Great Navigator tries to join namesake as Saratoga stakes winner
In 1992, a horse named Great Navigator won the Grade 1 Hopeful at odds of 24-1 at Saratoga. He was a son of Gulch trained by John Mazza for Ron and Rosemary Shockley’s RoRon Stables.
Saturday, a horse by name of Great Navigator will try to win the Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. This Great Navigator is a New Jersey-bred son of Sea Wizard owned by Holly Crest Farm and trained by Eddie Owens Jr.
Ownes, a longtime backstretch presence at Jersey tracks, has been training on his own since 2020. On June 4, he sent Great Navigator out to a debut victory at Monmouth at odds of 17-1. Two horses who finished behind him came back to win, though one was for maiden $40,000 claiming.
Owens said he was working as a groom for trainer Phil Serpe when the original Great Navigator was running and recalls him being a large horse, unlike his Great Navigator, but not much else.
“He’s not as big as the original,” Owens said. “He’s not 16 hands or anything like that, but he can run. I think he’ll be all right. I think he’ll represent.”
Great Navigator came from off the pace to win his five-furlong debut by 5 3/4 lengths, earning a respectable 70 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I knew he would run good, but I didn’t know he was going to run that good,” Owens said. “I wouldn’t have run him if he wasn’t ready. He trained like a good horse. Everything he does is professional. He’s no slouch. I’m not going up there to have my name in the program, I’m going to go up there to try and win it.”
Great Navigator, who will be ridden by Jairo Rendon, drew post 3 in a field of 12. Boppy O has the rail and Major Dude has post 2. From post 4 out are Forte, Curly Jack, Mo Strike, Prove Right, I’m Wide Awake, Andiamo a Firenze, Roman Giant, Putheblameonme, and Valenzan Day.