Following the ninth race at Saratoga Race Course July 20, a group of friends, family, and colleagues of the late Suzie O'Cain lingered in the winner's circle. No one was in a hurry to leave after the initial running of the Suzie O'Cain Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies.
"She would have loved this," said Dr. C. Lynwood "Doc" O'Cain, her husband of 40 years. "I know she is smiling down on us."
Suzie O'Cain passed away in January in Saratoga Springs after battling breast cancer.
The O'Cains managed Highcliff Farm in nearby Delanson for 23 years.
She was a former member of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders' board of directors for more than 20 years and one of three Directors Emeriti at the time of her death. She was also a member of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's board of directors from 2003 to last August and also served as co-chairwoman of the NYTB's Political Action Committee and chairwoman of the NYTB's Media Committee.
"She had such a bigger than life personality," Tom Gallo, the NYTB president, said. "She made everyone smile, she made everyone laugh. She had such a big impact on the industry in New York."
The inaugural Suzie O'Cain was won by the Gary Sciacca-trained Dream Central.
Rich Strike Gearing Up for Trip to Spa
Seventy-five days have passed since Rick Dawson's RED TR-Racing's Rich Strike shocked the world in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
The 3-year-old son of Keen Ice reappeared in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and ran a dud, finishing sixth. Now Rich Strike has had his time off and has gotten back to work, aiming for a start in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course.
"He has grown a lot and he was plenty big enough already," trainer Eric Reed said from Kentucky. "He has just filled out even more with the time off. He is really happy now. He was not happy not getting to train like normal. He did not understand a 30-day break. I was trying to rest him and just give him a chance to unwind. He is happy that he is able to gallop like his normal self and not have easy days."
The horse has been training at Reed's Mercury Equine Center in Lexington. His first published work since the Belmont came July 8 when he went four furlongs in :50 2/5.
PEREZ: Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Works at Mercury
The plan is for Rich Strike to move on to Churchill Downs for a couple of works before shipping to Saratoga a few weeks before the Travers.
Reed said Rich Strike, who won the Derby at odds of 80-1, is as popular as ever. Maybe more.
"I can't get over it," Reed said. "I receive so many things in the mail. Poems and pictures from children. Fans constantly want to come and see him. We try to accommodate them the best we can, but it's something I'm really not used to."
According to Equibase, the last time Reed ran a horse at Saratoga was Sept. 5, 2020, when he saddled Complicit to a seventh-place finish in the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T). In his career, he has started 18 horses at Saratoga.
Reed has never won a stakes race at the Spa. He has two wins and two second-place finishes. In his first Saratoga start, he ran fourth with Sweet and Flawless in the 2009 Alabama Stakes (G1).
McPeek's Daughter Plays Name Game With Butterbean
The first thing you notice about the 3-year-old filly trainer Kenny McPeek is running in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 23 at Saratoga Race Course is the name.
Butterbean, a daughter of Klimt owned by Magdalena Racing and William Klimashousky, is the winner of the Iowa Oaks (G3).
There must be a story behind that name, right?
Oh, yes, there is.
"Everyone thinks she is named after Butterbean the boxer," McPeek said at his barn in Saratoga July 20.
Butterbean the horse is definitely not the namesake of Butterbean the bald-headed, behemoth pugilist with the red, white, and blue boxing trunks.
The idea for Butterbean's name was invented in the 6-year-old mind of McPeek's daughter Ann.
McPeek says he often lets his daughter and wife, Sherri, have at it in picking names for horses in his barn.
"I let them, and it depends on the partnerships," McPeek said. "Ann is actually pretty good at naming horses. She wanted to name Butterbean Cupcake, but Cupcake was taken."
Not to be deterred, young Ann went back to work and came up with the name associated with one of her favorite TV shows on the Nickelodeon network.
"She watches a show named Butterbean's Cafe," McPeek said.
So, there you have it.
Epicenter, Jackie's Warrior Return to the Work Tab
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter worked five-eighths in 1:01.13 July 18 over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Race Course, dominating his company, the 3-year-old maiden Flute Master (1:03.12).
Epicenter, a Not This Time sophomore, boasts a record of 8-4-3-0 for purse earnings in excess of $1.9 million. He is targeting the $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2), a nine-furlong test for sophomores July 30.
