Florida-bred named for assistant trainer Sabine Langvad

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Langvad emerged from an initial three-horse battle for the lead by putting a head in front of One Hundred Kings then steadily pulled away in the remaining five furlongs to win the $91,000 Carry Back by a convincing three lengths at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Named for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s longtime assistant, Sabine Langvad, the 3-year-old Florida-bred son of Ocala Stud’s Awesome Slew earned his first career stakes triumph, winning as the 6-5 favorite against four other 3-year-olds and older going seven furlongs.

“It’s pretty cool. You never know with any horse, but it’s pretty special when you have a namesake that turns out to be good,” Langvad said with her 4-year-old daughter Savannah in tow. “We’re so, so proud of him. I’m so happy.

Florida-bred Wayne’s Law broke quickest from post two and was shortly joined by Langvad to his inside and One Hundred Kings on his right. One Hundred Kings and Langvad emerged in tandem to finish the first two furlongs in :22.41 before jockey Micah Husbands allowed Langvad to get a length in front heading into the turn. Langvad deliberately increased his lead from there, getting two lengths clear heading for home and winning by three lengths in 1:23.23 on the fast track. One Hundred Kings was second while Wayne’s Law kept third, finishing another length-and-a-half back. Sonic Surge and Florida-bred Move Jesse Move completed the order of finish. Florida-bred Demolition, Moonstrocity and Ramajay were scratched.

Langvad paid $4.60 to win.

“He broke super sharp today,” Langvad said. “Sometimes he can be a little bit slow away from the gate, but Micah had a lot of confidence in him today.”

 

Sabine Langvad joined Joseph’s stable as an exercise rider in 2017 and was elevated to assistant trainer in 2019. She spent some time working for trainer Chad Brown before rejoining Joseph in 2022.

“It’s kind of funny,” she said. “[Langvad] has the same birthday as my daughter, which is in May, so he’s a late foal. I mentioned that to Saffie and he said, ‘That makes so much sense.’ Sometimes they improve as they grow up a little bit.”

A five-and-a-quarter-length winner of a first level allowance race for Florida-breds at Gulfstream last out on May 23, Langvad also counts among is wins a maiden special weight last November at Gulfstream. He finished his 2-year-old season with a third in the $102,000 Inaugural won by Solitude Dude at Tampa Bay Downs in December but was off the board in his first two races this year in the $150,000 Swale on January 31 and in the  $100,000 FHBPA Sophomore Sprint versus Florida-breds at Gulfstream on April 25.

Langvad has now won three of seven starts with a second and third while earning $149,610 for owners Steven Friedfertig and Morgan Joseph’s Shining Stables. Saffie Joseph Jr. purchased Langvad for $23,000 out of the Sue Vacek consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale.

Out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Melody, Langvad is a half-brother to Florida-bred Dickens, a son of Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie who was third in the 2023 Sanford Stakes (Grade 3) at Saratoga and second in the that year’s $100,000 Dr. Fager division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream. Both Dickens and Langvad were bred in Florida by John B. Penn of Ocala.

Malibu Melody has produced six foals, of which four are starters, all winners. She has an unnamed weanling filly, by Two Phil’s. Penn purchased Malibu Melody for $30,000 in foal to Kantharos in the 2019 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

— portions of the story were taken directly from a Gulfstream Park press release

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