Lexitonian ($70) outlasts Special Reserve to upset Vanderbilt

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - What a difference a year has made for Lexitonian, who was scratched in the starting gate just moments before the 2020 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap only to return 12 months later to prove the gamest of winners of the prestigious Grade 1 dash for older horses Saturday at Saratoga.

Lexitonian was hustled to the lead along the rail by jockey Jose Lezcano after breaking from post 1 in the six-furlong Vanderbilt. Pressed by Strike Power and Special Reserve from the outset, Lexitonian edged away briefly upon settling into the stretch, relinquished the advantage to the wide-running Special Reserve through midstretch, then re-asserted himself to prove a half-length best in the end.

Special Reserve, who entered the Vanderbilt off two well-graded stakes wins in Maryland and Iowa, forced the issue from the outset after breaking on the extreme outside in the nine-horse lineup, forging to a short advantage after five furlongs before succumbing grudgingly to the resilient winner through the final sixteenth.

Whitmore, the reigning Sprint champion, broke through the starting gate prior to the 2020 Vanderbilt, his actions ultimately causing Lexitonian to sit back on his haunches and dislodge jockey Tyler Gaffalione, leaving the stewards no recourse but to order the latter scratched from the race. On Saturday, Whitmore, who subsequently finished second behind the odds-on Volatile, moved within easy striking distance of the embattled leaders in early stretch but could not sustain his momentum, finishing third, another 1 1/4 lengths behind Special Reserve.

Mischevious Alex, winner of the Grade 1 Carter Handicap earlier this year and a courageous third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in his most recent start, sat off the dueling leaders following an alert start but came up empty after a half-mile, finishing a disappointing eighth as the 7-5 favorite.

The win snapped a six-race losing streak for Lexitonian, who did finish a close second during that span in both the Grade 1 Bing Crosby and Churchill Downs Handicap before being virtually eased to the wire, 45 lengths behind the winner, last month in the Grade 1 Metropolitan.

Lexitonian, a homebred son of Speightstown, is trained by Jack Sisterson for Calumet Farm. He completed the distance over a fast track in 1:09.39 and paid $70.00 as the longest price in the field. Lexitonian got a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Sisterson is no stranger to pulling big upsets in Grade 1 races at Saratoga. A year ago, he sent out Vexatious to shock Midnight Bisou in the Personal Ensign.

“I don’t know what to say, I’m speechless,” Sisterson said following his latest Grade 1 shocker. “Just to compete in a race like this is very humbling.”

Although Lexitonian had never been in front at either the first or second call in any of his previous 18 career starts, Sisterson said he was not surprised to see him in front in the Vanderbilt.

“I never tell a jockey what to do, but I told Jose if you keep him close he fights,” Sisterson said. “To please get him out of the gate and engage him early. He’ll feel the pressure and respond to that. It’s even better if a horse heads him, because he’ll fight and come on again. Which is exactly what happened today.”