Seize The Grey Gives Many, Many Owners A Thrill With Pat Day Mile Win On Derby Day

Seize The Grey and rider Jaime Torres had to contend with a blistering early place in the race, as they fought for the early lead with Vlahos, Otto The Conqueror, and Beeline, who stretched across the track on the backstretch with Seize The Grey in the three path. Seize The Grey settled briefly just off rivals as they went in fractions of :22.12 and :44.59. The breather put him behind Vlahos, Otto The Conqueror, and Nash going into the final turn, and Torres had to find running room between horses in order to run down Vlahos in late stretch. 

The final time for the mile was 1:35.96. Nash was second, followed by Vlahos.

The race was the first graded stakes victory for Torres, and the 635th for Lukas.

Seize The Grey paid $20.84, $7.94, and $5.16.

"I loved the way he ran today and I think he may be a miler anyhow," Lukas told NBC cameras after the race. He also told NBC cameras he guessed there were as many as 600 people from My Racehorse on hand for the race. 

"I enjoy it but I love seeing the clientele get the experience," he said. "You can't imagine how these people who have just a little bit of this horse are going to react out there.”

Seize The Grey is out of Smart Strike mare Smart Shopping and was bred in Kentucky by Jamm Ltd. He was a $300,000 yearling at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Mill Ridge.

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PAT DAY MILE QUOTES

Jaime Torres (jockey, Seize the Grey, winner) – “I could tell I was loaded around the three-eighths pole. He went back into the bridle really strong and never gave in. What an amazing atmosphere and race to win.”

D. Wayne Lukas (trainer, Seize the Grey, winner) – “I can’t remember the last time I was in the winner’s circle with Pat Day. This horse is a very special horse who is owned by so many happy people. He ran the race of his life this afternoon and it’s such a great way to kick off our Derby Day.”

Florent Geroux (jockey, Nash, second) – “After a half of a mile, I thought I was in a good spot but I hoped he would have finished stronger for me. When I asked him run, it took him a little while to get the engine going. I was able to save second but he had to fight very hard to get it.”

Edwin Maldonado (jockey, Vlahos, third) – “He gave me a helluva run. I thought I was going to be able to make the rail, but they pushed me outside. He gave everything he had. At the eighth pole he changed leads on me. He was out of gas but he still kept trying. Heck of a race for a horse going a mile for the first time.