Lost in the Fog Shows Way in King's Bishop

Undefeated Lost in the Fog did it again while capturing his first grade I victory against an overmatched field in the $250,000 King's Bishop for 3-year-old sprinters at Saratoga Race Course.

It was the ninth straight victory – at eight different racetracks – for the Florida-bred son of Lost Soldier, who is trained by Northern California-based Greg Gilchrist for owner Harry J. Aleo.

"This is the first grade I I've ever won, and it's a great feeling," Gilchrist said. "People need to realize he shipped across the (country) six times now, not to count a 14-hour van ride to Phoenix and back. To keep putting on these kind of performances, it just takes a special horse to do that. I think he is recognized by the right people."

With regular rider Russell Baze repeatedly looking back to see if anyone was coming, Lost in the Fog rolled to victory by 4 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:22 2/5 for seven furlongs on a fast track.

"It's like being a roadie for a rock star. Everybody knows Lost in the Fog," said Baze, a Hall of Fame rider who traveled from his Northern California base to ride in only one race. "These kind of horses come along very seldomly. Its great being part of this team."

"It always seems like there is other speed in the race, but when they kick it, he's always in front," said Gilchrist. "I sure like seeing those orange silks there (on the lead) and when Russell (Baze) is looking between his legs when he's three in front – that's an even better feeling."

"There are very few horses that can go with this horse for the first half-mile," Baze said. "He runs the second quarter as fast, if not faster, than the first quarter and he can finish from there. He's an exceptional animal, and it is really going to take an exceptional animal to beat him."

Social Probation, ridden by Calvin Borel, emerged from the pack in mid-stretch to take second by three-quarters of a length, with Better Than Bonds and Richard Migliore taking third by a head over The Daddy.

In a sense, the race was all but decided when Bellamy Road's connections opted to run in the Travers (gr. I) rather than face Lost in the Fog in the King's Bishop. Most of the action took place coming away from the gate when the inside horse, Fusaichi Rock Star, broke sideways, careening into Social Probation, who in turn, bumped Lost in the Fog.

But the prohibitive 3-10 favorite in the seven-horse field quickly recovered to reach the lead while completing the opening quarter in :22. He continued to lead comfortably while getting the half in :44 3/5 and began to widen his lead on Fusaichi Rock Star on the turn for home. As The Daddy began to range up to take second, Lost in the Fog was three lengths clear when they hit the stretch. He went on to complete six furlongs in 1:09 under little pressure and cruised home under Baze's steady handling from there.

Borel claimed foul against the winner over the start but stewards quickly disallowed it.

"My horse had to make up a lot of ground," said Borel, who felt he was compromised by the bump at the start. "It was unbelievable, the ground we had to make up. If that didn't happen, I think we could have gotten to him. He only beat us by three lengths. He may still have beaten us, but it would have been a much better race."

Lost in the Fog, who was coming off a 7 1/4-length win in the Carry Back (gr. II) at Calder Race Course July 10, caused a bit of a stir at Saratoga this week because Gilchrist trained him in a bar shoe to protect a bruised foot. The injury was not a factor Saturday as he increased his career bankroll to $834,075.

Susan Seper bred Lost in the Fog, who was produced by the Dr. Carter mare Cloud Break and sold for $48,000 at Ocala in August 2003.

He paid $2.60, $2.30, and $2.10. Social Probation returned $4.50 and $2.50. Better than Bonds was $2.80 to show.

Storm Surge, Santana Strings, and Fusaichi Rock Star trailed the field.

(Chart, Equibase)