West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's Carson's Run brings a strong debut win for trainer Christophe Clement over a route of ground into the $175,000 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juveniles, Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course.
The son of Cupid arrives at his first test against winners from a determined neck triumph July 29 at the Spa, where he traveled five lengths off the pace under Dylan Davis and steadily made up ground over the With Anticipation's distance to challenge for the lead at the top of the lane. The talented chestnut dueled gamely with Moonlight down the stretch before taking a slim advantage at the wire and completing the course in 1:44.40.
Carson's Run has worked back three times since his victory, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:03.25 over the Oklahoma turf training track Aug. 24.
"He had a good work on the grass the other day. He's trained very forwardly and we're looking forward to running him again here at Saratoga," said Miguel Clement, son and assistant to Christophe Clement. "Dylan has been breezing him in the mornings. He's always been high on the horse from day one. The horse has a good turn of foot, and I wouldn't swap positions with anyone else heading into this race."
Carson's Run will have plenty of support as friends and supporters of the person for whom the colt is named, Carson Jost, rally around Carson's Run and his attempt at becoming racing's latest graded stakes winner. Jost, 30, suffers from a genetic condition called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. His father, Wade Jost, is a longtime friend of West Point Thoroughbreds' president and CEO Terry Finley and is a partner in the horse's ownership.
Clement will also send out debut maiden runner-up Spirit Prince for owners Oakwood Stables, Scott Krase, Donarra Thoroughbreds, Kenneth Beitz, and Gail Beitz. The gray/roan son of Cairo Prince , who adds blinkers, finished a closing second in a 1 1/16-mile maiden July 22, just a half-length back of the victorious Noted, who exited that race to win Monmouth Park's one-mile Sapling Stakes Saturday.
Les Wagner's graded stakes-placed Market Street tries turf for the first time after a distant runner-up effort to Rhyme Schemes in the Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) Aug. 12. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will be represented by two debut winners in Carem Stables' Get Spooled and Arnmore Thoroughbreds and Even Keel Thoroughbreds' Gala Brand.
Completing the field are Wine Collector, who won at third asking for conditioner Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon; maiden runner-up British Sea for trainer Mike Maker; and debut maiden winner Nomos for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, August 31, 2023, Race 7Entries: With Anticipation S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Gala Brand (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 119 William I. Mott 7/2 2 2Spirit Prince (KY) Flavien Prat 118 Christophe Clement 3/1 3 3Wine Collector (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon 12/1 4 4Market Street (KY) Javier Castellano 120 D. Wayne Lukas 8/1 5 5Get Spooled (NY) Jose Lezcano 122 William I. Mott 10/1 6 6British Sea (KY) Manuel Franco 118 Michael J. Maker 10/1 7 7Nomos (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Todd A. Pletcher 4/1 8 8Carson's Run (KY) Dylan Davis 122 Christophe Clement 7/2
