Big Dollar Bill aces marathon test in Birdstone

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Big Dollar Bill had never run farther than 1 1/8 miles prior to competing in Thursday’s main event, the $100,000 Birdstone Stakes, at Saratoga. But trainer Ian Wilkes’s hunch his horse would be well suited to the marathon distance paid big dividends after Big Dollar Bill rallied from last to a one-length decision over defending winner and 1-5 favorite Hard Study in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone.

Big Dollar Bill didn’t look much like a horse poised to become a stakes winner for the first time after falling about seven lengths off a pedestrian early pace set by Carlino and forced by Archanova who, like Big Dollar Bill, is trained by Wilkes. Big Dollar Bill, with jockey Chris Landeros aboard, remained at the rear of the field for 1 1/4 miles, launched a strong run at that point, circled widest to take command into the stretch, and after edging clear maintained a safe advantage to the end.

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Hard Study stalked the early leaders and was three wide battling for command into the stretch when he was quickly overtaken by the eventual winner. He fought on gamely to save the place by a nose from a resurgent Archanova at the end. Carlino finished last in the field of four.

Big Dollar Bill, a 4-year-old son of Midnight Lute, is owned by Dennis Farkas along with Brett and Cheryl Franklin. He completed the grueling distance in 2:59.39 and paid $12.60.

“I always wanted to run him the marathon distance,” said Wilkes. “You don’t know until you try it with these horses, and the reason I wanted to with him is because he always lopes along and then has a great turn of foot. And if you’ve got a horse that has that kind of turn of foot going a mile and three quarters and a mile and one half, it’s going to be a benefit, it’s a big asset. And Chris rode him with some confidence letting him drop back roughly seven lengths and to wait on him and just make the one run.”