Updated on 08/28/2012 10:38AM

Saratoga: Willy Beamin wins King's Bishop on two days' rest

By Mike Welsch
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Barbara D. Livingston
Willy Beamin, coming back after winning the Albany for New York-breds on Wednesday, scores again in the King's Bishop.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -  Trainer Richard  Dutrow Jr. turned a $25,000 claimer into a Grade 1 winner and did it on just two day’s rest after Willy Beamin rallied to a half-length victory over Fort Loudon in Saturday’s $500,000 King’s Bishop at Saratoga.

Willy Beamin, haltered by Dutrow and owner James Riccio for a bargain $25,000 at Aqueduct on March 23, captured the 1 1/8-mile Albany Stakes for New York-breds by 6 1/4 lengths here Wednesday before returning to upset the King’s Bishop just 72 hours later for his sixth win in a row.  Dutrow and Riccio had originally considered wheeling Willy Beamin back in the Travers before ultimately deciding to take the more conservative route and run in the King’s Bishop.

As expected, Trinniberg set the pace in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop with Doctor Chit and the 2-1 favorite Currency Swap close on his heels while Willy Beamin bided his time about five lengths off the lead in the run down the backstretch. Willy Beamin was eased outside for clearance as the leaders began to bunch near the eighth pole and then kicked on best of all from between horses under Alan Garcia to outfinish a game Fort Loudon. Unbridled’s Note had to steady briefly when attempting to split horses near midstretch and finished a nose farther back in third.

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Willy Beamin, a 3-year-old gelded son of Suave, completed the distance in 1:22.02 and paid $24.80. 

Dutrow was not in attendance for the Albany and he wasn’t on hand Saturday for the King’s Bishop either. He said he watched both of Willie Beamin’s victories from his favorite Chinese restaurant in Roslyn, N.Y.

“When I saw him running like that I was freaking out. Everybody in the restaurant was freaking out,” said Dutrow. “We got the thrill of a lifetime today, and tomorrow I’m going to get up and try to do it again.”

Dutrow was at a loss to explain why he has been so successful bringing horses back on short rest. Willy Beamin also won the Mike Lee stakes earlier this summer four days after defeating allowance horses at Belmont Park.

“I can’t understand why it works and we don’t really care why it works but we’ll just keep doing it until someone tells me to stop,” said Dutrow. “It doesn’t work for all horses but it works for Willy.”

Dutrow said he’s not sure when or where Willy Beamin will run next but assured it won’t be any time this week.

“We can retire him now, right?,” said Dutrow with a laugh. “He doesn’t have to do any more. Mr. Riccio is a brilliant owner and he calls most of the shots with this horse. He’ll ask my opinion and I’ll give him an honest opinion and we’ll come up with something for him next.”

russell More than 1 year ago
Jade stop the insanity. What rational person races a horse on two days rest and then wins a Grade 1? Most trainers dont even workout a horse until 7-10 days after a race. Hes been hiding behind lawyers for years but his time is up. I hope the Feds seize all his assets after hes accused of fraud and fixing races.
Jade Sword More than 1 year ago
I love gutsy unconventional ways, and this would qualify. In a day and age when horses are retired after six races, I would like to see a little more guts. But let's fact it. Not a single argument holds up against the extremists in the anti-drug crowd, just as in any witch hunt. If Willy Beamin would have lost they wouldn't have said a thing. But at the same time they gladly point at O'Neill's suspension to show what a cheat he is, even when that horse, in some low level race, finished 7th. And the decision was not even based on proof, but on suspicion, which is enough to convict. None of that is mentioned. These trainers run horses in thousands of races. Anyway, the real drug problem is Lasix. That crap is destroying our horses. If you want a legit drug target to attack focus on that.
Jade Sword More than 1 year ago
A 97 Beyer, 2 points higher than his previous high, is not exactly historic. The fact he won is more indicative of the rest of the field. Last year Caleb's Posse won this race with a 105 or 106 Beyer.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
The "Albany" was a nice win ..... but for a $ 25K claimer to come back in a couple days to take a "Grade 1 Stakes Race" is something else altogether ...Horses that were pointed to this race for months and possibly all year were simply blown away....Nobody will ever be able to convince me that everything was on the level and this was simply a "historic" performance....Especially when Dutrow is in the mix...and the way "Willy" closed to the finish...
russell More than 1 year ago
i posted comments before I went out of the country that "the NY Bred Dutrow claimed for 25k might win the Travers" I was almost right. Some people are so stupid. Imagine a drug that takes all the pain away and you can slash 2 seconds on a 25k claimer. That horse suddenly becomes very good. Of course Dutrow is the best horsemen we ever saw! Siegel from HRTV should be fired from hiring this crook for his own horses!
John Burton More than 1 year ago
Why wasn't Rick Dutrow present at either races? Why? What is the statistical probability of this horse's winning these two stakes races 2-3 days apart? Will the NYRA conduct an inquiry into these matters? Will the NYRA take any actions to address these and similar highly improbable outcomes in the world of horse racing? It's time for DRF and other leaders in this industry to begin an ongoing dialogue about these matters before more horse players take their gambling dollars elsewhere!
Jade Sword More than 1 year ago
The 'rest' people assign to this horse is a little overrated. Willy Beaming coasted to a 6 length victory in the earlier race, and recorded an easy 84 Beyer; 11 points below his high. I'm not sure what he ran in the King's Bishop but if it was a few points over his 95 high, would that really be so shocking? I get the drug problem. And it's insidious. But don't let it blind you. The speed development curve of this three year old is not out of the ordinary. Obviously, many people don't want to give credit to Dutrow, but he may, in fact, be a very good trainer.
ROBERT More than 1 year ago
3 yr. old champ?
jim samson More than 1 year ago
I want to see an interview with the PREVIOUS trainer. Love to get a comment. How about it DRF?
russell More than 1 year ago
Kyri, Bill Mott, Michael Matz, or Graham Motion would never race a horse on two days rest. Oscar Barrera ran horses on two days rest and we know he was a juicer. This is Shifty Sheik all over again. A 35k claimer that almost beat a very talented classic winner Slew O Gold in the Woodward. And Infinity you are correct. The DRF shouldnt even interview Dutrow and owners should avoid him. They are feeding the cancer!
Infinity More than 1 year ago
The Legal SYSTEM is a JOKE in this country.....Even the Euro Trash inbreds of Europe have it right with no drugs..........