Vineyard Haven Shines for Frankel
Trainer, Bobby Frankel enjoyed a very successful weekend at Saratoga Racecourse, leaving the meeting with eleven winning performances. First Defense gave an astonishing performance in the Forego Handicap, while other horses such as Go For Wand and Ginger Punch also brought victory home with their magnificent performances. In the Grade 2 $250 000 Hopeful Stakes, which took place on Monday, 1 September 2008, another surprise was waiting for Frankel in the form of Vineyard Haven.
Vineyard Haven was sired by Lido Palace and is out of the Aloha Prospector mare, Princess Aloha. Frankel saw him in his debut racing event, which he won on 28 June, entered by his original owner and trainer, Lynee Scace. In a private transaction, Bobby Frankel purchased Vineyard Haven for himself and his partners, Diamond Pride and Louis Lazzinnaro. In his second career start, at the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes, Vineyard Haven only managed to get a second place position, but made up for his performance in the Hopeful Stakes.
Three horses got into a little trouble during the running of the Hopeful Stakes, with Munnings stumbling out of the starting gates, Desert Party also stumbling and getting bumped around a bit and Cribnote not being able to hold onto a turn and careening off the outside. This all made for a very interesting racing event. Vineyard Haven and Break Water Edison also gave spectators quite a show as the two battled it out for lead position. In the final stretch, Vineyard Haven was able to open a lead on Break Water Edison, beating him to the wire. Cribnote had managed to work his way up from his unfortunate incident and finished in third position.
After the race, Bobby Frankel expressed his joy at Vineyard Haven’s victory and stated that he was sure that a few purchase offers would come through. Unsure if he would consider selling Vineyard Haven, Frankel said that there is good possibility that the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes would be their next start. Speaking to winning jockey, Alan Garcia, he commented: “To win the stakes and finish as leading jockey in Saratoga, that’s the best. It means a lot for my career. I think it’s going to be a good push to keep going, keep working hard, and I’m so happy for that.”