"Visually impressive is what he is," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "He's an extremely talented horse and he's doing well. His work Monday was as good of a work as I've seen from him, and I've seen some impressive works from him. It's a good time to be doing well."
Epicenter enjoyed a pair of grade 2 wins over the winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, taking the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in February and the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) in March. He was sent to post as the 4-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) in May, finishing a close second when defeated just three-quarters of a length by Rich Strike . He enters the Jim Dandy from a rallying second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 21 at Pimlico Race Course.
J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior , the reigning Eclipse Award-winning male sprinter, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.72 July 17 over the Oklahoma dirt training track in company with 3-year-old maiden winner Favorite Outlaw in preparation for a start in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) July 30.
He will also potentially start later this summer in the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 27 as part of his path toward a return engagement in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in November at Keeneland.
The 4-year-old Maclean's Music colt is a perfect 3-for-3 this year, boasting wins in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) in April at Oaklawn Park, the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford (G1) in May, and a five-length romp last out in the True North Stakes (G2) June 10 at Belmont Park.
"It's so rare to have a champion colt be back in training and not only that, his three runs this year have been visually impressive," Asmussen said. "He had a nice work here on Sunday and we're on target for the Vanderbilt."
Jackie's Warrior, bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables, is a perfect 4-for-4 at the Spa, including juvenile scores in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) and Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) along with wins last summer in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) ahead of a game neck score over eventual Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Life Is Good in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
"We want more of the same from him. He's 4-for-4 here which is an unbelievable record," Asmussen said. "His win here in the Allen Jerkens against Life Is Good was as good of a horse race as I've been involved with. It was wonderful to come out on the right side of that."
Jackie's Warrior made the first of seven sophomore starts on the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing third in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn before returning to one-turn races with aplomb with a head score in the Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) at Churchill Downs. He followed with a good second when defeated a neck by Drain the Clock in the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (G1) at Belmont in a campaign that culminated with a win in the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) in September at Parx ahead of a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar.
Joseph O'Brien Set for First Saratoga Starter
Trainer Joseph O'Brien will send out his first starter of the Saratoga Race Course meet when Peter Brant's Alexis Zorba seeks a third-out graduation in July 22's first race—a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for juveniles over the Mellon turf.
Alexis Zorba has finished second in his two prior efforts in Ireland, both times finishing behind an eventual group stakes winner for Joseph's father, trainer Aidan O'Brien. He was beaten 1 1/2 lengths on debut April 8 over the all-weather surface at Dundalk in a race won by Blackbeard, who went on to capture the Gain Marble Hill (G3) at The Curragh and the Darley Prix Robert Papin (G2) at Chantilly.
In his second start, Alexis Zorba finished three lengths behind Little Big Bear, who came back to defeat a 24-horse field in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before capturing the Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes (G3) July 16 at The Curragh.
"He's in good shape," O'Brien said. "He's had two runs in Ireland that obviously the form worked out well. The track is a question mark for him. It's fantastic to have some horses for Peter. We're hopeful that this will be a nice colt."
Alexis Zorba, bred in Great Britain by Plantation Stud, is by Australian-bred Zoustar and out of the Exceed and Excel mare Rue Cambon—a half sister to grade 1-winning millionaire Gorella. She was purchased by Brant's White Birch Farm and bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne for $442,516 at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez will pick up the mount aboard Alexis Zorba from post 4 as the 9-5 morning line favorite.
O'Brien will try to double up on juvenile turf maiden victories this week when sending out Reckoning Force in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight in the Saturday opener.
A son of Air Force Blue, Reckoning Force is out of the Jazil mare Alasema, whose third dam Trolley Song produced influential sire Unbridled's Song.
In his lone effort, Reckoning Force was third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden event June 4 at Listowel.
"He's placed in his only run and we're hoping he can run well," O'Brien said.
Velazquez will ride Reckoning Force from post 10.
O'Brien, who has stalls at Saratoga for the first time, has enjoyed past success when shipping to the Spa, including last year when saddling State of Rest to a victory in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) en route to group 1 victories in Australia, France, and England.
"Obviously, there's some great prize money to be won up there and I have some owners that were interested and love to compete there," O'Brien said.
