BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A winner of four of his last five including the Grade 3 Bold Ruler during the Belmont at Big A meet in November, Florida-bred millionaire Damon’s Mound returns to New York for Saturday’s $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga Race Course. A homebred for Cliff and Michele Love of Friendswood, Texas, Damon’s Mound is one of eight 3-year-olds and older sprinting six furlongs in the Vanderbilt.
An out-of-state victory at the Grade 2 level is worth a $5,000 Export Incentive that would be paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association to Cliff Love as breeder.
Since taking the six-furlong Bold Ruler by a half-length in his final race last year, Damon’s Mound has dominated the Florida-bred sprint ranks in stakes in his native Florida. His first two races this year were both six furlongs at Gulfstream Park where he won the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint by two-and-a-half lengths on January 17 then was second to Jack’s Promise after getting off a step slow against open company in the $105,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (Listed) on February 21. He passed the seven-figure mark in earnings with a half-length victory NYRA Bets Sprint against Florida-breds on Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs on March 29 and last out won the $100,000 FHBPA Sprint back at Gulfstream on April 25.
Trained by Bill Mott, Damon’s Mound has won nine with three seconds and two thirds in 21 career starts with earnings of $1,077,205. Fourth in last year’s Vanderbilt won by Little Ni, Damon’s Mound makes his fourth career start at Saratoga having won the 2022 Saratoga Special and was third in a $100,000 optional claiming there in August.
He is 4-1 on the morning line and will be ridden for the 13th time by Junior Alvarado. They have post one.
Built is the 8-5 morning line favorite with two wins in five starts with a second and a third this year for trainer Wayne Catalano.
The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun won a pair of top tier optional claiming races this year, the first at the $80,000 level at Fair Grounds in March and another for a $100,000 optional tag at Churchill Downs two starts back on May 21. Most recently, Built was second to Harrodsburg in the Grade 3 Bango at Churchill on June 27.
Built has earned $479,696 from five wins, two seconds and three thirds in 13 lifetime starts for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. They bought him for $260,000 out of the Harris Training Center consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale.
Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the call on Built from the outside post eight.
Rounding out the field are Crazy Mason with John Velazquez in the irons, Tyler Gaffalione rides Cat On Time, Just Beat the Odds and jockey Manny Franco, Nutella Fella will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, Ricardo Santana Jr. has the assignment on Hymn and T Kraft will have Flavien Prat up.
Ten times the Vanderbilt has been won by a Florida-bred. It was known as the A Phenomenon Stakes or Handicap in 1985 through 1995. Florida-breds won the first three editions starting with Cognizant in 1985 and 1986 followed by Banker’s Jet in 1987. Other Florida-bred winners include Prospector’s Gamble (1990), For Really (1992), Not Surprising (1995), Kelly Kip (1998), Successful Appeal (2000) and two-time winner Imperial Hint in 2018 and 2019.
Return to the July 24 issue of Wire to Wire
