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Celebrated baseball player Alex Bregman surprised everyone last year by investing in racehorses. The famous Astros superstar even won his first race on May 13 with “No Nay Mets” in the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park. But other than that, his runners have struggled to secure a victory in the highly competitive racing circuit. However, all that changed at the Saratoga Race Course when Bregman’s Kodiac filly, Wintergreen, triumphed in a thrilling race.

Wintergreen’s victory at Saratoga Race Course not only showcased the filly’s talent but also marked a turning point in Bregman’s racing career, proving that his horses are capable of competing and winning at the highest level.

Bregman’s horse racing venture hits its stride

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Wintergreen is an Irish-bred filly with minimal experience. Despite her inexperience, Wintergreen showed incredible potential. She came second in the debut race and has been steadily improving with each subsequent race. On July 20th, the filly ran on a 5 1/2-furlong turf track at the spa and won the race. It marked Bregman’s first-ever win at the racecourse and solidified Wintergreen’s status as a rising star in the horse racing world.

Wintergreen’s chances did not look good initially. The filly had a weak start, just as in her debut race. She was trailing behind all the runners, but suddenly, she picked up speed at the turn. Soon Wintergreen and her rider Jose Ortiz were ahead of everyone else, strongly pushing towards the finish line. According to Blood Horse.com, “Trained by Rusty Arnold, Kodiac Wintergreen stopped the clock in 1:03.40 on a turf course listed as firm”. To understand the secret behind Wintergreen’s success, you only need to look at his family line.

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Wintergreen’s impressive family tree

Wintergreen comes from a line of champions. Its siblings “Glorious Empire” and “Love Reigns” have also won races at the Saratoga Race Course. The former began its racing career in England with the name “Holy Roman Emperor”, but when the gelding was five years old, it landed on U.S. soil. “Glorious Empire” was bought by Matthew Schera and put under the charge of Chuck Lawrence. The trainer helped the horse reach its full potential, leading it to victory in several prestigious races. The horse earned the highest score in Saratoga’s Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) in 2017. It had a lifetime earning of $977,227.

Read More: After a $1,500,000 Victory, Rising Rookie Worth $780,200 Eyes Major Equestrian Venue

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“Love Reigns” has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with, training under Wesley Ward. Kodiac Sired Wintergreen and three other Group 1 Champions such as El Bodegon, Campanelle, and Good Guess. He, himself, had dominated the six-furlong turf during his time. Humble And Proud birthed Wintergreen, making this filly the sixth winner from her. After this win, Wintergreen might appear for the Bolton Landing Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course and continue to showcase her talent and potential in future races. One thing is for sure, Alex Bregman has a winner on his hands.

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