A Final Look Back at
a Midwestern Summer at the Spa

 

By Tom Ferry

As another summer winds rapidly to a close, Midwestern connections can look back with pride for having made an impact during this year’s 40-day meet at Saratoga.

While the 2010 and 2009 renditions saw back-to-back (G1) Sword Dancer Invitational championships for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s local favorite Telling, the 2011 meet brought a greater depth of representation from the stalls of local tracks.

One of the unquestionable highlights of the summer came during the 27th running of the $250,000 (G1) King’s Bishop Stakes on Aug. 27. Billed as the return to racing for Uncle Mo, the two-year-old champion of 2010 was nipped at the wire in a thrilling finish by 3-year-old Caleb’s Posse. Trained by local trainer Donnie Von Hemel for McNeill Stables and Cheyenne Stables, the son of Posse gave the 49-year-old from Manter, Kansas his third victory in five starts during the Saratoga meet.

Caleb's Posse drives past Uncle Mo in a thrilling King's Bishop. (Credit: Steve Heuertz)

Caleb’s Posse’s King’s Bishop triumph was preceded at the Spa with a four-length victory on August 1 in the $150,000 (G2) Amsterdam Stakes. These two victories in sprints coupled with his victory in the mile and 1/16th (G2) Ohio Derby in early June demonstrated the flexibility of this talented thoroughbred.

“If you looked at his races last year, he’s a capable sprinter that we were stretching out because of the opportunities that three-year-olds have through the spring,” said Von Hemel. “It turned out that maybe we should have been sprinting before now.” Von Hemel’s Peter Pan champion Alternation chased the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at the meet, but finished a disappointing 4th.

Giant Oak gets a morning bath on the Saratoga backstretch. (Credit: Tom Ferry)

The Chris Block-trained millionaire Giant Oak continued his consistent display of heart and drive with a 3rd place finish in the (G1) Whitney Handicap and 5th place in the competitive (G1) Woodward Stakes.

The multi-grade-one winner’s Whitney Handicap may have been one of the most impressive performances of the 5-year-old’s career. Normally a horse who requires a fast-paced race, Giant Oak battled through a dawdling pace, culminating in his usual late charge, only to fall short of eventual champion Tizway and runner-up Flat Out.

“Considering the way the race set up with the pace, I was ecstatic,” recalls Chris Block. “I didn’t give him a chance to hit the board at the 3/8 pole. I thought the horse ran gutty.”

Pachattack heads to post in the G1 Personal Ensign (Credit: Debbie Roma)

Chicago-based trainer Gerard Butler’s 5-year-old mare Pachattack made her mark in the $300,000 (G1) Personal Ensign held on September 3. Having run a disappointing 8th in the (G1) Beverly D Stakes on turf back at Arlington Park in early August, the Michael Deegan-owned daughter of Pulpit won the (G3) Arlington Matron on polytrack in late May but the Personal Ensign was her debut on dirt.

“Pachattack trained well on the dirt, so we were thinking that she would definitely handle it,” said Butler. “And it would have been a surprise to us all if she had not.” Taking on a field of six in the 1 ¼ mile race, Pachattack battled valiantly but finished second to Ask the Moon, who led gate to wire.

Indiana Distaff champion Trac N' Jam (Credit: Tom Ferry)

And trainer Andy Hansen’s talented filly Trac N’ Jam challenged a strong field led by Winter Memories in the $150,000 (G2) Lake Placid Stakes on August 21. It was her first graded start coming off of three consecutive victories and while she finished 5th in a field of seven, the experience was likely valuable and the sky appears to be the limit for the Indiana Distaff champion owned by Mike Porcaro and Ted and Jean Barlas. Cup World Championships on the horizon, the skilled runners from the Midwest have left Saratoga Springs and moved on to new challenges and venues. Another chapter has been written in the 148-year history of America’s oldest racecourse, and sprinkled throughout will be the exploits of those from the heartland.