Saratoga Maidens, presented by Keeneland: 17-1 Universe First-Ever Winner for Day

[Wandering Eyes]

If you don't recognize the name of Gregg Day, it's because he's never before had a winner. Never before Saturday, that is, when both he and his debuting colt Universe (Global Campaign) had an out-of-this-world experience. They each broke their maidens, getting their first wins at Saratoga on the sport's most exciting maiden stage.

“This is my first win ever in a race,” said Day minutes after his initial visit to the winner's circle. “I can't hardly talk right now. I've lost my voice and I'm so excited. This is so much fun.”

Day's 2-year-old colt, a $75,000 Keeneland September yearling last year, went off at 17-1 in his first start and won decisively–by 4 1/2 lengths–over heavy favorite and $1.7-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buy Dragones (Gun Runner). Day said he owns Universe in partnership with Four G Racing LLC, Steven Crain, and trainer Kenny McPeek.

A Little Rock, Arkansas resident, Day is newer to the game and has part of five horses, “most of them with the Gasaways.” The Gasaways, or Four G Racing, are the same folks responsible for 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents). Day explained how the Gasaways are all first cousins and he's “just a friend.”

Bred in Kentucky by Becky Pietras, Universe got hung up in the gate at the break from his inside spot, made a big move on the rail to move into contention, and raced a little greenly down the lane before unfurling a big kick to draw clear with aplomb. It was a visually impressive performance.

“What I liked about him is [jockey Christopher Elliott] just hand rode him,” said Day. “And he didn't know he was the cheapest horse in the race!”

Universe's $75,000 yearling price was, indeed, the lowest in the field. With the exception of one other five-figure horse, all the rest sold for six figures (and the favorite for seven figures).

Gregg Day and his wife, Paige | Sarah Andrew

“We thought we had a good horse,” continued Day. “We thought this horse would be really good. He got kicked in the side about three months ago. He was training good but he got kicked when he was galloping one morning, so we laid off him two or three months and I think it maybe helped him grow up a little bit.

“He was bruised pretty bad, so he had to lay off for two or three months and he's come back strong.”

Elliott has been working Universe in the mornings for McPeek, who alluded to a next logical target for the colt when he asked about Elliott's availability to ride in the GI Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct's Belmont at the Big A meet Oct. 4.

“He's a very nice horse,” said Elliott about Universe on the NYRA feed. “He's still figuring things out, but he's going to be very talented. I knew I was a winner at about the three-eighths pole. He was doing it so easy and I was just a passenger.”

 

Out of this world! UNIVERSE wins on debut at 17-1 in Race 8 with Christopher Elliott up for trainer @KennyMcPeek. pic.twitter.com/M4M3UXx8fq

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 30, 2025

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