Annals of Time storms home to take Sword Dancer (G1)

Temple City’s venerable 6-year-old Annals of Time uncorked a huge rally to take the $850,000 Sword Dancer S. (G1) at Saratoga, earning his second career Grade 1 win and an automatic berth in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event.

Annals of Time, who won the 2016 Hollywood Derby (G1), joins Bolo (Shoemaker Mile G1) as Temple City’s second Grade 1 winner of the year.

Ridden patiently by Javier Castellano, Annals of Time was well off the pace for the first nine furlongs of the 1 ½-mile marathon. Though the pace was moderate, Annals of Time began to make up ground on the final bend. Forced to go extremely wide to avoid traffic, he swooped past a half-dozen horses in a furlong and outran Sadler’s Joy to win by a neck.

“He’s a good horse. I don’t know if I’ve seen a horse that, no matter if the pace is slow or fast, he always finishes really well,” Castellano said. “I’m very proud of him. Some horses have to have pace in the race, but this horse doesn’t need one.”

Bred in Kentucky by Monticule, Annals of Time was the last foal born to Lemon Haze, who also produced stakes winner Sharp Sally. He was purchased for $80,000 in 2014 by Nick de Meric, agent from the 2014 October Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky fall yearling sale. His record now stands at 5-2-1 from eight starts, with $860,300 in earnings for Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence.