Ramsey expects 'a big shot' from Whitney 2018's Backyard Heaven

Last out, Backyard Heaven lost a major race. Ken Ramsey has not lost confidence, however, in a late-developing colt on which the owner says “I’m betting with both hands” in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old son of Tizway stormed on to the scene of the handicap division on Kentucky Oaks day, when he won Churchill Downs’ Grade 2 Alysheba by 4 1/2 lengths in his stakes debut. But back under the Twin Spires a month later, Backyard Heaven missed the board in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap on what was a hot, humid night in Louisville.

“Maybe it was the heat,” trainer Chad Brown said, because “the horse has been training well since, and hopefully he bounces back and regains the form he has.”

"We drew a line through it,” Ramsey added of the Foster. “He scoped out clean and he's training well. We’re expecting a big shot out of him.”

This time, Backyard Heaven won’t go as the top choice. That honor should fall to either of the New York-breds, Diversify or Mind Your Biscuits, headlining the Whitney’s field of eight. But running here has been Ramsey’s plan all along.

The native Kentuckian now owns a house overlooking Saratoga’s training track — that’s the origin of Backyard Heaven’s name — and has also plotted for his horse to run later in the meet in the Grade 1 Woodward. He hopes the Breeders’ Cup Classic follows, mimicking a campaign that in 2017 led to Gun Runner’s Horse of the Year honor.

"He's lightly raced and has come around so fast,” Brown said of Backyard Heaven, who experienced a number of minor setbacks before finally making his debut last September, late in his 3-year-old season.

Second in his debut, the $160,000 purchase then reeled off three straight wins leading up to the Foster, giving his connections plenty of confidence.

“I feel he's so talented,” Brown added. “In the Alysheba, he ran fabulous in that race. If he redeems himself and comes back to a performance like that, I feel he can be a real contender in this race.”

Javier Castellano has the mount with Irad Ortiz Jr. opting to remain on the morning line favorite, Diversify. Expect Backyard Heaven to stalk the pace, as last out Brown wanted him fourth up the back stretch, third in the turn, second turning for home, and then in the lead.

“He was exactly fourth, third, second, and first,” Ramsey said, “and then Irad asked him and he had absolutely nothing. The temperature was 91 degrees. I was soaking wet from the humidity, or 'humdidity' as us country boys call it. We just think the heat took it out of him.”

Backyard Heaven marks Ramsey’s first Whitney starter since 2004, when Roses in May won what was then a traditional handicap. It meant much to the man who campaigns horses with his wife, Sarah. Ken had Tom Durkin’s call of the race — “with unwavering determination…by a nose!” — on his home answering machine for years.

“And it was that much,” Ramsey said. “That was a biggie. It’s been a long time since I've been kissed by Marylou Whitney. I’m looking forward to it again."