Tawny Port Powered Through $135K John’s Call Victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Peachtree Stable’s Tawny Port, a multiple Grade 3 winner on dirt making just his second start on the turf, took the lead midway down the backstretch and powered through the lane to a decisive 3 1/2-length victory in Wednesday’s $135,000 John’s Call at Saratoga Race Course.

The 1 5/8-mile John’s Call for 4-year-olds and up which had not won a Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes on the grass this year was the second of two stakes on a 10-race program that opened with Awakened’s victory in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard steeplechase. 

Tide of the Sea, front-running winner of the 2021 Grade 3 W.L. McKnight on the Gulfstream Park turf, broke outside all but one of his rivals and was hustled to the lead by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, outrunning Tawny Port through a quarter-mile in 22.94 seconds over a firm Mellon turf course.

Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Christophe Clement, Tawny Port settled in second and continued to save ground inside through a half-mile in 46.85. Rosario gave Tawny Port his cue as Tide of the Sea began to tire and drop back, going 1:37.76 for one mile as Good Skate, racing in the clear outside, ranged up to launch his bid and Sy Dog moved into contention.

“Really good trip,” Rosario said. “I thought we were going to make the lead, but that horse [Tide of the Sea] looked like he wanted to go to the lead, so I sent him a little bit and then let him go. I sat a little behind and got a little early lead. I felt happy with that, he’s kind of a one-paced horse, so I feel confident when he’s in the lead.” 

Tawny Port maintained his advantage around the far turn and cut the corner for home in command, opening up once straightened for home and pulling clear to win in 2:38.63. Sent off at 5-2, he returned $7.50 for a $2 win bet. 

“He looked like he was there for me, but he’s a horse you kind of have to ride him a little bit to get him going, but I felt pretty good when he took the lead,” Rosario said. “He seemed like once we got there, he got very confident and I knew when somebody was going to challenge him, he’d have some more at the end, and he did.”  

Sy Dog, winner of last spring’s Grade 3 Transylvania on the Keeneland turf for trainer Graham Motion, passed Good Skate in mid-stretch to take second by 5 3/4 lengths. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to British Royalty in fourth followed by Tide of the Sea.

“I had a good trip, I was just second best. The winner was too much today,” Sy Dog’s jockey, Manny Franco, said. “My horse ran his race. They went fast, but they didn’t come back at all. The winner was on the pace and just kept on going.” 

Burning Bright appeared to have had a major cardiovascular event in the clubhouse turn causing his sudden death. Jockey Luis Saez, who was unseated, was transported to Albany Medical Center for further evaluation. Saez was conscious and alert with movement in all extremities and complaining of pain in his shoulder/collarbone. 

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Tawny Port raced 12 times on dirt or all-weather surfaces for previous trainer Brad Cox, winning the Grade 3 Lexington and finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby last spring. He bounced back to win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby and run third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the latter at Saratoga, before going to the sidelines following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. 

Tawny Port went winless in his first three starts at 4 before being moved to Clement, who opted for the turf in the Grade 2 Bowling Green going 1 3/8 miles July 30 at Saratoga, where the Pioneerof the Nile colt ran fifth to Grade 1 winner Channel Maker. 

“He’s got a high cruising speed. He’s always been a very good mover, very efficient and very straight forward in his training,” assistant trainer Miguel Clement said. “As a result, the 1 5/8 miles seemed ideal for him. The longer the better and I think he’s off to bigger and better things.” 

Among the spots being considered is the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on September 30 at Belmont at the Big A. 

“That is definitely an option,” Clement said. “The race at Keeneland [Grade 3 Sycamore on October 13] is being considered. I wouldn’t be opposed to wheeling him right back in two weeks at Kentucky Downs [Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 9].

“He’s always had a tremendous amount of ability,” he added. “We’ve seen that in his previous outfits. Nevertheless, we thought he had an affinity for the turf, and he was able to revive his old form.” 

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga Race Course with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $300,000 Mohegan Sun Ballston Spa in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.     

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.