Win Win Win in Good Shape After 'Unbelievable' Forego

Trainer Mike Trombetta had only one word to describe the deep-closing victory from Win Win Win on sloppy going in the Aug. 29 Forego Stakes Presented by America's Best Racing (G1): unbelievable.

Owned by Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation, the Florida homebred was last, more than 16 lengths off the pace and nine wide at the quarter pole, before splashing home to victory with a powerful turn of foot to make the grade in the prestigious seven-furlong event.

"It worked out really well. It seemed like he came out of it in pretty good shape," Trombetta said.

EHALT: Win Win Win Rallies to Take Forego

A next start has yet to be decided for Win Win Win, who is a stakes winner on both dirt and turf. 

"I'll talk with the ownership and try to map out a plan for him for the rest of the season," Trombetta said. "With him, there are options. We're a little limited because he's one of those middle-distance types of horses. In a perfect world, you find seven-eighths racing for him, and there isn't as much of it as you would like. We'll have to figure out where he fits in the big picture."

The trainer was extra pleased to see the 4-year-old Hat Trick colt run so well in such unfavorable circumstances. 

"I think he's one of these kinds of horses that can deal with just about whatever you throw at him for the most part," Trombetta said. "He's won on the turf, he's won on dry track, and now he's won on this kind of track. He can play the cards any way that they're dealt to him."

Win Win Win is scheduled to ship to Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., Monday morning, where Trombetta is primarily stabled.

Channel Maker Could Try for Turf Classic Repeat

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott reported that Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) winner Channel Maker was in good shape the morning after making his third appearance in the 1 1/2-mile test at Saratoga Race Course a winning one. The 6-year-old English Channel  gelding led at every point of call and drew off to a 5 3/4-length victory on a soft inner turf. 

KING: No Catching Channel Maker in Sword Dancer

Owned by Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Channel Maker was a respective second and fourth in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Sword Dancer and scored a fourth grade 1 victory in a 35-race career.

The victory earned Channel Maker an automatic entry to the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. He ran a respective 11th and 12th in the 2018 and 2019 runnings of the Breeders' Cup Turf. 

"He does appreciate the soft ground without a doubt," Mott said. "He gets over it pretty well, but it might help him more than some of the others."

In 2018, Channel Maker won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in similar fashion. Mott said the gelding, second in last year's Joe Hirsch, could target a repeat victory in this year's running Oct. 3.

"Naturally, that would make the most sense to run him there, and he won a berth into the Breeders' Cup," Mott said.

The Sword Dancer victory made Channel Maker a grade 1 winner on the New York Racing Association circuit the past three years. He won the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) in May 2019 at Belmont Park.

"He gives you something," Mott said. "Sometimes he doesn't get the right set of circumstances, but you could say that about most other horses. When he gets the right circumstances, he's tough."