Reunited with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and Saratoga Race Course July 13, Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables' Governor Sam showed the talent that made him a three-time stakes winner and grade 1-placed at 2 as he conquered his five foes in the $175,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T).
The son of Improbable had suffered two defeats at Churchill Downs to start his sophomore campaign. Trainer George Weaver cited the colt being leg weary off the layoff for his third-place finish in the April 30 William Walker Stakes and his June 6 allowance race being taken off the turf as the reasons for his losses.
Now fully fit and showing the ability to rate off his stablemate Ortley Avenue's pace of :21.71 and :44.68, victory was never in doubt as he pulled clear in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Completing 5 1/2 furlongs on the good turf in 1:02.68, he paid $3.50 to win as the heavy favorite.
"A lot of people were saying maybe he didn't come back as good, and that's a legitimate (concern)," Weaver said. "Some horses don't make that transition, but everything he was telling me is that he was bigger, stronger, and he's been doing really well. I think just the third race of the form cycle (helped)."
Ridden by Paco Lopez in his last six starts, Ortiz Jr. took over the saddle for the first time since Governor Sam's maiden victory at The Spa a year ago. Ortiz Jr. had the opportunity to work the horse recently to get reacquainted, which gave him the confidence that he'd be able to either take the lead or relax off the pace.
"I was already working him in the mornings, so (Weaver) said, 'Do whatever you want, whatever you think,'" Ortiz Jr. said. "My plan was to let them go if I break with the field, sit with him. I don't want to go head-to-head because he's that kind, if horses are around him, he can get keen."
This marked the second time in Governor Sam's career that he was able to win sitting off the pace, taking Monmouth Park's Tyro Stakes in the same style last summer. He is now 5-for-9 lifetime with $562,598 in the bank.
Bred in Kentucky by Stoneriggs Farm, Governor Sam is out of the multiple stakes-winning Into Mischief mare I'm Betty G. He is the first graded stakes winner in the United States for his late sire, Improbable.
As for what's next, Weaver said another start at Saratoga in the $175,000 Mahony Stakes (G3T) Aug. 10 was possible, but the ultimate goal would be the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1. He was third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) over the course last fall.
"At some point, we want to put him in a position to run in the Breeders' Cup against older," Weaver said. "He'll have to keep stepping it up, but he's a good turf sprinter and today we learned he doesn't need the lead, so we're excited."
Weaver's Ortley Avenue was able to hold on for second over Miguel Clement-trained No Evidence. Weaver's third entrant, Insubordination, was a nose away from that third position.
"We got the win, (Ortley Avenue) finished second, and (Insubordination) ran a good fourth, too," Weaver said. "As far as running three horses in the same race, it went really well."
