Say the Word Shakes Off Rivals, Hefty Weight in Elkhorn

Carrying five more pounds than his rivals proved no problem for Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm's Say the Word  April 17 at Keeneland. Under leading rider Luis Saez, the 6-year-old More Than Ready   gelding rallied from mid-pack and shook free by 1 1/2 lengths to win the $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2T).

"The only instructions I gave to Luis (were) just get him to settle early," said Joshua Flores, assistant to trainer Phil D'Amato. "For a second we were a little concerned when he picked up the bridle on his own. Luis did a great job to get him to settle. Down the lane, the horse really dug in and put up a good fight."

Say the Word, Canada's champion turf male of 2020, won the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by Pattison (G1T)—his first stakes win—at the Elkhorn's 1 1/2-mile distance last fall at Woodbine for trainer Gail Cox. He was transferred to D'Amato in Southern California after Mark Martinez' Agave Racing Stable purchased part of the horse.

Say the Word was sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the eight-horse Elkhorn. He was fifth through a :48.94 half-mile as Epic Bromance  showed the way over 2-1 favorite Tide of the Sea . The favorite took over to post a 1:39.60  mile and Say the Word moved up to fourth as the field shuffled for position.

Channel Cat  raced one spot ahead of Say the Word throughout and had the lead with a quarter-mile left to run. Say the Word, toting 123 pounds, dug in to put his head in front before drawing away late. The final time over the good-rated turf was 2:28.26.

"He just found a good spot (on the backstretch), and he picked up the bridle," Saez said. "I didn't want to let him go too early, so I tried to relax him. When we came into the straight (on the run to the finish), he was pretty good. He took it away, and he won the race."

Channel Cat held for second by a neck over third-placed Crafty Daddy . Fantasioso  rallied from last for fourth, followed by North Dakota , Red Knight , Tide of the Sea—who set the course record of 2:26.90 in an allowance during the 2020 fall meet—and Epic Bromance. Cross Border  and Monarchs Glen  were scratched.

Trainer Jack Sisterson said Channel Cat could point to a race like the June 5 Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park  or the July 17 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park.

"I think he is better than a grade 3 horse," Sisterson said.

In addition to winning the Elkhorn, Say the Word was a close second in the March 20 San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park and third in the Nov. 27 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar for D'Amato. He holds a 6-3-5 record from 29 career starts and has earned $609,292.

Say the Word was bred by Sam-Son in Ontario out of the Giant's Causeway mare Danceforthecause . His third dam is Canadian Horse of the Year, multi-Canadian champion, and North America champion Dance Smartly. Danceforthecause also produced grade 2 winner Rideforthecause  and sold to Gainesway Farm out of Sam-Son's consignment for the co-top price of $925,000 at this year's Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. She was carrying a foal by Twirling Candy   when sold and is also the dam of a Street Sense   yearling filly and Whimsical Dance, an unraced 2-year-old Distorted Humor   filly.