Peachtree Stable’s Tawny Port , a multiple grade 3 winner on dirt making just his second start on the turf, took the lead midway down the backstretch and powered through the lane to a decisive 3 1/2-length victory in the Aug. 23 $135,000 John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, which was marred by the sudden death of Burning Bright .
The 1 5/8-mile John’s Call was for 4-year-olds and up which had not won a grade 1 or grade 2 stakes on the grass this year.
Tide of the Sea , front-running winner of the 2021 Grade 3 W.L. McKnight on the Gulfstream Park turf, broke outside all but one of his rivals and was hustled to the lead by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, outrunning Tawny Port through a quarter-mile in 22.94 seconds over a firm Mellon turf course.
Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Christophe Clement, Tawny Port settled in second and continued to save ground inside through a half-mile in 46.85. Rosario gave Tawny Port his cue as Tide of the Sea began to tire and drop back, going 1:37.76 for one mile as Good Skate , racing in the clear outside, ranged up to launch his bid and Sy Dog moved into contention.
“Really good trip,” Rosario said. “I thought we were going to make the lead, but that horse [Tide of the Sea] looked like he wanted to go to the lead, so I sent him a little bit and then let him go. I sat a little behind and got a little early lead. I felt happy with that, he’s kind of a one-paced horse, so I feel confident when he’s in the lead.”
Tawny Port maintained his advantage around the far turn and cut the corner for home in command, opening up once straightened for home and pulling clear to win in 2:38.63. Sent off at 5-2, he returned $7.50 for a $2 win bet.
Tawny Port wins the John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
“He looked like he was there for me, but he’s a horse you kind of have to ride him a little bit to get him going, but I felt pretty good when he took the lead,” Rosario said. “He seemed like once we got there, he got very confident and I knew when somebody was going to challenge him, he’d have some more at the end, and he did.”
Sy Dog, winner of last spring’s Transylvania Stakes (G3T) on the Keeneland turf for trainer Graham Motion, passed Good Skate in mid-stretch to take second by 5 3/4 lengths.
“I had a good trip, I was just second best. The winner was too much today,” Sy Dog’s jockey, Manny Franco, said. “My horse ran his race. They went fast, but they didn’t come back at all. The winner was on the pace and just kept on going.”
Burning Bright, a 6-year-old Empire Maker gelding out of 2008 champion turf female and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together, appeared to have had a major cardiovascular event in the clubhouse turn causing his sudden death. Jockey Luis Saez, who was unseated, was transported to Albany Medical Center.
Agent Kiaran McLaughlin reported Saez has a dislocated right collar bone and a slight fracture in his left wrist but was expected to be released later in the evening. Saez, second in the jockey standings, is named to ride Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage in Saturday’s Travers Stakes (G1).
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Tawny Port raced 12 times on dirt or all-weather surfaces for previous trainer Brad Cox, winning the Lexington (G3) and finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby last spring. He bounced back to win the Ohio Derby (G3) and run third in the grade 2 Jim Dandy, the latter at Saratoga, before going to the sidelines following an off-the-board effort in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).
Tawny Port went winless in his first three starts at 4 before being moved to Clement, who opted for the turf in the Bowling Green (G2T) going 1 3/8 miles July 30 at Saratoga, where the Pioneerof the Nile colt ran fifth to grade 1 winner Channel Maker.
“He’s got a high cruising speed. He’s always been a very good mover, very efficient and very straight forward in his training,” assistant trainer Miguel Clement said. “As a result, the 1 5/8 miles seemed ideal for him. The longer the better and I think he’s off to bigger and better things.”
Among the spots being considered is the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) on Sept. 30 at Belmont at the Big A.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
