The Wine Steward, off since last year’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, wins Saturday’s Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park. Coady Photography/Renee Torbit
The Wine Steward returned from a more than seven-month layoff and topped open company for the second time in Saturday’s $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The 4-year-old son of Vino Rosso, off since last year’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, tracked Patriot Spirit early before putting that rival away in the lane on the way to a narrow victory under Juan Hernandez.
Owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher, The Wine Steward prepped for his return with trainer Mike Maker’s string at Gulfstream Park. He shipped to South Florida from Churchill Downs in early December and put in six 5-furlong works over the main track in Hallandale Beach, including a bullet 1:00.31 December 31 and a :59.64 tightener January 6.
Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of nine behind 6-5 favorite Liberal Arts, The Wine Steward and Hernandez set up shop just off Patriot Spirit heading into the first turn and to the opening quarter-mile in :23.86. They stayed a length back up the backstretch and to the half in :48.08 before ramping up the pressure around the far turn, inching within a head through 6 furlongs in 1:12.77.
The Wine Steward and Patriot Spirit continued their battle into the short stretch before the former edged clear at the finish. The Wine Steward won the 1-mile Fifth Season in 1:38.98 over the fast track. Liberal Arts recovered from his poor start to finish 2 3/4 lengths back in third.
The Wine Steward improved to 4-for-8 with three seconds and picked up $81,000 to boost his bankroll to $548,260. He started his career with three straight victories, including the Bashford Manor against open company at Ellis Park and the Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. A close second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Race Course solidified his credentials for champion New York-bred 2-year-old male honors in 2023.
Patriot Spirit (inside) and The Wine Steward (second from left) cut the corner heading for home in the Fifth Season. Coady Photography/Riley Crow.
The Wine Steward finished second in back-to-back graded stakes to start his 3-year-old campaign last year – the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington at Keeneland and Grade 3 Peter Pan at Aqueduct – to earn a spot in the field for the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. He finished ninth in the Belmont before going to the sidelines.
Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson, The Wine Steward is the first foal out of the To Honor and Serve mare Call to Service.
The Wine Steward originally sold for $70,000 to Oldham Bloodstock at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. He later brought the third highest price for a New York-bred – $340,000 – at the 2023 OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training out of the Sequel Bloodstock consignment.
Call To Service is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Isotherm and stakes-placed winners Gio Game and Giant Game. Cotteau Grove Farms purchased Call to Service in foal to Authentic for $350,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. She produced Acknowledge, a Louisiana-bred by Authentic, about a month later. A $310,000 out of the 2024 OBS March sale, Acknowledge broke his maiden in his third start December 13 at Fair Grounds and finished fourth in an allowance race there January 19 for owner Repole Stable and trainer Joe Sharp.
Call to Service is also the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Curlin and a yearling colt by Justify, both bred by Coteau Grove Farms. Call to Service was bred to Uncle Mo in 2024.
