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Spirit of St Louis soars to victory in $125K Hudson Valley

by Keith McCalmont

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s Spirit of St Louis secured his fifth straight stakes victory with a powerful score under his regular pilot Manny Franco in Saturday’s $125,000 Hudson Valley, a one-mile inner turf test for older New York-breds, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the classy 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro has won 8-of-10 starts, arriving on a streak of stakes scores at the Big A in the state-bred Ashley T. Cole on October 6, the state-bred Mohawk on October 29 and the Listed Danger’s Hour in April. Last out, he took an off-the-turf renewal of the state-bred Kingston on June 9 at Saratoga Race Course.

“He is just a winning machine. He likes to run, and every time he gives you 110 percent,” said Franco, who has been aboard Spirit of St Louis throughout the series of stakes wins. “I’m just happy to be on him right now and to get the ‘W’ once again. He had a nice turn of foot, and every time you ask him for something, he’s there. When you ask him for all, he gives you a nice kick. I think that has made him special.”

The Jose Gomez-piloted Itsallcomintogetha led the field past the wire for the first time with Franco angling Spirit of St Louis, who exited the inside post, off the rail and into an outside stalking position as the opening quarter-mile elapsed in 24.17 seconds over the firm going.

Itsallcomintogetha continued to show the way down the backstretch through a half-mile in 47.82 with Spirit of St Louis traveling comfortably in second and waiting for his cue in front of Jerry the Nipper, City Man and the late-running Dakota Gold under a patient Dylan Davis.

Spirit of St Louis engaged the leader through the final turn as Jerry the Nipper dropped back, and City Man advanced up the rail into third through three-quarters in 1:11.51. Spirit of St Louis, always looking most likely, took command once straightened away for the stretch run and scored by three lengths in a final time of 1:35.83.

Dakota Gold arrived in the final jumps to earn place honors by a neck over the game Itsallcomintogetha with City Man another neck back in fourth. Jerry the Nipper rounded out the order of finish, while main-track only entrant Sheriff Bianco was scratched.

Franco was full of praise for the professional Spirit of St Louis, who has proven to be successful on both surfaces and with varying trips.

“He’s very versatile. Wherever you put him, like I say, he’s going to give you 110 percent,” Franco said. “He probably likes to be a little covered, but wherever you put him, he’ll be there.”

Franco said the talented gelding would be more than capable in a return to open company.

“He did it [open company] once already and I think it doesn’t matter. Right now, he’s doing great, and he’s in the best hands with Chad Brown,” Franco said.

Davis said multiple stakes-winner Dakota Gold performed admirably in defeat.

“I thought he ran a great race,” Davis said. “He broke OK. I was trying to get some position in the first turn, but he doesn't like to be inside too much. So when City Man decided to take back and try to cover up, I opted to take back and out of flight and ride that race. Into the second turn, it [turf] felt a little soft. He came and gave me a nice steady run. I got him to the outside and he got a nice placing there. The winner was much the best, so I thought he put a great effort in."

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Spirit of St Louis banked $68,750 in victory while improving his record to 10-8-2-0. He returned $3 for a $2 win bet. Out of the graded stakes-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Khancord Kid, Spirit of St Louis is a full-brother to the Bromans’ 2017 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold. He was purchased for $280,000 at the 2023 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga Race Course for Opening Day of the 2024 summer meet. First post on Thursday’s 11-race card, headlined by the Listed $175,000 Schuylerville in Race 10, is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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