Carl Spackler uses late surge to take Hall of Fame

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Carl Spackler, who hinted at greatness when launching his career this winter in Florida, finally got his breakthrough moment Friday at Saratoga, exploding from off the pace to an impressive 2 1/4-length victory over his Chad Brown trained stable mate Appraise in the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. The Grade 2 event was originally scheduled to be run last Friday but was postponed one week after management cancelled the final four races on that afternoon’s program due to inclement weather.

Carl Spackler finished second, beaten just a head by Far Bridge when making his debut in January at Gulfstream Park, the latter ultimately become a Grade 1 winner several months later at Belmont Park. After winning his second start by nearly nine lengths, Carl Spackler made his stakes bow in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day but ran a disappointing eighth as the tepid 2-1 favorite before going to the sidelines after getting sick on his return trip to New York.

Carl Spackler returned to the work tab here earlier this summer and trained forwardly for his return, showing no ill effects from a layoff that was extended unexpectedly due to last week’s postponement.

With Tyler Gaffalione aboard for the first time, Carl Spackler rated near the rear of the field while saving ground in the run down the backstretch, angled out towards the middle of the track to commence his bid into the stretch, readily over-took Appraise near midstretch and won going away.

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Appraise showed in front early then was eased back off a keyed up Mysterious Night in the run down the backstretch, regained command from that one a furlong from the wire, briefly edged clear but proved no match for the winner while gamely holding on to best the others. More Than Looks went wide into the first turn, remained outside horses throughout and finished strongly down the center of the course before falling just a nose shy of catching Appraise for second money.

Owned by eFive Racing Thoroughbreds, Carl Spackler completed a mile over a “good” course in 1:36.29 seconds and paid $6.70 as a tepid favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds. The win was the third of four on the day for Brown who also saddled Mischievous Angel to finish sixth in the Hall of Fame.

“He really benefitted from the break and the extra week didn’t hurt him either,” said Brown. “After the race at Churchill Downs he was not looking well. E5 is always patient with their horses. I said we’ll point him for Saratoga and get him right. He really blossomed here, especially the last two weeks, his coat was shining, he had his energy back and his last two works were excellent. Even though he had a layoff and it was a big race, I felt he was ready to fire a big one.”

Brown was quick to credit NYRA management for re-scheduling the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in light of the developments a week earlier. “When you put up a half million dollars, you never want to treat it just to get it over with, you want to treat it to put on the best race you can for everybody involved, the owners, the gamblers, the trainer, and jockey alike. And that’s the approach they took,” Brown emphasized.

Brown also praised Appraise for the effort he showed to finish second making just his second start of the year and fifth overall.

“He ran unbelievable,” Brown began. “The fact he got attacked early and had to take back after using plenty of energy to make the front, the fact he came back and stormed to the front again. He made multiple moves in the race and ran outstanding. The final margin of victory shouldn’t have been that large, given Appraise’s trip.”

Brown said he really had no plan moving forward for Carl Spackler of any of his three starters in the Hall of Fame.

“I really never looking beyond this race with him [Carl Spackler],” said Brown. “I’ll get all three of them back out of this race and figure it out.”

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