Rhetorical. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.- Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable’s Rhetorical impressed when winning his stakes debut by 2 1/4 lengths in Sunday’s $150,000 West Point presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf test for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Will Walden, the 4-year-old Not This Time gelding improved to 3-for-3 this year, and all three wins have come in convincing fashion traveling 1 1/16 miles on turf. The first of those scores was by five lengths in a state-bred allowance in May at Belmont at the Big A ahead of a geared-down 2 1/2-length open optional claiming score last out on July 19 here.
“Every time we stepped up the company or the challenge, he does it – he handles it pretty easily,” Walden said. “We just get him over here and he does the rest. That was the first time he really sat behind horses without fighting it.”
Rhetorical exited the outermost post 6 sharply and for the opening few strides was outside of the pacesetting longshot Gem Mint Ten and tracking Itsallcomintogetha, before being taken back by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., to settle in a clear third position through an opening quarter mile in a sharp 22.45 seconds on the firm turf.
“My horse breaks really good, so I was really happy the first jump out of there and after that, I probably can stalk or sit outside of them if they go a little slow. If they go quick – like they went – I can drop in and get a covered trip,” Ortiz, Jr. explained.
Ortiz, Jr., was content with his off-the-pace third position, about four lengths back down the backside, as Itsallcomintogetha kept the pressure on Gem Mint Ten and that pair carried the field through a swift half-mile in 45.98.
Gem Mint Ten faded in the second turn leaving Itsallcomintogetha to set the three-quarters mark in 1:09.82 while Rhetorical narrowed the gap and Bettrluckythangood improved with a wide bid from last-of-6 under Dylan Davis.
“At the three-eighths pole he already told me he wants to go, so I let him do it,” said Ortiz, Jr. “It’s a nice kick… when we’re turning for home, I’m cruising and as soon as he passed the other horse, [he put his] ears up, I wake him up and went a little aggressive on him and he give me a good kick.”
At the top of the lane, Rhetorical coasted past Itsallcomintogetha to establish a two-length lead by the stretch call. Bettrluckythangood easily went by Clear Conscience and Conman in the stretch, but the deficit to Rhetorical was too much as he held sway for a professional victory in a final time of 1:39.71.
Conman finished third 4 3/4 lengths back of Bettrluckythangood, with Clear Conscience completing the superfecta. Itsallcomintogetha and Gem Mint Ten rounded out the order of finish. Main track-only entrants Sheriff Bianco, Bank Frenzy, Drake’s Passage, Dr. Kraft, Locke and Key, Cut the Cord and Leftembehind were scratched.
Walden said Rhetorical will be considered for the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile on October 4 at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.
“It’s been something we’ve discussed and talked about. It might be in play,” the Kentucky-based Walden said. “You get to run out of your own stall in that situation rather than have to ship back up to New York to go against state-bred company. We’ll circle back with the boys, but first and foremost see how he comes out of the race and go from there.”
Walden noted that Rhetorical can get overly excited pre-race, but he was more professional in the paddock today.
“I thought he was better than last time and last time better than before,” Walden said. “A little system we have for him right now with the pony helps. We just try to get him over to the turf course and into the gate and he does the rest.”
Ortiz, Jr., aboard Rhetorical for all but his last effort, including a five-length debut graduation going one-mile last July here, had high praise for the dark bay.
“This competition, New York-bred horses, I think he’s one of the best. I feel like the way he ran today; I feel like he can compete against open company,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “I think he was impressive. I think he can compete against good horses. He’s a really nice horse. He’s always shown up since Day One.”
Davis said the Miguel Clement-trained Bettrluckythangood was game in picking up his first stakes placing.
“I think he was just second best here,” Davis said. “That’s his ideal run – he doesn’t have much speed early, and he comes from the back and likes to get moving a little earlier than from the quarter pole, I like to get him started at the three-eighths. I made a good run at him, just second best.”
The answer is RHETORICAL!
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 24, 2025
He scores his first stakes win in the West Point Stakes pres. by @roodandriddle with @iradortiz up for trainer @wwaldenracing. pic.twitter.com/Zy8AkXQvDr
Bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, Rhetorical, a $320,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Preferred Yearling Sale out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, is a half-brother to New York-bred millionaire Sterling Silver, who recently finished fourth in the Yaddo presented by STIHL on Friday here.
Rhetorical banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 5-4-0-1 and returning $2.90 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a nine-race program, including the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Hurdles Handicap [Race 1], the state-bred $150,000 Funny Cide [Race 2] and the Listed P.G. Johnson presented by Snap-On [Race 8]. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
