Mitole Sizzles in Forego Stakes

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Mitole returned to the winner's circle in a big way Aug. 24 with a stellar score in the $601,950 Forego Stakes Presented by Encore Boston Harbor (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

The 4-year-old son of Eskendreya, widley considered the best sprinter in the land this spring, entered Saturday's race off a third-place finish in the July 27 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G1) at the Spa. He completed the seven-furlong Forego in 1:20.80, just two-fifths of a second off the record set by Darby Creek Road in in August 1978.

The mark does set the stakes record that was held by A.P. Indian (1:20.99).

"That's the caliber horse he is," said winning trainer Steve Asmussen of the stakes mark. "It's great to see him back at the top of his game."

Mitole, who battled with second choice Promises Fulfilled early, drew off to defeat Firenze Fire by three lengths. It was three-quarters of a length back to Killybegs Captain in third. Air Strike was fourth and Bon Raison fifth. Promises Fulfilled finished last.

The Forego was the first of five grade 1 stakes on the Saratoga card featuring the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1).

Mitole, with Ricardo Santana Jr. up, broke sharpest of his five rivals and was quickly joined to inside by Promises Fulfilled, the 3-2 second choice. The opening quarter mile was a tepid :23.05, but the pace quickened as the second quarter went in :22.53 (:45.58).

"Today he broke sharp and put himself in a position where he wanted to be," said Santana. "He's a really nice horse to ride, and he does everything right. We went slow the first couple of quarters, and my horse was comfortable in the position he was in."

Promises Fulfilled uncharacteristically began to fade on the turn under Luis Saez as Mitole turned for home and opened up daylight on Killybegs Captain and Firenze Fire. As Mitole clicked off six furlongs in 1:08.91, he was as good as gone.

The win pushed Mitole's record to 9-2-2 from 13 starts and he crossed the $2 million marker in earnings with $2,004,910. For the year he's won five times from six starts, with the lone blemish coming in the Vanderbilt where he was on the inside and faded in the lane to finish 7 1/2 lengths behind speedster Imperial Hint.

"I think the circumstances for the Vanderbilt just didn't suit him," said Asmussen. "Coming off a huge run in the Met Mile and cutting back to three-quarters. But he came out of the race in good shape, trained beautifully for this, and the results speak for themselves.

"I think that this was very significant coming off the loss in the Vanderbilt," he said. "Obviously we'll try to align ourselves for the Breeders' Cup.

His signature wins came this spring in the May 4 Churchill Downs presented by TwinSpires.com (G1) at seven furlongs and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) that came at the expense of top older runner McKinzie.

Bred in Kentucky by Edward Cox Jr., Mitole is out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss.

Through Eaton Sales, Mitole was sold to Chestnut Valley Farm for $20,000 during the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Heiligbrodt, through East Hickman Bloodstock, purchased him for $140,000 at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales' April 2-Year-Olds In Training auction form Grassroots Training and Sales.

The winner paid $3.80, $2.80, and $2.10. Firenze Fire paid $4.10 and $3.10, and Killybegs Captain returned $6. The $1 exacta of 3-6 paid $8.70.