandingly, MGISW Polish Navy, and the wonderful La Affirmed line, responsible for (among others) recent MGISW star Maxfield.

Ouija (1947, Heliopolis–Psychist, by Psychic Bid): Epsom Derby winner Henbit and MGISW Queens Court Queen both trace to this mare.

Miss Grillo (Arg) (1942, Rolando {Arg}–Cedulilla {Arg}, by Picacero {Arg}): At first glance, this Argentinean import didn't produce much of note, but her daughters more than took up the slack. Among her descendants are European champion Meadow Court and MGISW Marquetry.

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