The superstars who made up Saratoga’s card this past weekend sure didn’t disappoint, giving us a special moment in history and several stellar performances in multiple Grade 1 events that could lead to big things at the Breeders’ Cup this fall. Here’s who we thought were worthy of being named Three Stars of the Week:
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1. Steve Asmussen
Horse racing history was officially made Saturday at Saratoga when Stellar Tap won a juvenile maiden special weight event to give Asmussen his 9,446th training win and make him the all-time winningest trainer in North American history. This is a record that will very likely go unbroken in our lifetimes.
Even more special, Asmussen accomplished the feat in person – he had 14 horses entered at 5 different tracks Saturday, so the record-breaker could have happened anywhere. Nope, it happened at The Spa, adding yet another major historical moment to the track’s hallowed legacy.
2. Knicks Go
Knicks Go looked just like his former self in Saturday’s Whitney Stakes (G1), winning the $1 million 1 1/8-mile dirt route with tremendous ease on the front end and looking like stretching out to the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) will be no problem. Trainer Brad Cox said afterward that he will make 1 more start prior to the Classic, where Knicks Go has a spot saved thanks to winning the Whitney, which offered a “Win and You’re In” berth.
3. War Like Goddess
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott won his sixth edition of Saturday’s Glens Falls Stakes (G2) at Saratoga when War Like Goddess circled the field from last and easily won the 1 1/2-mile turf event. The lightly-raced 4-year-old English Channel filly clearly loves running a route of ground on grass, as evidenced by her 5 wins in 6 starts. Though it was her hardest test to date, she passed it with flying colors. Her next step up the ladder is the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on September 4, which offers a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
