Global Access comes out on top in Saranac Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When John Velazquez got off Global Access following his third-place finish in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes here on Aug. 2, he told trainer Michael Trombetta that he gave the horse a bad ride.

“I think he was anxious to get another opportunity to ride him,” Trombetta said.

That opportunity came in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac Stakes. Velazquez took a different approach, keeping Global Access outside and in the clear. Despite losing ground along the way, Global Access was much easier to manage and he kicked hard in the stretch to beat Good Governance by a neck. It was a length back to Seismic Wave in third.

Rinaldi and Power Player completed the order of finish. Tracksmith scratched.

In the Hall of Fame, Velazquez was riding Global Access for the first time. He said when he tried to take him off the pace and place him behind horses the colt got rank with him and ran off. He ultimately finished, 1 3/4 lengths behind Casa Creed.

“If I would have put him in the clear, he would have relaxed,” Velazquez said. “I put him behind horses and he ran off and he ran off bad. Today, I dropped my hands and I let him be where he wanted to be and left him alone in the clear. You don’t touch his mouth – he’s fine, you touch his mouth, he runs off.”

Global Access was only three lengths off the pacesetting Power Player, who ran a half-mile in 49.66 seconds under Luis Saez.

Velazquez had Global Access four wide down the backstretch but comfortable. Turning for home, he swung Global Access a path out further as Good Governance, one path inside of him, took over from Power Player but had a new challenger, Rinaldi, to his inside.

Velazquez came outside of those two and Global Access, making his 11th start, was stronger to the finish than Good Governance, who was making just his second start.

“That seasoning certainly didn’t hurt,” Trombetta said.

Global Access, a son of Giant’s Causeway owned by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.80 and returned $10. He improved his record to 4-1-4 from 11 starts.

Trombetta said he may run Global Access next in the Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince at Belmont Park on Oct. 5.