Glacius doubled his career tally when winning the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby on Saturday for trainer Hugo Palmer and owner Ibrahim Araci.
The Too Darn Hot colt beat Del Maro on debut before finishing fourth in the Listed Ascendant Stakes, won by Bow Echo, as a juvenile but that debut success at Newmarket remained his only victory until this weekend.
Third in three subsequent starts, Glacius was having his first start outside England and caused something of an upset under jockey Luis Saez, returning at 9/1.
Racing keenly from an outside draw, Glacius pulled his way to the front and remained there despite a contested lead. Racing on the inside track, Glacius opened up a clear advantage on the far side and had the field well strung out behind before the pack began to bunch up behind the leader.
The challengers eventually broke from the pack with West End King and Title Role trying to run down the leader but the bird had flown.
What a performance! 🤩
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 8, 2026
Glacius takes them all the way in the Grade One Saratoga Derby! 🇺🇸@hpalmerracing pic.twitter.com/85WXbCIEXo
“We looked at the race and we didn't think there was much pace,” Palmer told www.thoroughbreddailynews.com.
“The one thing we really knew he would do today is stay. I knew going into it, when I booked Luis Saez, that he's one of the best riders in North America, but certainly one of the best front-running riders in America; he's very hard to pass.
"He certainly had to light up the horse a little bit the first 150 metres maybe to get that position, but we thought we got into a really nice rhythm.”
Palmer revealed Glacius hadn't given him an easy time this season, adding: “He's been a frustrating horse.
"We always hoped he would be an Epsom Derby horse at home in England–he just never came. He had a winter coat right up until the middle of May. As a trainer, all you can do is sit on your hands. It's the most frustrating thing. It's the only job in the world where when something's wrong, you do less, not more. He eventually came to himself and started at Royal Ascot and has run very well twice in England, so this looked a great opportunity for him.”
Success in the Saratoga Derby has tempted Palmer to try his luck again in North America with races at the more European-style course at Kentucky Downs under consideration.
“I don't know [what's next],” Palmer said. “We're definitely going to take him home, but I suspect his next race might be in the States.
"We've nominated him for the Nashville Derby [September 5 at Kentucky Downs], which is worth a lot of money. We may well go there. The Bahrain International at the end of the year.
"Sadly, I don't think he'll run in England for the rest of the year.”
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