Trainer Grabowski notches first graded stakes as Dotsy prevails in Frizette
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ELMONT, N.Y. - John Grabowski won 3,401 races during a 33-year career as a jockey, riding mostly at Finger Lakes, but never was fortunate to win a graded stakes race.
On Saturday, at Belmont Park, Grabowski won his 117th race as a trainer and captured his first stakes when Dotsy upset the Grade 1 Frizette by 2 3/4 lengths over Rum Twist. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Revenge of the Sis in third.
“This is the most incredible experience of my life,” Grabowski, 64, said. “Other than my two daughters being born, this is the greatest moment of my life. I know that was from ‘Rocky,’ but it is.”
Grabowksi and Dotsy certainly have a Rocky feel to their story.
As a jockey and now a trainer, Grabowski won the majority of his races at Finger Lakes, a small track in upstate New York where he is a member of the Hall of Fame. Grabowski, who began training in 2012 - he did train three years in the early 1990s - has toiled in mostly claiming races, running in one stakes race. Sandy’s Garden finished second in the 2025 Arctic Queen Stakes at Finger Lakes.
Grabowski plucked Dotsy, a daughter of Tacitus, out of the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale for $37,000, saying he loved the way she looked.
“When I was bidding on her I was so nervous because I wanted her that bad,” Grabowski said. “When I won the bid, I had a hard time signing the [receipt]. I was going to go all the way up to $60,000.”
Dotsy won a maiden auction race by four lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 28 after she had been scratched from a similar race when she flipped. Saturday’s Frizette field figured to be significantly more challenging.
Under Kendrick Carmouche, Dotsy broke well and was perched three wide, about a length outside of Girls Wear Pearls and Libby Lloyd, the latter sent off as the 4-5 favorite coming off a 10-length maiden win at Saratoga.
After a half-mile was run in 45.75 seconds, Girls Wear Pearls began to retreat and from there it was Dotsy dueling outside of Libby Lloyd. Inside the three-sixteenths pole, Dotsy began to get away from Libby Lloyd and had plenty left to keep Rum Twist at bay to get the victory.
Grabowksi said when he saw how well the filly broke, “I knew she was going to be right there. I know this filly, I know she fights really hard and when she does make the lead she won’t give it up, she’ll relax and wait. I think there’s more to come with this filly, I really do.”
Grabowski bought Dotsy for owner Thomas Paluck, who races under TSP Enterprises.
“It’s not a dream, it’s not a miracle, it’s a fantasy,” Paluck said. “I’m living that fantasy today.”
Paluck said he already has tickets to attend the Breeders’ Cup as a fan on Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland. Now he must decide whether to bring his filly with him.
“I’m going with or without her,” Paluck said. “We’ll talk about it. It’s actually kind of quick.”
The Frizette was not a “Win and You’re In’” for the Juvenile Fillies. As part of the Breeders’ Cup’s “Dirt Dozen” program, half of Dotsy’s entry fees are taken care of.
Carmouche said he was happier for Grabowski than himself for the Frizette victory.
“The best thing for me is that I’m proud of John,” Carmouche said. “Congratulations to him. Yeah, I won the race, but that means more to me than anything - a guy from Finger Lakes that dominated that racetrack and never got a Grade 1 as a jockey, man, the praise is to him.”
Dotsy ran a mile in 1:36.07 and returned $25.02 to win.
Rum Twist, under Paco Lopez, seemed to be in a good spot turning for home, but couldn’t match strides late with Dotsy. Still, trainer Mark Hennig was pleased enough with the performance to give the Breeders’ Cup consideration.
“I would definitely consider it, as we saw yesterday anything can happen,” said Hennig, referring to heavily favored Summer Starlet being upset in Friday’s Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland. “I really think she’ll like two turns, where she can shut off around the first turn. I think she was a little keen today, it’s more run like a sprint around one turn.”
Rum Twist finished second by 1 1/4 lengths over Revenge of the Sis. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to Libby Lloyd, who was followed in the order of finish by Velora, Girls Wear Pearls and She’s a Twelve.
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