Overview: John the Beer Man secured victory in the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 9 following a 673-day absence from competition.
The Full Story
After missing nearly two years of racing, the chestnut gelding made his fourth start since the large gap in past performances to battle to victory in the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G2T) Aug. 9 at Saratoga Race Course. Owners Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso had to wait 673 days for their promising maiden winner to return to the races after a series of setbacks. Their patience paid off in a big way as the More Than Ready gelding battled to victory.
With Kendrick Carmouche in the saddle, John the Beer Man broke well and assumed position outside of Doncho. Carmouche then sensed jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.—who picked up Doncho’s mount from an injured Irad Ortiz Jr.—was not fully intent on leading and he opted to go ahead and take over. He then burned through fractions of :21.28 and :43.50 as Waralo and Rezasrolex moved up on the outside. Rezasrolex would retreat on the far turn, but despite the hot tempo on the firm course, the other three continued to slug it out through the stretch. John the Beer Man dropped back to third briefly before rallying again on the hedge. In between rivals, Doncho began getting pinballed between them around the 16th pole as John the Beer Man surged back up to beat Waralo and Jose Lezcano by a head.
The stewards took their time reviewing the footage and ultimately declared Waralo was at fault for Doncho’s bouncing and disqualified him to third. John the Beer Man kept his win, which he completed in 1:00.97 for 5 1/2 furlongs. He paid $8.92 to win. Trainer Rob Atras said, “He looked like he was comfortable and down the lane, I guess it’s almost like he waited on them and then he reengaged. Obviously tough inquiry, a little scary there, but I think we were good. Just really thrilled with this horse, what a godsend.”
Production & Profile
Bred by Phipps Stable (KY) and purchased for $160,000 out of Claiborne Farm’s consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the chestnut gelding started his career with Chad Brown. He gradually stretched from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 mile to his maiden win at 1 1/16 miles in May 2024. It was then that he hit the sidelines, at one point nearly making it back before getting sidelined again. Connections then took a shot at the big stage in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) June 6 at Saratoga where he ran a sensational third, beaten only 3/4 lengths, by top sprinters Reef Runner and Ag Bullet.
John the Beer Man is out of the winning Giant’s Causeway mare Trophy Wife, a half sister to grade 1-placed Pleasant Orb. The team surrounding John the Beer Man had learned patience in that time as they had to wait an extra 10 minutes to hoist his first stake trophy while stewards looked into an inquiry and rider’s objection among the top three finishers.
Brand & Industry History
Connections wanted to try something new and, given that their team thought he could be a good sprinter, sent John the Beer Man to Atras. Dubb noted, “As a 3-year-old he had issues. We wanted to just try something different with him, maybe sprinting and everything else.” Atras recalled thinking the horse was breezing well at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on March 22, entering him in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance turf sprint. He broke out of the gate, opened up 3 (lengths), and won wire-to-wire. Dubb stated, “It’s been a 2-year-project. Six-hundred something days, and he did what he had to do.”
What This Means
The victory validates the team’s decision to give time to horses when others do not want to. Dubb said, “A lot of people don’t want to give time to horses, and they did. Mike’s good like that.” The strategic shift from distance running to sprinting proved successful after the horse showed speed during breezing sessions. Atras pushed the praise to the owners and their team, including Jake Memolo of BSW/Crow Bloodstock, who pushed for attempting sprints.
Consumer Takeaway
This release offers a definitive statement on the value of patience in high-stakes racing. The gelding completed the race in 1:00.97 for 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm course, paying $8.92 to win. The team surrounding John the Beer Man had learned patience in that time as they had to wait an extra 10 minutes to hoist his first stake trophy while stewards looked into an inquiry and rider’s objection among the top three finishers. However, the change made by the judges would not take away their celebration.
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