Big Trouble guts it out to win Sanford

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Big Trouble withstood a mugging at midstretch and a subsequent stewards' inquiry to win Saturday’s $150,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.

Big Trouble, a son of Tiz Wonderful, was solidly bumped inside the sixteenth pole by Mr. Z before wearing down that rival to post a neck decision in the six-furlong Sanford. Cinco Charlie outlasted the 8-5 favorite Nonna’s Boy by a similar margin to finish third in a field of eight juveniles.

The pace of the six-furlong Sanford was frenetic, with Chocolate Wildcat hustled up the inside to duel Bessie’s Boy and Cinco Charlie for the early lead through a 21.65-second opening quarter. Cinco Charlie won the early battle but then was engaged by Nonna’s Boy near the quarter pole after a half-mile in 45.17. The two favorites battled through midstretch but were unable to fend off the late challenges from Mr. Z and Big Trouble.

Mr. Z had to steady sharply behind the tiring Bessie’s Boy inside the three-eighths pole, and found himself in tight quarters again leaving the furlong marker while full of run.

Jockey Corey Lanerie angled Mr. Z out between horses in hopes of finding daylight near midstretch, banging into Big Trouble, who loomed up to his outside after rallying four wide entering the stretch. Mr. Z gained a short advantage between calls in late stretch, but Big Trouble proved equal to the task, gathering himself up in time to rally to a narrow victory under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Big Trouble completed the distance in 1:10.64 over a fast track and paid $25.60.

“I told Irad that he breaks very well and to give his horse a chance to run good - that’s what I told him,” said Anthony Dutrow, who trains Big Trouble for Team D Stable. “I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I’m so happy this boy was able to do something different than in his maiden win against some nice horses today. To be able to do that, while having only had one previous experience with this, I have to feel really good about his future.”

Dutrow said he was also feeling good about having the opportunity to stretch Big Trouble to six furlongs off his five-furlong maiden win.

“He’s such a big horse, and you have to have respect for him being this athletic so early,” said Dutrow. “Both these colts are good colts. You can’t do what they just did if you’re not a good colt.”

Dutrow said Big Trouble would be nominated to the Grade 1 Hopeful here on Sept. 1.

“Obviously, right now the Hopeful makes sense,” said Dutrow. “But I gave him a lot of time from June 1 to here, so I might just wait until Belmont. I don’t know.”

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Mr. Z, was frustrated in defeat but very pleased in his young colt’s performance in his stakes debut.

“You hate to see that with a baby who runs that hard,” said Lukas. “He put a great effort in, he’s got a great future.”