Carl Spackler grabbed Grade 1 laurels for the primary time in his profession with a victory within the Grade 1 $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap Aug. 11 at Saratoga Race Course.
Carl Spackler is a 4-year-old homebred colt owned by Bob Edwards’ e 5 Racing Thoroughbreds. He’s named for the oddball groundskeeper character Carl Spackler within the comedy basic “Caddyshack.”
“He is not a Cinderella story,” mentioned Edwards in a play on phrases from the well-known Invoice Murray film line.
The four-legged Carl Spackler, who has been chasing a Grade 1 win very similar to the best way the Invoice Murray film character futilely tried to cease a gopher from chewing up the golf course, lastly bagged his elusive prize as he took down his preliminary top-level win in his ninth profession begin.
“We thought early on he could possibly be a Grade 1 winner,” mentioned Edwards. “(Coach Chad Brown) favored him early on. He had a pleasant (maiden) win at Gulfstream and a collection of little issues that occurred to him. He is a resilient horse. He got here again from colic surgical procedure to win at Churchill Downs (in Might). He seemed like one million {dollars} at this time and he ran prefer it.”
The Fourstardave is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem “Win and You are In” collection, so the win secured Carl Spackler an expenses-paid spot within the Nov. 2 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile offered by PDJF at Del Mar.
“I like the Breeders’ Cup. My stats are fairly good there,” mentioned Edwards, who has a trio of wins on the World Championships.
For Brown, North America’s premier turf coach, it was his first profession victory within the Fourstardave Handicap.
“I have not received it as a result of it’s a arduous race to win, in order that makes it much more particular. It’s a very difficult race to win,” Brown mentioned. “I had a sense at this time, after which with just a bit little bit of reduce within the floor, I feel he is even just a bit bit higher. I actually felt at this time can be his day and it was.”
In a area of six. Robust High quality set the early fractions of :24.76 and :49.24 over good turf with Carl Spackler comfortably chasing in second.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Edwards’ son-in-law and the husband of his daughter Cassidy, saved Carl Spackler ($6.10) in second earlier than transferring to the entrance turning for residence. In entrance by 1 1/2 lengths on the eighth pole, Carl Spackler crossed the wire 3 1/2 lengths forward in 1:36.63 for the mile.
Extra Than Appears to be like, making his first begin since ending sixth within the Breeders’ Cup Mile, was second, a length-and-a-half forward of Godolphin‘s Ottoman Fleet, who was third because the 3-2 favourite.
Brown indicated Carl Spackler would doubtless get another begin earlier than the Breeders’ Cup.