Brown caps big day with Dr Ardito score in Shipman

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — As he crossed the finish line aboard Dr Ardito, after having passed the last of four rivals in the $121,250 Evan Shipman Stakes at Saratoga, jockey Manny Franco stood up in his irons and punched the air.

Yes, it was just a restricted New York-bred stakes, but Franco has grown fond of Dr Ardito as the only jockey to have ridden the 5-year-old gelding in 10 career starts, seven of which are wins.

“If you see the past performances, I’ve ridden the horse since his debut,” said Franco, who rode him to a second-place finish in a maiden race at Aqueduct on Feb. 27, 2021. “So, he’s special for me.”

:: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.

After that loss, Dr Ardito won six consecutive races over a 22 month-span. However, Dr Ardito brought a two-race losing streak into the Evan Shipman, a race which featured the return of the Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution off an 11-month layoff.

Americanrevolution stumbled out of the gate, losing position. When his run under Luis Saez petered out in upper stretch, Franco had Dr Ardito still going. In deep stretch, Dr Ardito collared the pace-setting Sherrif Bianco and edged clear to win the Shipman by 1 1/4 lengths. It was four lengths back to Bankit, last year’s Shipman winner, in third.

Americanrevolution, the 2-5 favorite, finished fourth with Barese completing the order of finish. Lobsta, Sundaeswithsandy, and Whittington Park all scratched.

Dr Ardito likes to make his move on the outside of horses. In the Grade 3 Westchester and the $200,000 Commentator Stakes - where he finished fifth and fourth, respectively - Dr Ardito couldn’t get that trip.

Friday, Franco said he was content to sit last down the backside and he gradually worked his way to the outside, following Americanrevolution who was parked out four wide by Bankit.

Dr Ardito came three wide in the stretch, was carried out a path or two by a tiring Americanrevolution then reeled in Sherriff Bianco in the last 30 yards.

Dr Ardito, named by owner Michael Dubb for his primary physician Dr. Anthony Ardito of more than 30 years, covered the mile in 1:37.77 and returned $15.20.

“By the three-eighths pole I felt like ‘Come on, I got to go now’ and I was able to be in the clear, “ Franco said. ”That’s when he does his best, on the outside. I know I have to ride him but I know he likes to be ridden and he gives it to you every time you ask him.”

Brown credited Franco with taking the time “to really understand this horse. He’s a smart young jockey, he knows what the best trip is for this horse. An opportunity came up down the backside to get him outside and follow the favorite and put him where he’s happy and see if he’s good enough. It was really the winning move

The victory capped a four-win day for trainer Chad Brown, who one race earlier finished 1-2 in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes with Carl Spackler and Appraise.

“My team - they’ve done so much work,” said Brown, now sits atop the trainer standings with 22 wins, four more than Linda Rice. “Every division contributed today. Many team members touched all four of these horses today that won.”

Americanrevolution was making his first start since a second-place finish to Olympiad in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup last September.

“He came away last, made a pretty strong move up the backside then flattened out a little bit,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Probably the layoff and carrying 126 pounds showed on him a little at the end there. Regroup.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.