Prat's decision could sway wagering as Chummers, Jaxer lock horns in Cab Calloway
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chummers and Jaxer have several things in common coming into the $150,000 Cab Calloway Stakes going a mile on the inner turf Thursday at Saratoga. Both captured stakes races at the direct expense of Caroline St. Beat in their most recent starts, both bring two-race winning streaks into the Thursday’s race, and both were ridden to all four of those victories by Flavien Prat.
Prat has opted to keep his regular seat aboard Jaxer for trainer Graham Motion in the Cab Calloway. The decision is likely to sway at least some handicappers in that direction when they make their selections for the race, one which left Ray Handal, who trains Chummers, not only disappointed but a little bewildered.
“Yes, I was very surprised Flavien decided to ride Jaxer. His agent (Brad Pegram) told me even though he has a nine-month layoff to contend with, he feels Jaxer is the better horse,” said Handal. “I’m probably a little biased, but I disagree. I think a lot could have changed between November and now with that other horse, and ours is so good at the moment.”
Handal added that he has plenty of faith in Dylan Davis, who’s been named to replace Prat aboard Chummers for the Cab Calloway, which is restricted to 3-year-old progeny of New York stallions.
“Obviously, I’m sad to see Flavien go, but I have a tremendous amount of confidence in my man Dylan,” said Handel. “He always rides great for me, and I see no reason to believe he won’t give Chummers the trip he needs to win again.”
Chummers snapped a five-race losing skid when dropping down into a nonwinners-of-two claiming race at Aqueduct to register a 3 3/4-length victory on June 19. He then returned five weeks later to upset the Rick Violette, rallying from near the rear of the field to a narrow decision over Caroline St. Beat. In that race, Chummers rallied back after relinquishing the lead briefly to Carolina St. Beat near midstretch to register a game neck victory.
“He really got a confidence booster in that claiming race. Thank goodness nobody took him that day. That [race] has really taken him to another level,” said Handal. “He’s definitely an improving, bigger, stronger, and more confident horse now, and he’s coming into this race every bit as good as the last with some good works and sharp gallop-outs over the Oklahoma turf. Obviously, Jaxer showing up adds a little more depth to the division, but I’m expecting another big performance from my horse on Thursday.”
Jaxer closed out his 2-year-old campaign with two consecutive victories over the turf at Aqueduct, including a come-from-behind, one-length triumph over Caroline St. Beat in the Notebook Stakes on Nov. 14. Both of those wins came after Motion added blinkers to Jaxer’s equipment following a tough neck setback against open maiden competition in his second career start. Jaxer has also been gelded since his stakes-winning performance in his juvenile finale.
Although Chummers and Jaxer will likely dominate the wagering, the Cab Calloway is anything but a two-horse race. The field includes key contenders A Little At First and Spirit of New York, the third- and fifth-place finishers in the Rick Violette, and the undefeated, stakes-winning Finger Lakes invader Nessuna Pagina.
A Little At First joined the leaders for command into the stretch in the Rick Violette before flattening out a bit to finish 2 1/4 length behind Chummers in his stakes debut. Spirit of New York prompted the early pace and led briefly between calls on the final turn before coming up empty through the stretch, beaten eight lengths by Chummers while making his first start since joining trainer Brad Cox’s barn earlier this summer.
Nessuna Pagina, perfect in four starts, figures to control the early pace, but he’s a bit of a question mark stretching out beyond six furlongs for the first time in the Cab Calloway. He won his only previous try on grass, having registered a very game head victory in the six-furlong Spectacular Bid Stakes for trainer Paul Burrow at Aqueduct on June 20.