It has been more than a year since Saratoga Race Track witnessed what happened at the Saranac Stakes (G3T) on August 30.
But even if this only happens once a decade, the tragedy is not diminished.
As happened in 2023 with Maple Leaf Mel in the Test Stakes (G1) and New York Thunder in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1), The Big Torpedo suffered a severe left foreleg fracture in the sprint of the 1 1/16-mile turf race and was humanely euthanized on the track.
It was the first fatality in a race at Spa since the New York Thunder lost on August 26 last year. This year’s competition, which began on July 11 and ended on September 2, featured 369 races with 2,879 participants and only one catastrophic injury.
Oil spills also cause Take Me To Church The Big Torpedo rider tripped and crashed into the railing. While Take Me To Church’s fall looked ugly, the 3-year-old colt suffered only minor cuts and scrapes and ran away after the incident. He was caught by a rider and taken to trainer Brad Cox’s stables in an equine ambulance.
Rider Javier Castellano, who was on Take Me To Church, was conscious and taken to Albany Medical Center for further evaluation.
Eric Cancel, who was riding The Big Torpedo, was not injured.
“He seems fine,” Cox said of Take Me To Church. “He’s a little dazed and has a few scrapes here and there, which is normal. We’ll monitor him over the next few days but I think we’ve escaped anything serious.”
Big Brown’s 3-year-old New York-bred horse, The Big Torpedo, is owned by Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro and James Klein and trained by Tom Morley.
In the $162,750 Saranac 3-year-old Stallion, The Big Torpedo was clinging to the lead after the eighth-place mark at the time of the incident.
Qatar Racing West Hollywood passed him from the outside at that point and went on to win in Saranac for Cox by 5 1/2 horse lengths under Flavien Prat.
“You could hear a pin drop in the stands after it happened,” Cox said. “It was a tough situation and you felt the horse’s connections fall off. It was a tough deal.”
Jockey Eric Cancel, rider of horse No. 5 The Big Torpedo, is consoled by jockey Junior Alvarado after the Saranac Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
The 6-5 favorite ($4.70), West Hollywood, completed the 1 1/16-mile course in 1:40.89.
“Yeah, I definitely would have liked to have won under different conditions, and all my thoughts are with the relationships, the riders, and obviously the horses,” said Prat, who set a Saratoga record with his 16th win. “I wish it had been different. Our horse ran his race. He ran really well. That’s all.”
West Hollywood is the son of Uncle Mo Bred by B. Flay Thoroughbreds. Winner of an optional competition on July 27 on turf at Spa, he has won three of his five starts and made his debut on Friday.
“I’m proud of his effort and he’s progressing in the race and figuring it out,” Cox said. “He’s a great 3-year-old with a great pedigree. We’ll let it sink in, get him back to Kentucky and come up with a plan for him.”
Out of the Galileo White Hot mare, West Hollywood is the $775,000 RNA at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Pizza Bianca and is the second of his mother’s two foals to race. White Hot also has a 2024 foal Into mischief .
Stable’s Victory Dad a son of Yoshida Trained by Linda Rice, finished second by 2 3/4 lengths Progress A More Than Ready colt trained by Cherie DeVaux.
Video: Saranac S. (G3T)
