This moving Opening Weekend race brought tears to a stunned crowd
An unexpected win landed a teary trainer and widow in the Winner’s Circle.
You’re reading a FREE sneak peek of the Dispatch, “Daily News from the Spa City.” We will begin to place content behind a paywall starting Monday July 21. Subscribers who join the Dispatch community with a paid annual subscription will get a FREE 13th month.
The most emotional moment from Opening Weekend at the track came via trainer Cherie DeVaux and a longshot named Dr. Agne.
Race 6 on Friday, July 11: Epic Desire was the favorite to win after a surface switch from the turf to the dirt due to a morning deluge.
“He [Dr. Agne] deserves a shot,” jockey Jose Ortiz said carefully on Saratoga Live, downplaying the emotional favorite’s chances of winning after a win in Race 5 landed him in the winner’s circle with FOX Sports’ Acacia Clement right before Dr. Agne’s Race 6. “Let’s see what he’s got today.”
Even with an emotional attachment to the 2-year-old “doc” via an earlier broadcast on the horse, Maggie Wolfendale fell in line with the rest of the broadcast crew, calling Epic Desire “by far the horse to beat” and declared, “I’m not going to be shocked when the 5 [Epic Desire] wins.”
Only Jonathon Kinchen kept the faith for our Dr. Agne.
“And they’re off!” At the top of the stretch, Dr. Agne was still in third, before pulling out in front from the center of the track. “An emotional conclusion!” raved announcer Frank Mirahmadi as Dr. Agne had an exciting finish at No. 1 after surpassing Epic Desire, who placed.
Then the camera panned to an elated DeVaux, arms in the air — before the hugs and tears came, touching a momentarily confused throng of onlookers glued to the track’s screens. The emotion between her and the guests in her box — which NYRA and Ortiz shared in the above Instagram video — seemed especially raw, even to a jaded crowd used to the elation and heartbreak that comes with the unpredictability of horse racing.
And then in the winner’s circle, DeVaux had her moment in the sun, wiping tears as she stood arm in arm with the woman who turned out to be Carrie Agne, widow of the late orthopedic veterinarian Robert Agne for whom the horse was named. The renowned vet tragically passed away in 2015 at just 54, after a cycling accident.
Dr. Agne — the horse — is the colt of Into Mischief and Lady Eli, who stepped on a nail after winning a big race. The injury left her with a life-threatening founder of the foot. “They never come back from that,” explained the announcer. “And her trainer, who was an assistant at the time, Cherie DaVaux, took care of that horse on a daily basis.”
Lady Eli not only survived the injury, but came back to win a Grade 1 race.
“I’m just so pleased that Carrie was here and we got to share this with her,” DaVaux said in the winner’s circle. Carrie held back tears as she responded, “Just incredible that 10 years after his passing someone still remembers … I mean, all of us close to him remember but it’s just such an honor.
“Seeing this, what comes to mind is they have the same heart,“ Carrie finished, now crying more freely.
Even Wolfendale struggled to keep her TV announcer’s game face. “Making me cry here!” she said.
Related Links!
Frank Mirahmadi makes slam dunk of a call during July 4 racing fest
New dad Tyler Gaffalione is back, but will he make July 4 fest?
Andy Serling names his top 5 horses to watch this summer at the Spa