Hall of Fame horses and trainers come out of Saratoga Special
When first contested in 1901, the Saratoga Special was a winner-take-all event for 2-year-olds for which owners could nominate their horses in sets of three for a single fee. However, each owner could only run one horse in the race – in other words, no entries were allowed.
The conditions remained in place until 1959, when the Saratoga Special became a regular stakes race with individual nominations and entries. From 1901-05, it was run at 5 ½ furlongs and from 1906-1993 at six furlongs. In 1994, the distance was changed to 6 ½ furlongs.
The Saratoga Special has allowed fans at Saratoga Race Course to get a glimpse of greatness as nine National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame horses have captured the August race.
Those legends include: Sysonby (1904), Colin (1907), Roamer (1913), Regret (1914), Blue Larkspur (1928), Top Flight (1931), Bimelech (1939), Whirlaway (1940) and Native Dancer (1952).
Another Hall of Fame inductee, trainer Steve Asmussen has led four Saratoga Special winners into the winner’s circle, including Copper Bullet (2017), Kantharos (2010), Kodiak Kowboy (2007) and Cuvee (2003).
Kodiak Kowboy made 23 starts with 11 wins, four second-place finishes and a trio of thirds in his career, earning more than $1.6 million.
His 2007 Saratoga Special win was his first at the Spa track, followed by winning the 2008 Amsterdam Stakes. He earned four other wins at NYRA tracks, including his final two starts, the 2009 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park and the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct.
He was retired to stud at Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm
Last year the Saratoga Special was won by Call Pall by a length, owned by Michael Dubb, David Simon and Bethlehem Stables, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Jason Servis.