Say the Word, Count Again join D'Amato stable

The recent Woodbine stakes winners Say the Word and Count Again have joined trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable and are likely to race at Del Mar next month.

D’Amato said Sunday that Mark Martinez’s Agave Racing has purchased an ownership share in Say the Word and Count Again, 5-year-old geldings who were first and fourth in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Woodbine on Oct. 18. Those horses raced for Sam-Son Farm, who retains a portion of ownership, D’Amato said.

Say the Word and Count Again are currently part of D’Amato’s stable at Churchill Downs and will be sent to California in coming weeks.

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Say the Word has won 5 of 25 starts and has earned $445,292. The $360,000 Northern Dancer Stakes was his first stakes win in his ninth appearance in a stakes. Say the Word is a candidate for the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup, a $200,000 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf on Nov. 27, D’Amato said.

Count Again, who has won 3 of 7 starts and has earned $151,165, won the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf in his stakes debut on Sept. 19. In the Northern Dancer Stakes, Count Again was within a head of the lead with a furlong remaining and finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Say the Word.

D’Amato said the Hollywood Turf Cup or the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap, a $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 28, are possible races for Count Again.