‘They Have The Same Heart’: Dr. Agne Provides Emotional Win For DeVaux Team originally appeared on Paulick Report.
It might be that racing has already seen the story of the meet at Saratoga Race Course, and it’s only the second day.
Dr. Agne, the first foal of champion Lady Eli to race in the United States, made his debut a winning one despite the less-than-ideal circumstances. The white-faced bay colt by Into Mischief is named for the late Rood and Riddle veterinarian Dr. Robert Agne, who was killed when struck by a car on his bicycle in Vermont in September 2015. He was 54.
If it weren’t for the human Dr. Agne, the horse Dr. Agne likely wouldn’t exist.
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On July 4, 2015, Lady Eli stepped on a nail on the way back to the barn after winning the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational and soon began to show signs of laminitis in both front feet. Veterinarian Dr. Agne was a crucial part of nursing the G1 winner back to health, as was then-assistant to Chad Brown, Cherie DeVaux, who now trains Dr. Agne, the horse.
“Just incredible that 10 years after his passing, someone still remembers,” Dr. Agne’s widow Carrie Agne told America’s Day at the Races while holding back tears after the race. “Seeing this, it’s like, what comes to my mind is they have the same heart. They just really try.”
Dr. Agnes, out of champion Lady Eli, wins his debut under Jose Ortiz for trainer Cherie DeVauxNYRA/Coglianese Photo
Dr. Agne, originally entered in a one-mile turf maiden special weight for 2-year-olds, was fourth out of the blocks under jockey Jose Ortiz. As the eight-horse field traveled down the backstretch, Dr. Agne didn’t seem to be relishing the surface change. The colt briefly climbed through the kickback and looked outpaced. On the front-end, pacesetters Jet Off and Orbit set fractions of 22.90 and 46.19 seconds.
Ortiz began to scrub on Dr. Agne heading into the turn, and soon enough, the colt kicked into high gear as he ran up the rail. At the half-mile pole, he was fifth and 10 lengths behind the leaders, but by the time they reached the stretch, he had made up 9 ½ lengths, according to the Equibase chart.
The son of Lady Eli, who also broke her maiden on debut at Saratoga in 2014, was guided outside of the leaders and continued his furious rally under left-handed urging from Ortiz. Dr. Agne easily moved past the tired pacesetter and held off a charge from post-time favorite Epic Desire to win by a length in 1:25.97 for the seven furlongs on a fast track.
Owned in partnership by Madaket Stables LLC, Twin Brook Stables, and Belladonna Racing LLC, Dr. Agne paid $9.70 to win.
“He wants the turf,” said DeVaux after the race. “Leaving him in was really just to get a race into him.
“It wasn’t surprising that he had a good showing. He overcame a lot, and just so pleased that Carrie was here and that we got to share this with her.”
DeVaux indicated that Dr. Agne’s next start will be on turf. A race like the G3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28 seems like a possible option.
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By Into Mischief and out of the 2017 Eclipse Champion Turf Female Lady Eli (Divine Park), Dr. Agne fetched $185,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Quarter Pole Enterprises as an offering from his breeder Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.
Dr. Agne is a half-brother to Hms Endeavour, twice a winner in Ireland. He has a yearling half-brother by Justify, and a half-sister by Uncle Mo foaled this spring.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.