Spa wrapup: Randomized wins Phipps to highlight early stakes (2024)

Amatchup featuring the top dirt filly-and-mare-division contenders did notdisappoint on Saturday when Randomized went to the lead and did not relinquishthe advantage despite heavy pressure from 3-5 favorite Idiomatic’s outsidecharge, holding on for a victory by a head in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Saratoga.

The56th running of the Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares, 4 years old and up going1 1/8 miles, offered a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff inNovember at Del Mar.

Click here for Saratoga entries and results.

Randomizedcapped her 3-year-old season with a second-place effort by a half-length toeventual champion older dirt female Idiomatic in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff inNovember at Santa Anita. She ran second in her 2024 bow in the Ruffian (G2) inMay at Belmont at the Big A but extracted revenge on Idiomatic after jockeyJoel Rosario sent her to the lead from the inside post.

TheNyquist filly led the accomplished six-horse field through the openingquarter-mile in 24.34 seconds and the half in 48.99 on the fast track. Out ofthe final turn, jockey Florent Géroux asked Idiomatic for more while racingfive wide, setting up a thrilling stretch drive in which Randomized respondedto Rosario’s encouragement and dug in, completing the course with a final timeof 1:49.58 to win her third consecutive Saratoga start.

Godolphin’sPretty Mischievous, the 2023 champion 3-year-old filly and winner of lastyear’s Kentucky Oaks (G1), got up for third. Raging Sea, Soul of an Angel andTizzy in the Sky completed the order of finish.

Randomized,off at 6-1, returned $14.00 on a $2 win wager. The Chad Brown trainee continuedto show an affinity for the Spa following wins in both starts during lastyear’s summer meet that started in the one-mile restricted Wilton before afour-length victory in the Alabama (G1). That preceded a win in the Beldame (G2)in October at Aqueduct before the Breeders’ Cup performance, one Randomizedwill look to replicate with another California trip potentially on the horizon.

“She'squick out of the gate. She maintained the speed, so that was good,” Rosariosaid. “I was begging for the wire because (Idiomatic) was coming. So I wassweating a little bit, but she got the job done.”

Ownedby Klaravich Stables, Randomized improved to 9: 5-2-1, achieving millionairestatus with career earnings now at $1,258,350. It also marked Brown’s firstOgden Phipps win.

“Shelooked like she was the horse she wanted to be, on the lead and at Saratoga,where she had her biggest win (the Alabama),” Brown said. “These two were goingat it in the Breeders’ Cup last year, and we came out on the wrong side of thatone. Idiomatic is a deserving champion. She’s an outstanding horse. I think wewere very fortunate to save more ground than her. She was pitched three deepthe whole way and still almost won the race. I’m taking nothing away from her.She ran an equally good race. We were able to just get our nose down. I’ve saidthe photos go both ways, so I keep that in mind when I lose them.”

Juddmonte’sIdiomatic, who followed her Breeders’ Cup Distaff win with a 3 3/4-lengthvictory in the La Troienne (G1) in May at Churchill Downs to start her5-year-old season, finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of Pretty Mischievous. Thedaughter of Hall of Famer Curlin once again put in a valiant effort against top-flightcompetition for trainer Brad Cox.

“Sheran well and was the best horse,” Cox said. “She lost a tremendous amount ofground around the first turn and second turn. The winner didn’t really have anypace pressure. Excited about the rematch. Can’t wait.”

PrettyMischievous, trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, continuedan impressive run of never finishing out of the money, moving to 12: 7-2-3 andregistering a second consecutive third-place finish to start 2024 following theLa Troienne.

“Ithink she ran well enough,” Walsh said. “Tyler said she could have benefittedmaybe from a little more pace. It looked like they weren’t going very fast, andI don’t think that really helped. She was down inside for a long time. Butlisten, we can’t make excuses. Hopefully, she comes out of it OK. We’ll adjusta few things, and we’ll come back to fight another day. She’s running in thebest of company, and she is the best of company. We got a placing, which isgood, and we’ll go on to the next one.”

Cogburn sets records in Jaipur triumph

TheSaratoga turf saw its record for 5 1/2 furlongs fall to Cogburn in the $500,000Jaipur (G1) as the fleet-footed son of Not This Time dominated the race for3-year-olds and up that was a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint thisfall at Del Mar.

Trainedby Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Cogburn’s final time of 59.80 seconds, whichaccording to Equibase is a North America record on turf, shattered the previouscourse record of 1:00.21 set by Carotari in 2019. It came in his secondconsecutive graded-stakes score after taking the Turf Sprint (G2) on May 4 atChurchill Downs.

