Stay Thirsty headed for BC Classic or retirement

Stay Thirsty (right) ran his heart out, but couldn’t hold off Flat Out (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) Owner Mike Repole visited Stay Thirsty at trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn Sunday morning, compelled to be with his four-year-old colt after a head-bobbing defeat at the finish line by Flat Out in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational. After making the pace the entire way in the 1 1/4-mile race, and repelling numerous challengers, Stay Thirsty was caught in the final strides by Flat Out, who won in a time of 2:01 2/5. “I watched the race 47 times hoping that Stay Thirsty would win one of them,” Repole said. “But he lost every one.” Repole also finished second on the “Super Saturday” card with his seven-year-old Caixa Eletronica, who rallied from last to fall 1 1/4 lengths short of winner The Lumber Guy in the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational. “Caixa ran a 107 Beyer (Speed figure) and Stay Thirsty ran a 109 Beyer. Fantastic,” Repole said. “And we came in second both races. I would say it’s equivalent to bowling 295 in two games and losing to a guy who bowled 298 and 300.”

According to the BRIS Speed ratings, Stay Thirsty earned a 115 and Caixa
Eletronica racked up a 104.

Stay Thirsty scored victories last year as a three-year-old in the Grade 2
Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga. He lost the Belmont Stakes by
three-quarters of a length to Ruler on Ice and now the Jockey Club Gold Cup by a
head. Reversing those two narrow decisions could have greatly enhanced people’s
opinion of Stay Thirsty, Repole said. Still, he said, the colt’s performance
Saturday definitively stamped his high quality.

“As far as Stay Thirsty, I’ve had a lot of luck in this game, and I’m so
appreciative, but in racing, that was obviously the most disappointing finish
I’ve ever had, and more about the horse than me. For this horse, it’s always
kind of been, ‘He’s a good horse. He’s a great horse. He’s not that good.’

“But I think yesterday, in defeat, I think that second was more impressive
than his Travers Grade 1 win, and he probably enhanced his reputation off the
loss more than he did winning the Travers. So, it’s obviously a tough second for
me.

“Yesterday, he did all the dirty work,” Repole added. “He had to fight off
Ruler on Ice; he had to fight off San Pablo; he had to fight off Fort Larned. At
the end, he gave it all and couldn’t beat that fourth one, Flat Out. Flat Out is
a deserving winner, but I think Stay Thirsty ran the best race yesterday.”

Repole, who said he picks the races for his horses, said he is unsure whether
Stay Thirsty will go on to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 3 at
Santa Anita or be retired to stand as a stallion.

“He’s going to tell us whether he wants to go to the Classic,” Repole said.
“This, quite possibly, could have been his last race. I have no problem with it.
He’ll probably have a work two Sundays from now, and he’ll tell us.

“If you have a stallion farm in Kentucky, you’re interested in Stay Thirsty.
Great pedigree, great conformation, and great ability. He checks all the boxes.
So, there will be stallion plans sometime this week.”

As for Caixa Eletronica, who has had a strong year from six furlongs to the
Grade 2, $1 million, 1 1/8-mile Charles Town Classic, a trip to the Breeders’
Cup is a possibility. The son of Arromanches would have to be supplemented for
$200,000.

“If he goes to the Breeders’ Cup, we’re thinking either the six-furlong
Sprint, or a mile and three-quarters (in the Marathon). We haven’t decided yet,”
Repole said, laughing.

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