George Briggs (#5) and Ortiz, Jr. up for the victory over Buttah. (Susie Raisher)
Off-the-turf $150K NYSSS Cab Calloway
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Peter Brant’s New York homebred George Briggs ran down the pacesetting Buttah to win Thursday’s off-the-turf $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, for eligible New York-sired sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.
The Cab Calloway, originally slated for one mile over the inner turf, was moved to the main track and contested at the same distance from the Wilson Chute after heavy rainfall following Race 3 caused the remainder of Thursday’s grass racing [Races 6, 7, 9 and 10] to be taken off the turf.
Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, George Briggs went off as the 6-5 post-time favorite despite never having raced on dirt and an over-five month layoff dating to a closing third in the one-mile turf Listed Colonel Liam in March at Gulfstream Park. He won his debut going 1 1/16 miles against fellow state-breds by 2 1/2 lengths in November over firm Belmont at the Big A turf.
“This horse has trained so well off the layoff and he’s definitely better on the turf,” Brown said. “I thought enough of him to run him open company down at Gulfstream before I had to rest him for getting sick. I thought it was unlucky that little cell came through, but he was able to get there anyways. I’m very happy for Mr. Brant on a nice homebred that he sent me.”
Piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., George Briggs broke alertly from post 3 to travel in third position as Buttah exited the inside post outwardly to slightly bump the field exiting the chute before taking command through an opening quarter-mile in 24.12 seconds on the sloppy and sealed dirt.
“I had a beautiful trip. We broke, I sat third, I bide my time all the way from there,” Ortiz, Jr. said.
The Lane Luzzi-piloted Buttah, making his 12th dirt start in as many races, continued to lead down the backside with River of Time and George Briggs stalking and Moe Eighty Eight not far behind through a half-mile in 47.30. Entering the far turn, River of Time retreated while George Briggs and Moe Eighty Eight prepared for wide runs at the pacesetter.
Buttah, through three-quarters in 1:11.93 still held a two-length advantage, but his lead over George Briggs decreased to 1 1/2 lengths by the stretch call and it was clear he was going to have to dig deep to hold on.
George Briggs gained incrementally and had the superior momentum down the center of the course to edge Buttah by a neck in the last sixteenth, stopping the clock in a final time of 1:38.27.
Moe Eighty Eight finished third 2 1/2 lengths back, with Cast a Coin landing fourth. I’m Due and River of Time completed the order of finish. Morning line favorite Friend Ofthe Devil and Coach Case were scratched.
Brown said he did not seriously consider scratching George Briggs due to the surface change.
“With the purse the way it is and no guarantee that there will be another turf race the next time you go – maybe it could rain – we briefly discussed it, but I was always going to stay in,” Brown explained. “He trained solid on the dirt; I just know that he’s better on the turf.”
Luzzi said the Gary Sciacca-trained Buttah was game in earning a second stakes placing with a runner-up finish in the state-bred Bertram F. Bongard in September at Belmont at the Big A. The Leofric gray, out of the winning Chief Seattle mare Salty Little Sis, is a half-brother to Chowda and Lobsta, both stakes winners on this circuit.
“One thing is, if you can get him to the lead, he’s pretty hard to pass in deep stretch,” said Luzzi. “A really game effort from my horse, I can’t complain at all. I had to drift out to the five [path] just to make sure my horse saw him and give him a challenge. For a minute there it looked like he might hang on and dig in again, but a really game effort.”
George Briggs, out of the unraced Muhtathir mare Bamboiselle, banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 3-2-0-1 and returning $4.50 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Friday with a 10-race card featuring the Listed Smart And Fancy in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