Ownedby Clark Brewster, William Heiligbrodt and Corinne Heiligbrodt, the 5-year-oldbay returned to the scene of his three-quarter-length score over subsequent Breeders’Cup Turf Sprint-winner Nobals in the Troy (G3) last summer.

Asmussen,who also trained exceptionally fast champions Echo Zulu, Jackie’s Warrior andMitole, marveled at Cogburn’s ability.

“I’vehad some of the fastest horses in the world, some of the fastest horses of alltime, and he’s still the first one I’ve ever had run 5 1/2 furlongs in under aminute,” Asmussen said. “Five-and-a-half furlongs in under a minute. That’s notfive-eighths five. That’s five-and-a-half. That’s basically a sixteenth of amile faster than a fast horse.”

Theloaded group of 12 for the Jaipur saw Cogburn break sharply along with Coppolabefore Sosua Summer made a swift early bid to race in second to the outside ofCogburn through an opening quarter-mile in 21.33 seconds over the firm footing.

Exitingthe turn, Sosua Summer attempted to come onto even terms with Cogburn underurging from Luis Sáez, but Cogburn almost immediately turned back the challengeand drew clear with a devastating turn of foot at the top of the stretch.

Coppolagave chase along the inside as the wide-running Arzak attempted to mount a biddown the center of the course and closed willingly under Jaime Torres throughthe half-mile in 43.07 seconds, but Cogburn was much the best as he putdaylight between him and the field to cross the wire in hand, 3 1/2 lengths infront of Arzak, who got his head down in time between third-place Star ofMystery and fourth-place Coppola.

MischiefMagic, Dancing Buck, Filo Di Arianna, Thin White Duke, Alogon, Big Invasion,Sosua Summer and No Nay Mets completed the order of finish. Also-eligiblesGrooms All Bizness, Outlaw Kid, American Monarch and Souper Quest werescratched.

Asmussenadded Cogburn demonstrated improved gate skills Saturday.

“Today weobviously had extremely high expectations of him. He did have a tendency ofgetting a little bit left in the gate last year,” Asmussen said. “But todayfrom the first jump, his head was in front, and it was all smooth from there.Smooth.” Ortiz, who notched his third win on the card, said Cogburn’s speed issomething to behold.

“Sofast. I can't believe it. He was a rocket ship (out of the gate),” Ortiz said.“After that I just sit on him and relax. When it was the time to go turning forhome, I felt like he was loaded. I asked him to go, and he responded reallywell. I asked him, and he gave me what he go, all the way to the wire.”

Bred inKentucky by Bellary Bloodstock, Cogburn is 4 for 5 since switching to turf lastMay, a record that includes additional stakes scores at Lone Star Park in theChamberlain Bridge and Grand Prairie Turf Sprint. He banked $275,000 for hisJaipur score and improved his lifetime record to 14: 8-2-0 while returning$6.30 on a $2 win ticket.

Measured Time, Godolphin take Manhattan

Godolphin’sU.K. homebred Measured Time utilized a prominent trip under William Buick tobest his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate Nations Pride by two lengths in theManhattan (G1), a 1 3/16-mile turf stakes for older horses.

The4-year-old Frankel colt out of the Street Cry mare Minidress is a half-brotherto multiple Group 1 and Grade 1 winner Rebel’s Romance, an earner of nearly $9million across 13 wins, including the Champions and Chater Cup (G1) last monthat Sha Tin for Appleby and Buick.

Rebel’sRomance is slated to make an appearance at the Spa this summer in the $750,000 SwordDancer (G1), which offers a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turfin November at Del Mar.

MeasuredTime made his stateside debut after a trio of starts this winter in Dubai, wherehe captured the Al Rashidiya (G2) in December and the Jebel Hatta (G1)inJanuary. He arrived in New York from a close fourth March 30 in the Dubai Turf (G1)when he finished 1 1/4 lengths behind victorious Facteur Cheval.

“Thiswas our most confident race of the meet this weekend,” Appleby said. “We’veearmarked this for some time thinking that the American tracks would suit him.Obviously we saw what he did in Dubai. That kind of track, nice level tracks,suit him. He’s a big, striding horse. It’s a decision we made, and then it waslet him get on with it today and try and make our own run rather than get himin a tangle. You try and organize a horse like him, and he finds it hard. He’shappy going on.

“Wewere confident stepping up to the 10 (furlongs) today. We feel he could stretchout to a mile-and-a-half. We’ll take the Breeders' Cup (Turf) intoconsideration.”

StrongQuality broke alertly from post 4 under Florent Géroux, but Measured Time wasalso quick to the front, leading the field into the first turn through anopening quarter-mile in 23.14 seconds over the firm footing.

