Chancer McPatrick unleashed a robust late rally down the center of the observe to edge Ferocious on the wire and win the $300,000 Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes Sept. 2 on closing day at Saratoga Race Course.
Chancer McPatrick was ridden to victory by Flavien Prat for coach Chad Brown. The colt turned the primary stakes winner for freshman Gainesway stallion McKinzie.
With the victory within the Hopeful, Prat notched his file 14th Graded stakes win and file 18th general stakes win on the 2024 Saratoga meet.
Chancer McPatrick prevailed by a half a size over Ferocious. Incentive Pay, additionally skilled by Brown, completed third. The two-year-old accomplished the seven furlongs in 1:23.44.
Simply as he did when profitable in his July 27 profession debut in his solely prior begin, Chancer McPatrick closed from the rear of the sector to get the victory.
“I hit the (beginning) gate and misplaced my stirrups,” stated Prat. “It was fairly unhealthy. The primary leap he went proper into the beginning gate. From there, I regrouped.
“I used to be principally making an attempt to provide him a great race and see if he would make a run,” Prat continued. “I obtained to the three-eighths pole, and I discovered I had horse beneath me. I used to be like, ‘wow, I will give him an opportunity,’ and he responded instantly. I by no means thought from there I might regroup. He did it, and he confirmed that he is very gifted.”
Favored Ferocious, with Irad Ortiz Jr. within the saddle changing the injured Javier Castellano, sat off the rail a number of lengths behind the Hopeful pacesetters. Transferring wider approaching the three/8 pole, Ferocious was in an ideal place to take the lead. In the meantime, Chancer McPatrick had circled the sector six-wide after lagging behind the pack. Showing to tire and drifting out whereas Chancer McPatrick was surging, Ferocious nonetheless refused to cede when Chancer McPatrick approached, accelerating to aim to maintain tempo together with his rival.
“He gave the impression to be somewhat bit distracted. When the winner handed him by, he obtained engaged within the race. On the gallop out, he handed the winner once more,” stated Gustavo Delgado, Jr., assistant and son to coach Gustavo Delgado of Ferocious’s runner-up efficiency. “They’re nonetheless studying each race. It was an enormous race.”
Delgado Jr. additionally stated that Ferocious misplaced his left entrance shoe in the course of the race.
The day, nevertheless, belonged to Chad Brown who closed out the Saratoga meet in effective vogue, profitable 5 races on closing day and working away with the summer time meet coaching title.
“Man, what a run and what a end,” stated Brown from the winner’s circle.
