The recent 39-day meet at Saratoga, which ran from July 11 to Labor Day, showcased both triumphs and disappointments. Here’s a breakdown of five standout performers and five horses that struggled during the event.
Winners
Dylan Davis: Following in the footsteps of his father, former jockey Robbie Davis, Dylan experienced a remarkable summer with 36 wins, tying him for third place overall in a competitive jockey field. This impressive tally nearly doubled his previous record of 19, and he is now getting the chance to ride for top stables.
Chad Brown: The acclaimed trainer continued his dominance by securing his fourth consecutive training title and seventh overall, amassing 45 victories. This celebrated horseman from Mechanicville, N.Y., clinched six Grade 1 wins, including a thrilling success by Chancer McPatrick in the Hopeful on Labor Day.
Fierceness: Previously criticised for his inconsistency, the 2-year-old champion finally found his groove by defeating Sierra Leone in the Jim Dandy (G2) and narrowly edging out Thorpedo Anna in the Travers (G1), reigniting his hopes for division honours.
Flavien Prat: Although Irad Ortiz Jr. retained his riding title, Flavien Prat shone brightly by setting records for the most graded-stakes wins (14) and overall stakes wins (18) in a single Saratoga meet, with earnings totalling $6,610,757. Notably, seven of his graded-stakes victories were in Grade 1 races.
Thorpedo Anna: Demonstrating her dominance with a 4 1/2-length victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), the impressive Fast Anna filly nearly upset the boys in the Travers, finishing just a head behind. Her remarkable performance keeps her firmly in contention for a horse of the year honour.
Others
Frankie Dettori: The renowned international jockey couldn’t quite match his usual flair, achieving just five wins from 49 rides, resulting in a 10 percent win rate—below his high standards. His performance included six second-place finishes and five third-place efforts.
Dornoch: After impressive wins in the Belmont Stakes and the Haskell (G1), Dornoch entered the Travers as a leading contender for the Eclipse Award but fell short in the mid-summer derby, finishing fourth, 8 1/4 lengths behind the revitalised Fierceness.
Innovator: Initially a promising 2-year-old, this $900,000 purchase struggled to meet expectations under the legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Although he placed second in two maiden special weight races, he finished a distant fifth in the Hopeful, leaving him with just $53,305 in earnings from four career starts.
Seize the Grey: The Preakness winner aimed for a rebound at Saratoga following a disappointing seventh in the Belmont Stakes but instead fell short, finishing fourth in the Jim Dandy and missing the Travers as he took a break from racing.
Sierra Leone: Despite his impressive $2.3 million pedigree, Sierra Leone has faced consistent failures at crucial moments. He’s now on a four-race losing streak since his Blue Grass (G1) win, having added losses in the Jim Dandy and Travers to his earlier defeats in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. Though he always makes a late push, he has yet to claim a victory.