Gérouxre-established control briefly up the backstretch as Measured Time pressed thetempo from second position through a half-mile in 48.34 seconds. Multiple Grade1 winner Program Trading stalked in third to the outside of Ohana Honor and infront of the tracking tandem of Nations Pride and Far Bridge.

Buickcould wait no longer as the tightly bunched field advanced into the final turn,and Measured Time easily took control under little urging while Flavien Pratasked Program Trading for his best. Despite drifting out once straightenedaway, Measured Time never was threatened en route to an impressive victory witha final time of 1:51.94.

NationsPride closed well to complete the exacta by a neck over the dead-heated pair ofOhana Honor and Far Bridge in third. Program Trading, Al Riffa, I’m Very Busyand Strong Quality completed the finish in that order.

Buicksaid he felt comfortable throughout.

“It wasalways the plan to go forward, sit forward. He’s a horse you never feel likeyou are going quick enough, so I was happy where I was,” Buick said. “He was abit competitive early on, but I always felt he was in a nice rhythm, and he’s areal powerful galloper, as you saw there. He’s still got a bit to learn, likehe ran out on the home bend, and it doesn’t feel like he’s a finished articlejust yet, but he sure has the raw talent.”

MeasuredTime banked $550,000 in victory while improving his record to 8: 6-1-0. Hereturned $8.20 for a $2 win bet.

Book’em Danno pounces in Woody Stephens

Book’emDanno sat off a scintillating pace before swooping to an impressive victory in the$500,000 Woody Stephens (G1), a seven-furlong sprint for sophom*ores.

Ownedby Atlantic Six Racing, trained by Derek Ryan and expertly piloted from theinside post by Irad Ortiz Jr., the son of Bucchero entered from a more thanthree-month layoff following a heartbreaking, head loss to then-undefeatedForever Young in the Saudi Derby (G3) on Feb. 24.

Ryanrecalled his multiple graded-stakes-winning filly Irish Jasper finishing fourthin the 2015 Test (G1) at Saratoga after exiting post 1 in a race won by Ortiz-pilotedCavorting.

“The 1 holewasn’t great. I had a filly in the Test a few years ago. But I don't reallyhave too many good horses like this, and she finished [fourth] because of theone-hole,” said Ryan, who secured his first Grade 1 win. “So I was hoping thatIrad could work a good trip out. They were going pretty fast, but it’s Irad.You don’t have to worry when you’ve got Irad.”

FrostFree broke alertly from post 5 under José Ortiz, but Tyler Gaffalione-riddenBarksdale demanded the lead and rocketed to the fore to mark the openingquarter-mile in a swift 21.37 seconds over the fast main track. Book’em Dannohad bobbled at the break but advanced along the rail to settle in sixth.

Afreewheeling Barksdale led to the turn with Frost Free hanging on through arapid 43.08-second half-mile, but when Irad Ortiz asked Book’em Danno to engage,he surged past the stalking duo of Imagination and Valentine Candy beforevaulting outside the dueling pacesetters to arrest control of the race.

Book’emDanno stayed on strongly down the lane as the pacesetters retreated. FlavienPrat-piloted Prince of Monaco, who was bothered at the break after being bumpedby stumbling Reasoned Analysis, emerged from the pack as a late threat. Butthere was no denying Book’em Danno, who staved off the late bid to score by ahalf-length with a final time of 1:21.30.

It wasa farther 1 1/4 lengths back to the previously undefeated Hopeful (G1) winnerNutella Fella in third. Reasoned Analysis, Valentine Candy, Be You,Imagination, Maximus Meridius, Nash and tempo setters Barksdale and Frost Freerounded out finish in that order. Vlahos was scratched.

Irad Ortizsaid Book’em Danno was relaxed behind the hot pace.

“When Istarted moving, he started finding really well on the turn,” he said. “Hestarted responding really, really good on the turn, so that helped a lot.Turning for home I was still in a hold, then I asked him, and he gave me a goodkick at the end.”

Ryanindicated Book’em Danno could return to the Spa for the seven-furlong, $500,000H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Aug. 24.

“Sevenfurlongs is perfect for him. The Allen Jerkens would be the main goal for therest of the summer,” Ryan said.

Book’emDanno won four of his first five starts, taking the Smoke Glacken in Septemberat Monmouth Park and the off-the-turf Futurity in October at Belmont at the BigA. He was a close second in Aqueduct’s Nashua in November and subsequentlyromped by 12 1/2 lengths in the seven-furlong Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs beforeheading to Saudi Arabia.

