NYRA announced Saturday that Patriot Spirit secured his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with a commanding victory in the GIII Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont at the Big A meeting.
The Constitution colt, owned by George A. Mellon, pulled away to win by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Javier Castellano, completing seven furlongs in a sharp 1:21.84.
Patriot Spirit pressed the pace through an opening quarter in :22.76 before taking command at the top of the stretch. The 4-year-old colt, sent off as the 5-2 second choice, delivered a professional performance to earn automatic entry to the championship race at Del Mar.
Crazy Mason (Coal Front) rallied for second, with favored Scotland (Good Magic) settling for third.
“I expected the effort,” winning trainer Michael Campbell said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m pompous or anything because it is difficult to win a horse race, there is nothing more difficult. On this occasion, in this spot, with this horse being that right, I didn’t think he could get beat.”
Campbell outlined future plans for his talented sprinter.
“He will be going to Keeneland for that meet and then, of course, we’ll go by Del Mar, then I don’t know what we’ll do. I don’t like to get too far ahead of myself,” he added.
The victory marks back-to-back stakes wins for Patriot Spirit, who captured the Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial on July 26. His 2024 campaign also includes a runner-up finish in Churchill Downs’ Knicks Go Overnight Stakes on May 3 after leading in the stretch of the one-turn mile contested over a sloppy track.
The bay colt’s previous accomplishments include victories in the 2024 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne (1 1/8 miles) and the 2023 Inaugural Stakes at Tampa (six furlongs), demonstrating his versatility across different distances.
Patriot Spirit becomes the 40th graded stakes winner for his sire Constitution. A $95,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase who later commanded $235,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sale, he is out of the Grade I-winning mare Mistical Plan (Game Plan), who captured the 2008 Princess Rooney Handicap.
His dam has also produced an unraced 2-year-old colt named Builder’s Remedy (Liam’s Map), a $285,000 OBS June acquisition by West Point Thoroughbreds.
The Vosburgh Stakes, presented by Army Mule, carried a purse of $200,000. With Saturday’s victory, Patriot Spirit improved his career record to 15-6-2-1 with earnings of $531,210.
Back-to-back stakes wins! PATRIOT SPIRIT wins the G3 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule with @jjcjockey up for trainer Michael Campbell, punching his ticket to the @BreedersCup Sprint! pic.twitter.com/6XhDASvsBh
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA)
Back-to-back stakes wins! PATRIOT SPIRIT wins the G3 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule with September 27, 2025
