Bishops Bay Gets Four In A Row With Strong Salvatore Mile Win

Spendthrift Farm‘s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Bishops Bay dominated Saturday’s GIII Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park, justifying his 1-5 favoritism with an impressive five-length victory over a sloppy track.

The 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Brad Cox, secured his third consecutive win this season while extending his remarkable record of never finishing outside the exacta in ten career starts.

Bishops Bay completed the mile distance in 1:37.16 over sloppy conditions, building on his last-out victory in the GIII Westchester Stakes at Aqueduct on May 4, where he earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He’s such a professional horse,” said Prat after the race. “I think he’s getting better race after race. He is very nice to be around. I don’t think the track affected him. This is his running style. He likes to be on the lead.”

Breaking from the outside post in the scratched-down six-horse field, Bishops Bay settled into a two-wide stalking position behind pacesetter Nelson Avenue, who set an opening quarter in :22.81. The favorite drew alongside the leader around the half-mile pole, with the pair matching strides briefly before Bishops Bay asserted his dominance.

The field remained tightly bunched entering the final quarter-mile, but Bishops Bay pulled away with authority in the stretch, widening his advantage to the wire.

“He’s very athletic,” Prat added. “He was forwardly placed and very comfortable. He seems to be gaining confidence and he understands what he needs to do when he gets on the track. Some horses show improvement like he has as a 5-year-old. He hasn’t really run much before this so he has had room to improve.”

The victory is particularly notable given that Bishops Bay missed nearly his entire 4-year-old season before returning to top form this year.

Pedigree Highlights

Bishops Bay represents one of 112 stakes winners for the influential sire Uncle Mo. His dam, stakes winner and Grade I-placed Catch My Drift, was purchased by WinStar Farm for $400,000 at Fasig-Tipton November in 2015.

The investment has proven fruitful, as Catch My Drift has also produced GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) and multiple stakes-placed Strava (Into Mischief), both of whom sold at Keeneland for six figures.

Her unnamed 2-year-old filly by Not This Time sold to Repole Stables for $525,000 at Keeneland September last year and is currently working at Saratoga. After missing in 2024, Catch My Drift delivered a full-sister to Bishops Bay this season.

Nelson Avenue (Into Mischief) finished second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Surface to Air (Midshipman), who earned his first graded black type with a third-place finish.

Bishops Bay ($2.60) is campaigned by a partnership including Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael J. Caruso, and WinStar Farm.

#9 BISHOPS BAY ($2.60) and Flavien Prat romp in the $150,000 Salvator Mile (G3) at @MonmouthPark for trainer @bradcoxracing. Congratulations to all of the connections. @spendthriftfarm @MARTINSCHWARTZ4 @Tenstrikeracing @WinStarFarm @keenelandsales pic.twitter.com/C2pfy78t4h

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing)

#9 BISHOPS BAY ($2.60) and Flavien Prat romp in the $150,000 Salvator Mile (G3) at June 14, 2025