Speightstown got his 22nd lifetime Grade 1 winner Saturday at Saratoga when Lexitonian won the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) in an extremely game effort.
Lexitonian is Speightstown’s seventh lifetime Grade 1 winner at the historic Saratoga meet and coincidentally his sire’s seventh graded winner of 2021. Currently third on this year’s General Sire list, Speightstown’s progeny earnings are nearly $10.6 million.
After hustling out of the gate, Lexitonian and jockey Jose Lezcano were in a title battle with Strike Power and Special Reserve for the lead. The trio zipped through a quarter-mile in :22.04, with Lexitonian a half-length in front. Around the turn Special Reserve took a short lead and looked headed for victory with a furlong to run. Lexitonian fought back and retook the lead in the final few strides, winning by a half-length in 1:09.38 on a fast track.
“I never tell a jockey what to do, but I told Jose if you keep him close he fights,” winning trainer Jack Sisterson said. “To please get him out of the gate and engage him early. He’ll feel the pressure and respond to that. It’s even better if a horse heads him, because he’ll fight and come on again. Which is exactly what happened today.”
Now a three-time stakes winner, Lexitonian has earned $687,682 for his owner/breeder Calumet Farm.
