Raj Jagnanan's American Sailor secured the first graded stakes victory of his career and for his trainer when promoted to first by the stewards in the $200,000 Troy Stakes (G3T) Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
"I'm speechless. This is my first graded win," trainer Wayne Potts said. "My clients have stood behind me through the years with claimers, and this is where we're at."
American Sailor crossed the wire in second, a head in front of Shekky Shebaz, who was steadied by Irad Ortiz Jr. after Imprimis bumped him in the stretch ahead of crossing the wire first by 2 1/4 lengths.
An 8-year-old gelded son of City Zip, American Sailor won the first stakes of his career in the 2016 Bucharest Turf Sprint Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park when trained by Joe Sharp. He has since won at the claiming, starter, and allowance levels but picked up a handful of stakes placings along the way, including a runner-up effort in the Wolf Hill Stakes July 18 at Monmouth Park.
"We gave him the winter off this year and I had him for about three years and he really needed a break. He really deserved it. He doesn't owe us anything, so we decided to give him a break this year and give him some time off instead of shipping him to Sam Houston for the Turf Sprint," Potts said. "He came back at Laurel and ran a fantastic race in his first race back and then he ran in the Wolf Hill, where he got beat by a nice horse for (trainer Steve) Asmussen. He came out of it well, and so I was confident when I brought him up here."
American Sailor grabbed the lead out of the gate in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint despite being bumped by Imprimis, who broke out from the rail. The chestnut was guided by Tyler Gaffalione through fractions of :21.92 and :44.01 for the first half-mile. Shekky Shebaz tracked in second and Imprimis raced three wide in third.
American Sailor opened a two-length lead before Shekky Shebaz and Imprimis were set down for the drive. Imprimis, with Jose Ortiz up, was on the outside and came in near the eighth pole, bumping Shekky Shebaz.
American Sailor eked out a runner-up finish as Shekky Shebaz regained momentum to cross the wire third. Imprimis completed the distance on firm turf in 1:01.27. Stewards reviewed the stretch run and concluded that Imprimis interfered with Shekky Shebaz. They disqualified Imprimis to third and moved American Sailor to first and Shekky Shebaz to second.
"When I hit him the first time, that's when he switched leads, and I think that's when I bothered the other horse," Ortiz said of his mount. "It looked like (Imprimis) was the best horse, but (it) probably did cost (Shekky Shebaz) a position."
Chewing Gum, Pulsate, Lonhtwist, and Pure Sensation completed the order of finish.
American Sailor paid $16.80 to win.
"I don't want to take anything away from my horse. He put in a huge effort today," Gaffalione said. "I'm thrilled for the owners to come up here and win a nice race like this. It's not the way you want to get it done, but he put in a big effort and he's definitely deserving."
Video: Troy S. (G3T)
KatieRich Farms bred American Sailor in Kentucky out of the Yes It's True mare Yesshesarocket, the dam of four winners from as many registered foals. In 2013, American Sailor was purchased by Dark Star Thoroughbred and Silver Oaks Farm for $50,000 from KatieRich at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He then was bought for $100,000 by Steve Landers, with Garry Simms as agent, from the Silver Star consignment to the 2014 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Jagnanan claimed American Sailor for $25,000 from an allowance optional claiming event in September 2017 at Suffolk Downs.
From 45 starts, American Sailor has a 15-9-3 record and earnings of $568,264.
My Sister Nat Earns First U.S. Victory in Waya
In her sixth start since arriving in the United States from her native France, My Sister Nat won her first race on this side of the Atlantic. The 5-year-old half sister to champion Sistercharlie carried Peter Brant's silks into the winner's circle following the $150,000 Waya Stakes (G3T) Saturday at Saratoga.
My Sister Nat finished second in her two starts before the 1 1/2-mile Waya for fillies and mares. Trainer Chad Brown sent the Acclamation mare out to runner-up efforts in the Nov. 30 Long Island Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack and June 27 New York Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park.
"I have to thank Peter for keeping her in training. She's a half to Sistercharlie, and it would have been easy to retire her," Brown said. "We found that last year it took all the way to the end of the year for her to really acclimate. We got her in a three-turn race at the end of the year in the Long Island at Aqueduct, and she should have won but she got in a lot of trouble. In only her second three-turn race, we saw what she can do, and we're going to try and keep her in races like this."
With Jose Ortiz aboard for the third consecutive start, My Sister Nat saved ground fifth of six early after she was slow to begin. Her stablemate Fools Gold set the pace, leading through fractions of :25.46, :50.72, 1:17.34, and 1:41.76 for a mile. Favored Mrs. Sippy was off a step slow, became rank in the first turn, and was taken up to sit third.
"In these types of races, there's not a lot of pace," Brown said. "I thought Jose came to the paddock with a really good plan. He said he was going to try and stay closer and he was able to find the one during the race to follow, which I thought was smart. We didn't change her style, but we stayed with the pack this time and didn't let her fall too far back. Jose deserves a lot of credit for that."
When the field turned for home, Ortiz unleashed his mount and the mare rallied past the field. Fools Gold dug in and Mrs. Sippy fought between the Brown pair, but it was My Sister Nat on the outside who reached the wire first by a neck. She completed the 12 furlongs on firm turf in 2:30.26. She paid $6.90.
"We saved ground in the first two turns, and in the third turn I started looking for a place to go," Ortiz said. "Chad always tells me in three-turn races to save ground in two (turns) and in the third do whatever you want. I started working my way out, and I'm glad it worked out.
"She's a really nice filly and she was knocking on the door. Chad and Mr. Brant have been very patient, and she's a very nice filly going this distance and longer. She's a tiny filly but she's got a lot of heart."
Mrs. Sippy was second by 1 1/4 lengths over Fools Gold in third. Beau Belle, Olympic Games, and Quiet Dignity rounded out the finish.
Bred in France by Ecurie des Monceaux, My Sister Nat is the second foal out of the Galileo mare Starlet's Sister, whose first foal is 2018 champion turf female Sistercharlie, by Myboycharlie. Starlet Sister's third foal, the 4-year-old Siyouni colt Sottsass, is a dual group 1 winner in France. Brant owns both half siblings. Sistercharlie is trained by Brown, and Sottsass is conditioned by Jean-Claude Rouget.
As a yearling, My Sister Nat was purchased for $22,316 by Paul Nataf from her breeder's consignment to the 2016 Arqana February Mixed Sale. She won a group 3 in France before Brant purchased her privately and transferred her stateside.
My Sister Nat has a 3-4-3 record from 12 starts and has earned $341,672.
The Waya Stakes is named after the champion mare campaigned by Brant who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
