Yaupon, last-out winner of the Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, survived a stretch duel and an attempted savaging by Firenze Fire to take the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
In a stacked field of graded stake winners like Lexitonian and Whitmore, Yaupon returned to the form he had showed in 2020, darting out to the lead out of the gate in the Forego. Firenze Fire and Chance It went with him, with Firenze Fire holding on to second throughout the seven-furlong Forego. Into the stretch, it was all Yaupon and Firenze Fire, who dueled head and head in the Saratoga straight. Inside the last eighth of a mile, Firenze Fire reached over and attempted to bite Yaupon, appearing to get caught briefly in the Asmussen trainee's bridle before Jose Ortiz was able to straighten him out. Despite that, Ricardo Santana, Jr. was able to keep Yaupon straight and in front, winning the G1 Forego by a head.
The final time for the seven-furlongs was 1:21.74. Find this race's chart here.
“It's very exciting to have a winner of the Grade 1 Forego for the Heiligbrodts [owners]. But the finish made it that much more dramatic. I will watch that replay many times in my future. For that to happen [Runner-up Firenze Fire savaging Yaupon in deep stretch] in a Grade 1 at Saratoga with two horses on the lead, that will be memorable,” Asmussen said after the Forego.
“The last time I took him back, but I know the horse really well. Today, there was no speed in the race, so I decided to go and he's a firing horse so thankfully we got the victory today.” Santana, Jr. told the NYRA Press Office after the race. “That was kind of scary. That never happened to me before and the only thing I can think is don't stop riding.”
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