Day Right on Money at Saratoga

Nearing the wire of the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap, Denon, the 2-1 favorite, had a clear lead and another Saratoga stakes victory seemed inevitable for trainer Bobby Frankel.

At the finish of the Grade I race at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., however, the spotlight belonged to With Anticipation and, specifically, his jockey Pat Day.

With a powerful late surge, With Anticipation, the 5-2 second choice and defending champion, was up to beat Denon by a head and help Day make history.

The $300,000 banked by the 7-year-old gelding made Day the all-time earnings leader among riders. His total of $264,580,968 pushed him ahead of Chris McCarron, who retired June 23 with $264,351,679.

“I would like to thank the thousands of horses that got me here,” said Day. “I would also like to praise God for keeping me healthy and injury free. I would also like to thank my wife and daughter and all my agents over the years for doing an awesome job of putting me on the right stock. You have to have the stock to do something like this.

“I’ve been blessed with talent and ability. I’m naturally small, so I’ve never had to battle weight. I’ve had minimal injuries and thank God I’ve been able to walk away from most of my falls.

“I’m very grateful for With Anticipation. He was very courageous. I think [trainer] Jonathan [Sheppard] deserves a lot of applause for keeping this horse healthy and happy.”

Owned by Augustin Stable, With Anticipation, who was bred in Pennsylvania, won for the 14th time in 41 starts and has earned more than $1.85 million. This was the second consecutive Grade I victory for the gray, who had beaten Denon by a neck in the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park on July 6.

“Pat did a masterful job,” Sheppard said. “He said the horse was holding his head a little high because he thought the ground was stinging him. He’s not very comfortable when the turf is really hard.”

Looking to give Frankel his fifth stakes win of the meet at Saratoga, Denon had no excuses after getting through along the inside. Volponi, an 8-1 shot, finished third.

“We had a great trip,” said Edgar Prado, who was aboard the runner-up for the first time. “I cut the corner and the winner was on the outside.”

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Although it was not visually impressive, Buffythecenterfold, the 8-5 favorite, remained unbeaten with a narrow victory over 2-1 second choice Tricks Her in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.

Trained by Mel Stute, who won the Sorrento for the first time since 1986, the 2-year-old Capote filly is now three for three and has a pair of graded stakes scores on her resume. Before the Sorrento, a Grade II, she had taken the Grade III Landaluce at Hollywood Park more than five weeks earlier.

This was the first win for Buffythecenterfold, who had to survive a stewards’ inquiry regarding trouble at the start, since a majority interest was sold to Frank Stronach. . Thirty percent of the filly was retained by Allen Brian.

Ridden by Matt Garcia, Buffythecenterfold completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17 1/5. If all is well, she’ll return in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante, a Grade I at seven furlongs, on Aug. 31. Brave Raj, Stute’s last Sorrento winner, came back to take the Debutante and eventually the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

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Xtra Heat did what she was supposed to do in the $125,000 Straight Deal Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Laurel.

Facing only four overmatched rivals, the 1-9 favorite and 126-pound highweight rolled to a three-length victory over Outstanding Info for her 22nd win in 29 starts. Ridden by Harry Vega, she completed the seven furlongs in 1:23 in capturing the Straight Deal for the second year in a row.

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Valid Video, the 9-5 favorite, earned a trip to the $200,000 Futurity on Sept. 15 at Belmont Park with a 2 1/4-length win in the $100,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Owned by Mark Fehsenfeld and trained by Dennis Manning, the 2-year-old Valid Wager colt completed the six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 under jockey Chuck Lopez. Valid Video is now unbeaten in two starts and will stretch out to a mile in the Futurity.

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Minister’s Baby, the 5-2 favorite, won the $200,000 Gardenia Stakes at Ellis Park. Owned by Michael MacKin’s Lucky Seven Stable and trained by Ken McPeek, the 4-year-old Deputy Minister filly completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 3/5. She beat Lakenheath, part of an entry that was the 5-2 second choice, by nearly two lengths under jockey Craig Perret. This was the seventh win in 20 starts for Minister’s Baby.