(Englishman romps in the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday / Photo Courtesy of NYRA)

From the NYRA Media Team / Mary Eddy:

Trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz have had plenty to celebrate this year, and added even more reasons to smile on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course as C R K Stable’s Englishman equaled the track record of 1:20.40 in his 5 3/4-length trouncing of the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun for sophomores on Belmont Stakes Day.

The final time matched Darby Creek Road’s course mark of 1:20 and 2/5 set in 1978, when races were timed only in full fifth-seconds. DeVaux said the speed of the talented son of Maxfield was not unexpected.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux — Englishman (1st): 

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said DeVaux. “This horse is so fast that we kind of get a glimpse of it when he runs. He runs like that and almost broke the track record at Fair Grounds wrapped up, so the sky is the limit for him right now, but I believe that’s at six and seven furlongs.”

“We were really happy with where we were going to be, outside, and that was the horse [Solitude Dude] Jose said would probably be with him [on the lead],” DeVaux explained. “I said, ‘If he wants to go, try to give yourself some room, and just let Englishman – because he’s got such a high cruising speed – try to let him relax out of there.’”

DeVaux added that Englishman will “most definitely” target the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 29 here later this summer.

Ortiz praised the speedy colt’s breakout effort.

Rider Jose Ortiz: 

“It was pretty amazing, but obviously the track is fast,” Ortiz said. “It was impressive. Very impressive.”

While it was mainly Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets contender Golden Tempo making headlines for DeVaux and Ortiz this spring, Englishman had also turned heads after a 7 1/2-length optional claiming score in March at Fair Grounds Race Course that yielded a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. He then entered as one of the favorites in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on the May 2 Kentucky Derby undercard, where he set the pace from the inside post and finished a 3 3/4-length second to returning rival Crude Velocity.

“Last time, I had the number one hole, so I had to [have my foot on the gas pedal] every step of the way and [Crude Velocity] beat me,” Ortiz said. “Today, with a better position, I was going to run at my pace, and when I asked him to go, he was there for me.”

Ortiz, who completed the Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby double this spring aboard Always a Runner and Golden Tempo, said it was satisfying to see Englishman rate successfully on Saturday.

“That’s what we have been trying to teach him,” he said.

Englishman and Crude Velocity squared off in a highly anticipated rematch on the cutback in the Woody Stephens, where Englishman exited swiftly from post 7-of-9 and took the lead while being prompted by Solitude Dude to his inside. Shortly after exiting the chute, Englishman showed a newfound ability to rate as he relinquished the advantage, letting his foe take command with the opening quarter-mile clocked in 21.98 seconds over the fast main track.

Stradale tracked along the rail while Crude Velocity sat chilly in fourth, waiting for his cue from Florent Geroux and keeping the topflight within his reach. Both Ortiz and Geroux got to work in the turn, and Englishman drew alongside Solitude Dude with Crude Velocity following his run.

Englishman claimed the lead after the half-mile in 43.97 and swung out very wide into the lane, but the path to victory was clear down the stretch as he straightened out and showed an impressive turn-of-foot with Crude Velocity doing little to cut the deficit. Ortiz shook his reins and gave one right-handed tap of the crop to keep the colt busy through three-quarters in 1:07.56, and the pair were never in doubt as Englishman finished wrapped up and well in front.

Crude Velocity hung in tough in the lane to fend off the sustained run from Obliteration by a nose for place honors, with Gilded Bandit completing the superfecta. Civil Liberty, Stradale, Solitude Dude, Six Speed and Taj Mahal rounded out the order of finish.

Jockey Florent Geroux — Crude Velocity: 

Geroux said the Hall of Famer Bob Baffert-trained Crude Velocity was at a disadvantage on the cutback.

“We went really quick. I knew Englishman was the horse to beat, especially at this distance,” Geroux said. “He has more natural speed than my horse. We were just second-best today. I do think my horse will appreciate a little more distance. The cutback didn’t do him any favors and the track has been playing very speed-favoring all week long, so I’m not too surprised. We would have loved to win, but they went super-fast, so speed carried and that was the difference.”

Englishman, who graduated by 7 1/4 lengths on debut in September at Churchill Downs, was bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock and is out of the winning Speightstown mare In It for the Gold. The $400,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale banked $275,000 in victory while returning $10.56 on a $2 win wager.

Live racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race card, highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Poker in Race 4 and the Grade 3. $200,00 Soaring Softly in Race 8. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/event-info/tv-schedule.