“Don’t Think He Ran…”: Days After Tough Grade 1 Stakes, $37,094,606 Worth Equestrian Trainer Reveals 5-Year-Old Stallion’s Future

The term backseat driver is usually used for an annoying person. However, in the world of sports, coaches, and trainers are anything but backseat drivers. Especially in the equestrian world, where trainers can make or break races and careers. In a disappointing turn of events, a promising dirt-track runner performed fairly below expectations. This comes just days after this gelding won a tough Grade 1 Stakes race.

The horse’s trainer was not very satisfied with the result. However, a career in sports is filled with wins and losses. The trainers are the best people who know about this fact. More than that, they also know what goes wrong, at which part and what the trajectory of their trainee looks like.

There are Good Days and then there are Bad Days

Stilleto Boy is a five-year-old gelding racehorse trained by Ed Moger, Jr. The dirt track racer is owned by Ed’s brother, Steve Moger. The horse, who is still a bit in the rough, recently came in first place at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March this year. However, he finished the race at a lackluster sixth position at the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. Stiletto Boy has recorded a top speed of 108. However, he could only manage to run at a speed of 98 at the 1 ⅛ mile track of Stephen Foster. 

While his trainer was not pleased with the performance, he stood by the side of Stilleto Boy. When asked about the racehorse’s performance, Ed said, “I don’t think he ran his best race. It was hot that day. He seemed more tired than normal after the race.” Ed knows that Stilleto Boy has performed well in his last three races. He won one of them and finished third in the others. Speaking about Stilleto Boy’s next venture, Ed said that the horse would be shipped to Santa Anita to prepare for his next race, which is to be held at Del Mar in September. 

Next Race: The Grade 1 Pacific Classic

Stilleto Boy’s 1 ¼ mile race at the Pacific Classic event will take place on 2nd September. The $1 million Grade 1 event is California’s richest yearly event for older horses and a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on 4th November. 

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The winner of the prestigious event earns a fee-paid entry into the BC Classic, which is also raced at 1 ¼ miles. The Breeder’s Cup event is a highly sought-after event in the equestrian community, making the stakes of Stilleto Boy’s upcoming race even higher. Whether or not he will rise to the occasion and clinch victory is a question that will be answered in September.

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