Chummers gets second straight stakes win in Cab Calloway
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Ray Handal said the confidence boost Chummers got by dropping into the selling ranks to snap a four-race winless streak late this spring has taken his horse to a new level. Since then, the 3-year-old New York-bred has suddenly become a two-time stakes winner after rallying to a neck decision over A Little At First Thursday at Saratoga in the $150,000 Cab Calloway Stakes.
Chummers, who won the Rick Violette Stakes in game fashion here four weeks ago, was without his regular rider, Flavien Prat, for the Cab Calloway. But Handal said he had supreme confidence that Prat's replacement, Dylan Davis, would be able to work out a winning trip for his rising star on Thursday. And sure enough, that’s exactly what he did.
Breaking from the rail, Davis allowed Chummers to settle in midpack about eight lengths off the pacesetting Missionattheglen in the run down the backstretch. Chummers checked back briefly along the inside into the far turn, swung out to the middle of the track entering the stretch, then came on strong through the final furlong to run down the 8-5 A Little At First to prove narrowly best.
A Little At First, beaten 2 1/4 lengths when finishing third behind Chummers in the Rick Violette, raced well-placed from the outset, took control while lugging in some near midstretch, then edged clear before proving no match for the winner. It was another five lengths further back to the slow-breaking Jaxer, who rallied mildly from last to finish third with regular rider Prat aboard.
Chummers, a son of Combatant, is trained by Handal for Blue Bison Stable. He covered a mile over the firm surface in 1:36.60 and paid $8.52.
“Dylan did a great job. I told you I had a great deal of faith in my guy and he came through for me in a big way,” said Handal. “He listened to me perfectly. This horse is a little quirky sometimes. He’ll get down the backside and really jump into the bit. I had a feeling today would be a little of a slower clip [than in the Rick Violette] and I told Dylan, 'Just be ready for him.' And he did a great job when the field began to back into him. After that, the race unfolded nicely. He saved ground, tipped out and showed a lot of heart to dig in.”
Handal reiterated that winning the claiming race in June has turned Chummers into a different horse.
“He just believes in himself now,” said Handal. “He was a little timid and now he has that tenacity to win. Maturing horse, great ride, great staff, and it’s showing in his races.”
Handal said the $200,000 Gio Ponti Stakes, also at one mile, on closing day of the 2026 Saratoga meet on Sept. 7 could be next for Chummers.
“After the Gio Ponti, we have a long ways to the Mohawk in October,” Handal explained. “He likes it here. It’s a little short rest, but I think he can do it.”