Saratoga, Race 6 – Saturday, August 26, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
SAR6:082623 – Six Furlongs on the dirt. 13 fillies have been dropped into the entry box for this competitive affair, but the track only will fit ten, so three will have to wait on the Also Eligible list. Only three of these gals in the main field have ever competed in an actual race and that was just one time each. Three first-level trainers (geez, threes must be wild in this race) have two horses entered in this event – Pletcher, Chad, and Bill Mott. Add to that, one runner from Tony Dutrow. Top sires also abound in this one – they include: two from Munnings and one each by Runhappy, WinStar Farm’s Constitution, Spendthrift’s Into Mischief, Practical Joke, More Than Ready, and Justify. Spendthrift’s terrific debut sire – Mitole – also has one set to go in here. We know that it’s Travers Day, but this event is the 2YO EdgeMan’s feature race of the day! So, let’s go make this happen…
#2 – Colonial Rose (7/2) – The lukewarm Morning Line favorite is by Constitution and is out of a Scat Daddy mare who could not find her way to the Winner’s Circle in four attempts. Today’s filly – trained by Al Stall, Jr. – sold at the Keeneland September Yearling sale for $210K last fall (39/105). She is one of the three that does have a start under her – that was a second place finish to the impressive Sam’s Treasure here at SAR back on 7/23/23. She’s been out for three morning works since her race and her last was her best – 48.45 seconds for four panels over the main track (20/141). Julien Leparoux gets the return call to be on the back of this filly.
#3 – Antenna (6/1) – Conditioner TAP ships this filly up from Monmouth where she made her debut performance a solid one on 7/29/23. After a terrible start, she got rolling on the turn, went wide spinning into the stretch and actually made the lead for a bit inside the final furlong before getting clipped on the wire by a short nose from a fast-closing competitor. She is one of the two sired by Munnings in this field and her mom won $163K as a race mare with a record of 1 for 18 – this is her first foal. The star-studded ownership group of – Repole, Thoroughbred Eclipse Partners and Gary Barber – went to $300K for her as a yearling last fall at the KEE September Sale (12/91). She’s drilled twice since her race – both a half a mile down at MTH. Of course, Todd has Irad set to be her new pilot.
#4 – Shop Lifting (6/1) – Into Mischief puts forward yet another fabulously bred filly to give it a go in her first race today. She’s out of an excellent dam by Deputy Minister who is now 23 years old. She earned over $1 million on the track, winning a third of her 27 starts, including a Grade 1, a win at first asking while a 2YO at Delaware Park and then an allowance win at AQU in November at age two (83 Equibase Speed Fig). Add to all that the fact that she is a half to the fine performer and sire – Trappe Shot. She’s also produced a winner of $292K (3 for 10) that won in her second race while a 2YO at Saratoga in August, posting an excellent 88 EBSF. Today’s competitor hammered down for $475K at KEE Sept Yearling Sale last fall (34/77). Tony Dutrow has packed seven works into her here at Saratoga and her last two were bullets. On 8/16/23, she zipped four panels in 47 seconds flat (1/34) and then on 8/23/23, she covered three poles in 36 seconds flat (1/11). Tony will give Jose a leg up when they holler ‘riders up’.
#5 – Lady De Berry (12/1) – The first of two from Chad Brown, this filly is a daughter of Practical Joke, out of a Thunder Gulch mare. When the dust settled after the bidding ended back in March at OBS, this gal had sold for $270K as a 2YO (2/37). Her 24 YO mom won once from three starts, but it was an Ellis Park Maiden Claimer, so she only had lifetime earnings of $6,000 – however, she did throw five offspring that won at least $100K. She’ll be battling it out in her first race today and in prep for that she has been around the track in the morning at Saratoga ten times – the first five at Oklahoma and the most recent five on the main strip (her last three covered 5/8th of a mile). Flavien will manage the reins.
#6 – Cowgirl Charm (5/1) – Todd’s second entrant in this event is another FTS by way of Lookin at Lucky and an unraced Lion Heart mare. Owner Cheyenne Stables went to $160K to buy this filly when she went through the ring at Keeneland last September as a yearling – $60,000 more than the second most expensive yearling by her sire last year (1/27). She’s worked seven times on the main track here at Saratoga over the past 60 days and her two most impressive were – on 7/18/23, she fired a bullet going three panels in 36.22 seconds (1/25) and then went an additional furlong in 48.22 seconds from the gate on 8/12/23 (9/106). Johnny V. will be in the irons for TAP.
#8 – Here’syourtrouble (10/1) – This filly represents Brad’s second entrant and also Munning’s second runner in this affair. She was put up for auction earlier this year at the OBS Spring 2YO Sale and she demanded $270K (8/38). Her mama – by First Defense – won $133K on the track, by going 4 for 19. She also tossed a gelding who banked north of $300K, while sporting a 13 for 34 record, including a stakes score. You know Brad has her ready for her initial performance today by injecting nine Saratoga works in her – the first two on the Oklahoma dirt and the last seven on the main oval. Tyler is set to be in the saddle.
#9 – Just F Y I (9/2) – Obviously a clever takeoff from her stallion’s name (Justify), this filly will also be making her first foray into the game of racing. Her dam won $147K in purse money, with two wins from 18 tries. She is also responsible for a colt who cashed in for winnings of over $100K. Today’s homebred will be making her first start today for HOF trainer, Bill Mott. She started her workout regime at Belmont Park back in May when she flashed immediate promise by putting up a bullet move of 36 seconds flat on their training course (1/18). She then vanned northwest to Saratoga for ten more drills. Her most recent, on 8/21/23, was another bullet – four poles over this training track in 48.48 seconds (1/12). Junior Alvarado gets tapped to be the jock.
#10 – Life’s Joy (10/1) – The exciting Mitole is the sire of this filly who will line up next to her stablemate to give Bill Mott the two outside post positions. Her Cat Thief dam won as a First-Time Starter right here at Saratoga in August of her two-year-old campaign and went on to win once more from five additional lifetime tries, ultimately earning $59,000. She’s also produced four foals that went on to win $100K+ in their racing careers. In the auction ring, this filly sold very well – she brought $300K as a September Yearling at Keeneland (6/116). She’s run one time previous to today – back on 7/23/23 here at Saratoga (in the same race as #2 Colonial Rose) – she broke sharply and grabbed the lead down the back stretch in the six furlong event. However, she was headed by the eventual winner early on the turn, but that was after she had put up a nifty 22.13 second opening quarter. She tired in the lane to finish a well beaten fourth place at odds of 24/1. Mott then put her back to work in the morning with two half mile breezes, neither too rapid. Luis Saez had been named to ride, but will not be able to do so with the injuries he sustained here on Wednesday.
Pick – #3 Antenna – I just can’t get past how visually impressive this filly’s last race was after a horrific break. Gotta think that TAP brought her to The Spa to get a first level win and pick up a significant check. Although this is far from a pushover field, I think she’s gonna put up a ‘W’ today. I’ll sure be rooting for her, as will her lucky Game of Silks owner – mikelira.
The NY Breds steal the show on Sunday at Saratoga with a pair of $200K stakes events for the babies, along with a juvy MSW affair. So, let’s enjoy this one – it should be a great battle. I can’t believe that we are staring at the fast approaching, end of the meet on Labor Day – I’m just not going to think about it – it’s too depressing. Instead, be happy and well. I appreciate you all, my Edgies Revolutionaries.
