McCutchen Enters Freshman Duo in Virginia Derby Day Undercard Stakes

New Kent, Va (Sept. 5, 2024) — With entries in both 2-year-old stakes on New Kent County Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs, Jason McCutchen will look to continue the success of the horses he brought home with him from the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. That’s where McCutchen found Debutante-winner Vodka With a Twist. It’s also where he purchased Bottoms Up, who will run in the 5½-furlong $125,000 Richmond Times-Dispatch Rosie’s Stakes, and Sackett in the 1-1/16 miles $125,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten’s Joy Stakes.

After breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs, Vodka With a Twist has gone on to win the Debutante, run second in the Sorrento (G2) and is currently ranked fourth among 2-year-olds in earnings. McCutchen sold the Thousand Words filly after the maiden score, but this was a $2,500 purchase that, it’s safe to say, many did not see coming. Likewise, the Gormley colt Sackett went for $3,000; Bottoms Up, $23,000. Both were made 30-1 in Saturday’s morning line. Given the success of Vodka With a Twist, McCutchen has two longshots worth a second look.

Scheduled as race 6 of 12 on the program, the Rosie’s Stakes attracted 12 and Hampton Beard, Robert McCutchen and Hunter Holiday’s Bottoms Up drew post 4. In July he broke his maiden going the Rosie’s distance on the local main track.

“I worked him twice over the turf,” McCutchen said. “He’s by Frosted and if you look at his bottom half, it’s Johannesburg. He’s turf bred on the bottom. The race came up a little tougher than I thought it would, to be honest with you, but he’s doing really good so we’re going to take a shot. I feel like he’ll show up. Edgar (Morales) hasn’t ridden him yet, but he rode for me in Kentucky before and he’s always done a good job.”

Edgar Morales is named on both of McCutchen’s stakes entries.

It’s a similar story for Robert McCutchen’s Sackett, facing winners for the first time while trying a new surface, only his last-out maiden-breaker was at the claiming level.

“He didn’t beat much but he did it so impressively,” McCutchen said. “I worked him on the turf as well, then worked him last Saturday back on the dirt. Worked (five furlongs) a minute flat and did it the way I like to see.”

Sackett drew post 5 of 11 entered in Saturday’s Kitten’s Joy, scheduled as race 7.

“Both of his races in Kentucky, he was closing,” McCutchen said. “If you go back and watch replays of his races, just don’t look at the charts, he took himself out and made big moves. When I put Trevor (McCarthy) on him and he worked him, he said this horse loves a target. If we get a pace scenario in that race and he closes, he’s going to be right there. I’m really looking forward to running him.”

With five wins in 33 starts this meet, McCutchen also hopes to add to that tally with Slanderous in the 1:00 p.m. ET opener. Making her sixth start, the freshman filly, who was also purchased at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, will move back to the dirt for the six-furlong maiden claimer.

“I’ve got Slanderous in the first race, a filly I’ve had a lot of high hopes for and it’s just taken her a little while to put things together,” McCutchen said. “She had a really bad break the other day, broke in, but she came out of the race so good that I said ‘It’s the end of the meet, let’s put her back in.’ She’s doing good, looks good, and I love the post position.”

At 7-2 in the morning line, the bettors will likely see Slanderous coming, but longshots Bottoms Up and Sackett could be moving forward at the right time to surprise what look to be very competitive 2-year-old stake races.