Harrington Confident That Saratoga Derby Test Will Suit Stable Star Hotazhell

[Wandering Eyes]

Irish trainer Jessica Harrington says that the likely pace setup of the Grade I Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes and the prospect of keeping Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) to his own age group were contributing factors to making the trip across the Atlantic Ocean with her stable star.

One of the best juveniles in Europe last year, Hotazhell landed the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes. However, he has raced only twice this campaign and was forced to sidestep the French 2,000 Guineas due to unsuitably quick ground. 

Both of Hotazhell's efforts this year, when third to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and when not beaten far against his elders in the Coral-Eclipse, suggest he remains a pretty serious prospect and he is as short as 13-8 with some firms to double his Group 1 tally at Saratoga on Saturday evening under regular rider Shane Foley.

“The nearer you get to a race, the worse your nerves seem to become but we're very happy with Hotazhell and we are looking forward to the race,” Harrington said on Friday. “We had a lot of rain here yesterday in Saratoga – it rained all day – so it's going to be lovely conditions for him.”

Speaking on the reasoning behind travelling to the United States rather than taking in targets closer to home, the trainer said, “This race fitted in nicely and we thought it was a good idea to come over here and take on three-year-olds as opposed to taking on the older horses in the Juddmonte or wherever else.”

She added, “It just seemed to fit into our programme well before we brought him back to have an autumn programme in Europe. Races like the Irish Champion Stakes, Arc Weekend and even the British Champions Stakes could be on his radar towards the second half of the year.”

Hotazhell is owned by the American-based Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton of Silverton Hill Farm, who enjoyed huge success with Harrington  over a decade back with another Group 1 scorer in Pathfork, winner of the National Stakes at the Curragh in 2010.

The Hamiltons are proving to be lucky owners for the Harringtons and hopes are high that Hotazhell can continue what is proving to be a fruitful relationship.

Bonnie Hamilton said, “I am always really confident in Hotazhell because he just lays it down. Sometimes it's enough and sometimes it's not. His will to win got him across the wire in his Group 1. I always have a lot of confidence because he shows up every time and is a very sound horse.”

If successful, Harrington will be emulating fellow Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien, who won the Saratoga Derby in 2021 with his globetrotting star State Of Rest. Fellow European trainer Charlie Appleby also features on the roll of honour, having won the race in 2022 with Nations Pride, and Harrington is quietly confident that Hotazhell can justify the trip. 

She said, “All things considered, we have been happy enough with how his year has gone. He has run solid races to finish third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before running well in the Coral-Eclipse, which wasn't really run to suit as they didn't go quick enough for him. I'm hoping that there will be a pretty quick pace on over here and that would really suit us.”

She concluded, “I went through the race in detail with a few people last night. Graham Motion's horse [Test Score] has good, solid form and he could be hard to beat. But there is not a bad horse in the race and it will be hard to win. I'm actually quite glad we're not drawn down the fence and, in stall seven, we're out a little bit and at least then you can go where you want to go. We're really looking forward to it.”

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