Saginaw, the remarkable former claimer who excelled in New York stakes company and won 14 of his 18 starts for Drawing Away Stable and David Jacobson, was euthanized Aug. 30 after fracturing both sesamoids in his left front leg during a seven-furlong starter event at Saratoga Race Course.
The 7-year-old gelded son of Peruvian was pulled up by jockey Junior Alvarado after taking a bad step in the race, in which he shared highweight of 130 pounds with Caixa Eletronica. The three other entrants carried 116. Saginaw was vanned off but was euthanized at Jacobson's barn.
Winner of 21 total races from 41 starts, with six seconds, three thirds, and earnings of $974,690, Saginaw took the Aug. 1 John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga as part of a five-race win streak that included the Affirmed Success Handicap at Belmont Park and the Compelling Word Stakes and Hollie Hughes Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. It was his second start in the Morrissey, which he also counted among his stakes scores in 2012.
Other stakes won by Saginaw included the Gravesend Handicap, Fourstars Allstar Stakes, Promenade All Stakes, the 2012 Affirmed Success, and the Carr Heaven Stakes.
Bred by Ted Taylor in New York out of the Devil's Bag mare Devilzene, Saginaw was born and raised at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. He first raced for his breeder and trainer Chad Brown through 16 starts from 2009-11 before he was claimed by Robert Falcone and trainer Dominick Schettino for $25,000. He ran six times for those connections, then was claimed for $35,000 by Sullivan Lane Stable and trainer Rick Dutrow.
In the gelding's next start on March 8, 2012, Drawing Away Stable and Jacobson made the claim for $30,000. Saginaw won and never raced for a tag again.
He was beloved by many fans, especially those who watched him compete on the New York circuit, and he always delivered his determined run–even when all odds seemed stacked against him.
In 2012 Saginaw tied with Finger Lakes-based Clean Jean as the winningest horse in the U.S. that year with 10 victories. He eclipsed Clean Jean by earnings, however, taking home $515,150, while the Finger Lakes runner brought in $125,136.
Saginaw was recognized by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association as claimer of the year for 2012.