Carl Spackler (IRE)

Carl Spackler did not race as a 2-year-old, making his career debut for trainer Chad Brown and owner e Five Racing Thoroughbreds Jan. 21, 2023, on the grass at Gulfstream Park and running second by a head after leading in the stretch. The 3-year-old that beat him that day, Far Bridge, would go on to win a Grade 1 race later in the year and stakes success would also come to Carl Spackler.

Following an 8 ¼-length romp in a February maiden race going a mile on the grass, the Lope de Vega colt was unplaced as the favorite in the $500,000 American Turf Stakes presented by BMW on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Carl Spackler showed significant improvement in his second stakes start as he rallied from seventh early to win the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths Aug. 11 at Saratoga Race Course.

Three weeks later, Brown brought Carl Spackler back for another start at Saratoga, and he won the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes, his second graded stakes of the meet, in workmanlike fashion by 3 ½ lengths.

Carl Spackler continued his winning ways during his 4-year-old season in 2024. He began his campaign with a win in the $304,000 Opening Verse Stakes going one mile on the grass at Churchill Downs on May 2. He then won again on July 13 in the Grade 3 $175,000 Kelso Stakes going one mile on the turf at Saratoga.

Carl Spackler kept his winning ways going back on the big stage at Saratoga when he won the Grade 1 $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap going one mile on the turf on Aug. 11. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice on the tote board in a field of six in the Fourstardave, Carl Spackler stalked the pace close-up and powered to the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory. The Fourstardave was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series qualifying race, and with his win, Carl Spackler earned an expense paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. 

Carl Spackler prepped for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes Oct. 5 at Keeneland. He seized command early and dictated the pace, opened a commanding lead in the stretch, and held on gamely late to fend off a rally from More Than Looks to prevail in 1:34.23.

In the FanDuel BC Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar, Carl Spackler saw his three-race winning streak come to an end as he finished sixth of 10 behind More Than Looks. He entered the stretch at sitting in third and in good position to advance, but his customary closing kick was absent. Still, he finished only 2 ¾ lengths out of first to close out a very successful campaign.

Carl Spackler made his 5-year-old debut in the $650,000, Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes April 11 at Keeneland. His versatile running style came into play as he ceded the early lead to Northern Invader and sat in midpack through the backstretch before moving up under Flavien Prat in the turn. Carl Spackler took over at will coming into the homestretch and powered clear to an impressive 4 ¼-length win in the Maker’s Mark Mile. He improved to 2-for-2 on Keeneland’s turf course following his win the previous fall in the Coolmore Turf Mile.

Grade 2 winner Zindaya, by More Than Ready, is the dam (mother) of Carl Spackler, who is named after the groundskeeper played by Bill Murray in the 1980s comedy Caddyshack who spends much of the movie trying to kill a gopher.