Bred inNew Jersey by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm, Book’em Danno banked $275,000in victorywhile improving his record to 7: 5-2-0. He returned $7.70 for a $2win bet.

Crupi emerges in thrillingSuburban

A thrilling stretch drive saw six horses across theracetrack at the top of the stretch in the$350,000 Suburban (G2), butit was Irad Ortiz Jr.-piloted Crupi who turned back all challengers to capturethe 1 1/4-mile test for older horses.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable andSt. Elias Stable, the 4-year-old Curlin chestnut posted his first graded-stakesvictory with a well-timed ride by Ortiz aboard for the first time in theafternoon. The son of Curlin rebounded well from a distant off-the-board finishin the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March at Meydan in Dubai.

“I said he ran so bad in Dubai it didn’t take anything outof him. He shipped back really well,” Pletcher said. “We took our time withhim. He probably could have been ready a little earlier, but we wanted to beconservative and wait for this. Since he got back from Dubai, we’ve beenpointing for this. I’m glad it worked out.”

Crupi emerged from post 6 in the field of seven after thescratch of stablemate Charge It this morning. He brushed with post-timefavorite Bendoog to his outside before settling in last early as Kuchar rushedup to take command past the wire for the first time through an openingquarter-mile in 23.70 seconds over the fast footing. Signator slipped down therail in the first turn to take up third position behind the wide-running GoodSkate.

Kuchar bounded through the half-mile in 47.85 seconds andthree-quarters in 1:11.93 with positions unchanged. Bendoog made a swift movein the four path under José Lezcano to challenge for the lead entering thefinal turn. Good Skate quickly retreated and Masqueparade moved in tandem withTime for Trouble. A patient Ortiz nudged Crupi along to keep up with the earlybids of his rivals but held his charge in reserve through the top of thestretch as they went widest of all to set up a dramatic six-wide stretch run.

Bendoog stuck his head in front of a stubborn Kuchar as theystraightened for home before ducking inside at the eighth pole in hopes ofwarding off the late bids from Masqueparade and Crupi. Then Crupi unleashed astrong turn of foot and made up ground with every stride down the center of thecourse to sweep past his hard-trying rivals and claim the victory by ahalf-length at a final time of 2:02.71.

Bendoog held onto second by a neck over Masqueparade withTime for Trouble completing the superfecta another length back. Kuchar andSignator completed the order of finish.

Good Skate, who was out of contention before the final turn,was pulled up in the stretch and vanned off. According to the New York RacingAssociation’s veterinary department, Good Skate lost action and was provided avan ride back to the barn as a precaution. The horse did not present anyobvious or apparent injury upon initial evaluation.

Pletcher, who won his third consecutive Suburban and fourthoverall after winning with Keen Ice in 2017, Dynamic One in 2022 and Charge It in2023, said Crupi showed courage to win after such a wide stretch run.

The victory marked the fourth Suburban for Ortiz.

Pletcher said future targets for Crupi at the Spa couldinclude the 1 1/8-mile, $1 million Whitney (G1) on Aug. 3 and/or the 1 1/4-mile$1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Sept. 1.

“I guess we’ve got the Jockey Club at a mile-and-a-quarterat the end of the meet. We’ll see what we do between now and then,” Pletchersaid. “I suppose the Whitney is a possibility.”

Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm, Crupi won a pair of listedstakes this winter at Aqueduct in the Discovery and Queens County ahead of athird-place effort in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in January atGulfstream Park. He earned $192,500 for his Suburban victory and improved hislifetime record to 15: 5-2-4 while returning $7.10 on a $2 win ticket.

Ice Chocolat makes everycall in Poker

Ice Chocolat set a solid tempo and turned back all comerswith a stubborn, gate-to-wire score in the $350,000 Poker (G3), aone-mile, inner-turf test for older horses.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse for owners Gary Barber,Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch, the 6-year-old son of Goldikovic utilized newtactics to make the grade under an aggressive steer by José Ortiz. At 24-1, IceChocolat was the second longest shot on the board behind his 29-1 stablemateLucky Score.

“He brought his A game today. It was great,” Casse said.“You have to give a lot of credit to José. I don’t give instructions. I toldhim to just play the break and see what happens. He said he broke running andfrom there, catch me if you can.

“This horse doesn’t run on the lead usually, but one thingabout this horse is he does get himself in a little trouble so he’s actually abetter horse than he looks. Today obviously making the lead, José won it in thefirst half-mile. And he had nothing to get in his way. He’s a pretty goodhorse.”

Ortiz hustled Ice Chocolat to the front from post 4 and setsplits of 24.41 and 48.17 seconds over the firm turf, with Talk of the Nationstalking to his outside from second position and Mysterious Night saving groundin third under William Buick.

