Yaupon Repels a Savaging Firenze Fire in Forego

As race battles go, the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 28 on Runhappy Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course had everything—two horses dueling throughout, a tight finish, even midstretch savagery from runner-up Firenze Fire. Through it all, favored Yaupon delivered, fending off Firenze Fire for a head victory under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt sped to the lead, was courageous when tackled by Firenze Fire on the turn, and bravely hit the wire just on top with seven furlongs in 1:21.74 on the fast track. "That was kind of scary," Santana said of the incident. "That never happened to me before and the only thing I can think is 'Don't stop riding.'" He didn't, and following splits of :23.09 and :45.70, his mount had the needed reserves to prevail. The Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt-owned runner returned $6 to win. "It's very exciting to have a winner of the grade 1 Forego for the Heiligbrodts," said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. "But the finish made it that much more dramatic. I will watch that replay many times in my future. For that to happen in a grade 1 at Saratoga with two horses on the lead, that will be memorable." It wasn't entirely a new experience for Firenze Fire, who had been on the receiving end of a savage attempt from runner-up Whereshetoldmetogo when he narrowly won the Gallant Bob Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing in 2018. Firenze Fire literally tried everything in an attempt to win Saturday and was well clear in second. If he crossed the wire first, he likely would have been disqualified by stewards for his attempts to savage. Race video showed Firenze Fire briefly snatching a portion of Yaupon's bridle in his mouth, as Firenze Fire's rider, Jose Ortiz, reached to grab his mount's right rein to get him off his rival. The incident cost both horses momentum, perhaps most of all Firenze Fire, as Ortiz fought to correct him. The jockey felt it cost his horse the race. "I had perfect position; I stayed next to him and I thought I had him beat, but you saw what happened inside the sixteenth—my horse tried to bite the other horse and I really had to get a hold of him to get him away from him," he said. Watching the replay, losing trainer Kelly Breen was proud of the tenacity shown by his charge, though the outcome was a position short of satisfying. "He went after him two times in four full strides," he said. "He's a tough cookie. I have never seen him do anything like that before." The two could meet again. Both horses are leading contenders for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Asmussen's previous Forego winner in 2019, Mitole, also owned by the Heiligbrodts and ridden by Santana, took the Breeders' Cup Sprint that fall at Santa Anita Park and was honored as champion male sprinter that year. Santana has now won the Forego three of the last four years, having also captured the 2018 renewal on Whitmore, who ran again Saturday, this time under Joel Rosario. Chance It nipped Mind Control in a photo for the show. Whitmore ran fifth but was pulled up after crossing the wire and vanned off. Trainer Ron Moquett announced on Twitter after the race that 8-year-old Whitmore, last year's champion male sprinter, was retired from racing due to an injury that he classified as "small in nature." He added that Whitmore walked into his Saratoga stall sound. "There will be continuous updates for all who are interested (in) his transformation from Ornery racehorse to Ornery RRP project (or professional carrot eater) if that's the path he chooses," Moquett tweeted. Crosby: Champion Whitmore Retired, to Visit Rood & Riddle Mischevious Alex, Doubly Blessed, and Lexitonian completed the order of finish. Bred in Kentucky by Betz, Lamantia, CoCo Equine, Magers, and Burns, Yaupon is out of the grade 1-placed Vindication mare Modification. The dam has produced eight foals, six to race, and four winners, including one other black-type runner in the twice grade 2-placed Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last). Her most recent foals are a 2-year-old American Pharoah filly named Royal Flower, and an unnamed yearling colt by Good Magic. She was bred to Curlin for 2022. Royal Flower was a $1.2 million purchase by Mike Rutherford at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and Modification's yearling colt is entered in this year's upcoming auction as part of the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment. Yaupon has gone through three public auctions, most recently selling for $255,000 to East Hickman Bloodstock during the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale when part of the Wavertree Stables consignment. Yaupon, a dual graded victor in 2020 and winner of the Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in his start preceding the Forego, carried 118 pounds in Saturday's race. This was four fewer than the runner-up and six less than high weights Whitmore, Mischevious Alex, and Lexitonian, who were among five competitors with existing grade 1 wins entering Saturday's race. With six wins in eight career starts, Yaupon has earned $703,264.