Saratoga 2024: McKulick wins 2nd straight Glens Falls

Grade 1 winner McKulick put her class on display when closing to a successful defense Thursday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile, inner-turf route for older fillies and mares at Saratoga.

Owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by four-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Frankel bay began her campaign with a half-length victory at 1 1/2 miles in the Orchid (G3) in March at Gulfstream Park. She followed with off-the-board efforts in the 1 3/8-mile Sheepshead Bay (G3) in May at Belmont at the Big A and last out in the 1 3/16-mile New York (G1) on June 7 at Saratoga.

Click here for Saratoga entries and results.

Last year McKulick denied multiple Grade 1-winning multimillionaire War Like Goddess her third consecutive Glens Falls glory, and she rose to the occasion yet again with her own victory on the line.

“Getting her back out to three turns and the mile-and-a-half distance is really what she wants to do. She was in a couple races this year that weren’t that good after a great 5-year-old debut at Gulfstream, and I was a little disappointed,” Brown said. “She really needs the three turns as a 5-year-old. She trained super coming into this race. I was cautiously optimistic that we would see the real McKulick today with the way she trained.”

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., McKulick broke alertly from outermost post 7 and settled into sixth position. She raced well off the pace set by fellow Brown trainee Royalty Interest, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile of 23.89 seconds on the good turf. 

Eric Cancel-piloted Royalty Interest continued to lead when the field passed the wire for the first time through a half-mile in 48.17 seconds. She was tracked by Eternal Hope, who sought position sufficient to bring jockey Flavien Prat, trainer Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin another graded stakes after winning Sunday’s Bowling Green (G2) with Silver Knott. 

The field traveled nearly single through the clubhouse turn with Ortiz content to sit off the tempo as three-quarters of a mile elapsed in 1:13.63. Up the backside the field became much more compact with Eternal Hope nearly on even terms with the early pacesetter, and Alpha Bella remained in striking distance. 

“We had the outside post. We don’t want to lose too much ground (going) three turns, so (Brown) told me, ‘Try to save as much ground as you can,’ ” Ortiz said. “I tried to be the last one to start going forward, because I feel like I got some horse. It worked out perfect.”

After one mile in 1:38.97, Dylan Davis advanced aboard Parnac with Chop Chop also creeping closer to the front end as McKulick was still sixth. 

Ortiz could wait no longer in the final turn. He angled McKulick out for her run. 

Eternal Hope assumed command at the top of the lane, but not for long. McKulick rapidly gobbled up ground with her wide bid after 1 1/4 miles were covered in 2:03.61. 

By the stretch call McKulick was fully unleashed, and she quickly opened up a half-length on Eternal Hope as Davis asked Parnac to fight on from fourth to the inside of Chop Chop.

Classy McKulick’s late turn of foot was far too much for her foes. She crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of Parnac with a final time of 2:27.89. 

Chop Chop was edged by a head for place honors with Eternal Hope hanging on for fourth, 1 1/2 lengths back. Atomic Blonde, Alpha Bella, and Royalty Interest completed the finish in that order.

A potential next start for McKulick could be the 1 3/8-mile, $500,000 Flower Bowl (G2) at Saratoga, according to Brown. The Aug. 31 race offers a win-and-you’re-in berth for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. 

Brown added that he needs to see more from the mare before taking that step up to the Breeders’ Cup again. Last year she finished last of 12 in the Filly & Mare Turf. 

“This was a solid field here today, but the Breeders’ Cup is high cotton,” Brown said. “You’re stepping up on the world’s stage, and I don’t know if she’s quite up to that level. But we’ll enjoy this win, and the Flower Bowl is a likely target, then we’ll take it from there.” 

Davis said Christophe Clément-trained Parnac was game in defeat to a formidable foe whom she beat in the Flower Bowl (G2) last August at Saratoga.

“McKulick had a nice momentum run on the outside, but I thought she was really game. Even through the wire, she felt like she was wanting to try and catch that horse again,” Davis said. “She's back in form and running well, and (connections) just mentioned the Flower Bowl, so I think she’s going to be tough.”

Bred in Great Britain by Essafinaat UK, McKulick was a $245,369 purchase from the 2021 Tattersalls October yearling sale. She is out of the Makfi mare Astrelle. She banked $137,500 in victory while improving her record to 18: 7-5-2 and returning $6.60 for a $2 win bet.