If anyone says to bring the band home, that home would be Saratoga Race Course.
At least that's the case for the 5-year-old bay gelding, Bring Theband Home, who earned his third victory in three starts over the Saratoga grass when taking the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G2T) by 1 1/2 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion.
Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said he didn't have a definitive answer as to why the Live Oak Plantation homebred runs his best races at Saratoga, but mentioned the cooler weather up north seems to be a pleasant getaway for the Florida-bred.
"He looks magnificent," Casse said. "I don't think he's ever looked better."
Of course, it could also be that Bring Theband Home is finally hitting his peak. He flashed brilliance July 4 in the Harvey Pack Stakes when he completed 5 1/2 furlongs in :59.90, just .10 off the world record set by Cogburn on the same course in the 2024 Jaipur Stakes (G1T).
"He's a horse we kind of always thought was a good horse," Casse said. "I didn't know he was this good, but we were always kind of high on him. One thing I'll have to say for Mrs. (Charlotte) Weber (of Live Oak Plantation), she's a very patient lady. We've given him time, given him time, and it worked out."
He didn't get as close to the world record this time, stopping the clock in 1:00.38, but still blazed away fractions of :21.38 and :43.39—both faster than the Harvey Pack. Twenty Six Black took second and Determined Kingdom was third.
"I was a little worried about his regression," Casse said about returning from a performance where he earned a career-best 124 Equibase Speed Figure. "We probably got a little (regression) today, but it was still good enough."
Bring Theband Home is the 11th graded winner this year for the six-time reigning champion general sire, Into Mischief . He is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare, Tizatude.
Bring Theband Home will have the opportunity to prove he can carry his speed to different venues as the year progresses. With the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1 the target, Casse said he will likely start one or two more times before then.
Video: Troy S. (G2T)
Castellano ends slump, gets first win of summer meet
If the success is purely based on the location, Saratoga is a pretty good place to win. According to Bring Theband Home's Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, Saratoga is the best place to compete as it features the best horses, jockeys, and trainers.
Those same reasons why the four-time Eclipse Award-winning rider and seven-time Travers Stakes (G1) winner praised the track, however, have been a detriment to his success this meet. Since the official start of the summer meet July 10, Castellano had been shut out since winning the Harvey Park with Bring Theband Home.
"It's a competitive game. Any athlete in any sport, you have to go through those moments," an emotional Castellano said in the winner's circle. "It was almost a month we didn't win races. That's the first time that happened in my career in 29 years. I never faced a challenge like that, but I've been strong, competitive, worked hard every single day. Mentally, tried to reset a little bit."
He got out of the slump with a top performance on a fast horse. Castellano compared the gelding to a push-button electric car that takes off when the rider calls, despite his awkward running style of constantly switching leads.
"It seemed to me that's his style," Castellano said. "Last time, he almost broke the world record, and he did it every single step of the race—switching leads back and forth, and he feels good, feels healthy.
"Fast horse, he's able to relax in the lead, he's not a run-off horse. I like that, and he always listens to the jockey. When I asked him, he took off again. Lucky to be around those horses."
Castellano was extra thankful that the victory came for Weber.
"She's my neighbor," Castellano said. "I'm glad to win because if not, she'd be knocking on my door."