Irad Ortiz Jr. asked Talk of the Nation for his bestapproaching the final turn and advanced alongside the pacesetter, looming asthe one to beat. But Ice Chocolat was not done yet, digging in gamely andkicking on from the top of the lane as Irad Ortiz implored Talk of the Nationto go on by. Mysterious Night kept on from his inside position down the lane,pinned in by Carl Spackler, and closed with purpose when shown to the outsidelate but could only manage to land second, one length back of the winner and ahead in front of Talk of the Nation. Ice Chocolat covered the distance in1:33.97.

Casa Creed was a further length back in fourth with CarlSpackler, Kubrick and Lucky Score rounding out the order of finish. Front Runthe Fed was scratched.

JoséOrtiz, who won the New York (G1) on Friday, said he played the break.

“Mark usually doesn’t give instructions, so I see that hebroke clean, so I help him into the turn and see what happens,” hesaid. “Iwasn’t expecting to be there but how he broke. I would intend to be there. Ifthey clear me, then I take back, but they left me alone, and the horse took careof the rest.”

Ice Chocolat made a pair of starts last summer at the Spa,finishing fourth in the Kelso (G3) and third in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) withrallying efforts. He shortened up successfully traveling six furlongs in Grade2 company at Woodbine when a close third in the Nearctic on turf and second, bya nose, in the Kennedy Road on Tapeta.

Casse said Ice Chocolat could return to the Spa for anothershot at the $500,000 Fourstardave on Aug. 10, a race the Hall of Famer has wonpreviously with World Approval in 2017 and Got Stormy in 2019 and 2021. Theone-mile test for 3-year-olds and up offers a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

"I would think we’ll see him here back at Saratoga in astakes race,” Casse said. “He likes it here. Nothing is in mind right now. We’lllook. Maybe long term the Fourstardave. We like that race.”

Baby Yoda kicks home awinner in True North

Baby Yoda didn’t need any extra assistance from the force toearn his first career stakes score, with his speed and closing kick providingsufficient assets to pull away a six-length winner in the $350,000 True North(G2) for 4-year-olds and up sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

Baby Yoda, owned by Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, GaryBarber and Jerold Zaro, previously posted two runner-up efforts and finishedthird against graded-stakes competition. The trainee of Hall of Famer Bill Mottfinally broke through, exiting from the outermost post 7 sharply under EricCancel and tracking in second position to pacesetter Gun It, who led theseven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.94 seconds and the halfin 44.04 over the fast track. In the turn, Baby Yoda split Gun It and NewYork-bred Rotknee to take command, with three-quarters in 1:08.13.

Baby Yoda didn’t relent in the stretch, staying close to therail and surging to the wire in a final time of 1:14.62, never being seriouslychallenged by 16-1 runner-up Ninetyprcentmaddie.

Gun Pilot, the 3-5 favorite, finished one length back ofsecond and edged Rotknee by a head for third. Twenty Four Mamba, Gun It andAccretive completed the order of finish.

The 6-year-old Baby Yoda was elevated back to graded-stakescompetition for the first time since 2022 and had competed against allowancecompany for his last six races. But the Prospective gelding notched his ninthoverall win in 25 starts and improved his career earnings to $837,220. Itmarked his second start in the True North following a fourth-place effort in2022 at Belmont Park.

“I just tried to sit a patient trip. I had a perfect postfor that, and I just sat the perfect trip and it worked out well,” Cancel said."I didn’t want him to get in his way. I wanted to keep him as smooth aspossible, and that is how it went. He was very comfortable where he was, andwhen I asked him, he just responded.

“I had a lot of horse. I was just waiting. I didn’t want tomove early, but at the same time, I knew that if they came up to him, he wasgoing to respond, because he was very comfortable doing it.”

Baby Yoda, off at 9-1, paid $20.40 on a $2 win wager. He previouslyfinished second in the 2022 Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont at the Big A and inthe 2021 Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita. A fondness for Saratoga, where he has won4 of 6 starts, helped him earn his second consecutive winner’s circle trip.

“He likes this racetrack,” Mott said. “He’s done his bestrunning up here. I was a little surprised he was as close as he was. I thoughtthere was maybe a little more speed in the race than that, but he broke well,and he put himself right there. He didn’t like the Gulfstream track (during thewinter). He likes it here. He’s just like old men. They get better with time.”

Co-owner Adam Wachtel of Wachtel Stable said it is likelyBaby Yoda will now target the six-furlong $350,000 Alfred G. VanderbiltHandicap (G1) on July 27 at the Spa.