Endorsed Better Than Ever in Gulfstream Park Mile

At the age most racehorses are retiring, Endorsed  is just beginning his roll at the ripe age of 7— solidifying himself as a formidable player in this year’s older horse division with a commanding score in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) March 4 .

After being claimed by trainer Michael Maker for $100,000 at Saratoga Race Course in the summer of 2021, the path to victory has been slow and steady for the blue-blooded son of Medaglia d'Oro   out the grade 1-winning mare Dance Card . After losing his first 11 starts for his new connections, Endorsed took his photo under owner Mark Breen’s colors in Dec. 22 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park and has not missed a beat since. Following that breakthrough win, the veteran campaigner, stakes-placed since age 3, captured his first stakes victory in the Jan. 28 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3).

Swollen with confidence, Endorsed streaked clear of 3-5 favorite Charge It  in midstretch to post a 1 1/2-length tally in a solid 1:35.25 for the mile on a fast main track. With two decisive mile wins under his belt, one can only wonder if a date in the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap (G1) could be in his race plans when that race is staged at Belmont Park June 10.

“I have to give credit to Mike and his team, they’ve figured his horse out, and he’s proving it now,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said.

Endorsed benefited from a tactically shrewd ride from Gaffalione—the pair, lapped onto Charge It’s shoulder through early fractions of :23.71 and :45.82, applied constant pressure to Charge It’s outside as that one dueled with longshot Octane . Passing the six-furlong marker in a sharp 1:09.61, Charge It overtook a retreating Octane but was quickly joined by Endorsed as the field turned into the stretch. The highly touted Charge It began showing fatigue, whether the effects of the swift opening pace or the fact it was his second start in seven months, and could not fend off the resilient Endorsed.

“(Jockey Luis Saez) said he ran well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It. “He was just kind of under pressure most of the way and got a little bit intimidated. Then when he pulled him out he surged a little bit again but was a little bit green. It kind of reminded me of the way he ran in the Florida Derby (G1) last year. He’s kind of still figuring things out. He’s still a horse that’s light on experience and hopefully some more races under his belt will help that.”

Simplication, coming off a seventh-place effort in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), rallied for third.

Endorsed ($13.80) improved his earnings to the cliff of the million dollar mark on Saturday, sporting a record of 7-8-5 from 34 starts and a bankroll of $956,633.

“It looked he was traveling well the whole race in perfect position, and when it came time, he was the best horse,” Maker said. “He’s coming to hand right now.”

Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, Endorsed is a half brother to 2022 Eclipse Award finalist and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) victor Cody's Wish  (Curlin  ), who he could likely face on the track later this year.