Saratoga, Race 2 – Thursday, August 30, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
SAR2:083023 – Six furlongs on the dirt. Eight fillies, representing seven betting interests, will give it a go in this unrestricted, two-year-old Maiden Special Weight event. Six have raced previously – one twice and five just once – only the entry has yet to compete. Some strong trainers will be represented – TAP has two entered and Moquett, Cox, Mark Casse and Bill Mott will each saddle one. Classic Empire, Medaglia d’Oro, More Than Ready, Tapit and American Pharoah each have one in here. Add to that list, the fine debut sire from Spendthrift Farm – the mighty Mitole. This promises to be an exciting race – off we go…
#1 – Justice Julia (2/1) – This filly is by Medaglia d’Oro and trained by TAP. Her dam was outstanding on the track – $874K in earnings, a record of 4 for 8, a win in a Grade 1 (at 2YO) and Grade 2, a career high Equibase Speed Fig of 113 and she also won her first outing here at Saratoga in August of her two-year-old year with an Equibase Speed Fig of 86. But, believe it or not, her best work has probably been done as a broodmare, as she’s the dam of both Malathaat and Julia Shining (both are half sisters to today’s runner). Justice Julia is a homebred and she’ll be making her first start today. Todd started working this gal back in late May here at Saratoga. She’s put in five drills over at Oklahoma and six more on the main strip. She’s been working well and has fired off two bullets – 6/12/23 she went three panels on the training track in 48.49 seconds (1/9) and then on 6/28/23, again she travelled 3/8th, this time in 48.45 seconds (1/13). Flavien is set to be her pilot for the day.
#1A – Emery (2/1) – The second half of the entry is conditioned by Brad Cox and sired by More Than Ready. Her dam is also an accomplished race mare having banked $459K, while notching seven wins from 27 starts. This filly was a $235K weanling pickup at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale. She’s never been out in the afternoon before, but she has been prepping for her debut down in Kentucky with her first three drills coming at Keeneland and then her next set of seven under the Twin Spires (her most recent two covered five poles). Back on 5/28/23 at KEE, she worked three furlongs in 36.4 seconds to earn a bullet (1/36) and then, in her last morning outing at CD, she buzzed 5/8th of a mile in 1:00.4, good for another bullet (1/25). Tyler has the ridding assignment, but I believe he’s taking a day off after a traumatic Saturday.
#3 – Bento (6/1) – Mark Casse will tighten the girth on this daughter of Tapit and she’s out of a Forestry mare who has thrown five runners that have earned $100K or more. Today’s filly went through the auction ring last October at Fasig-Tipton in KY and she hammered down for $600K as a yearling (8/39). She’s been out one time before today – on 8/6/23 here at SAR she chased in second, but ran out of juice in the lane to check in fourth place, 16+ lengths behind the winner. Since then, Casse has given her one work and it was a bullet move of 36.00 seconds flat for 3f over the main strip (1/29). Jose has been tapped to manage the reins for the first time on this gal.
#4 – Before You Go Go (5/2) – First-Crop Sire Mitole is the proud pops to this good looking filly and she’s conditioned by TAP. Mama was unraced, but this gal sold nicely as a two-year-old earlier this year – the bidding stopped at $310K, fourth highest of the 54 2YOs that Mitole put through the ring this year. She also has one run under her belt, also here at SAR, when she got within a length of the lead after a half mile in the six panel event and ultimately settled for third (out of nine), beaten by 4 ¼ lengths. She’s had one maintenance work since her last – 4f in 49.95 seconds (71/105) over the main oval. Todd goes back to Irad to again guide this young filly.
#7 – Waskesiu (6/1) – I admit, I cannot pronounce this filly’s name, but I can tell you that she’s by Triple Crown hero, American Pharoah, out of a Bernardini mare that won first out at Delaware Park in August of her 2YO campaign, but then could not find the Winner’s Circle in nine more efforts, ending with a bankroll of $43,000. Today’s runner is a homebred that has a half sibling that won $171K, by going 1 for 14. She’s also been out for one afternoon competitive event and that, too, was here at The Spa back at the end of July. On that day, she stalked a length or two back in third, but finished beaten by six lengths, in fourth place. Bill Mott has drilled her twice since her race, once at 4f and once at 5f. Junior Alvarado will again climb aboard this filly.
Pick – #1 Justice Julia / #1A Emery – Although these two are the Morning Line favs and are likely to go off heavily favored, I can’t pick against either one of them. The family of the #1 horse is obviously off the charts impressive and the #1A horse ain’t no dud, especially seeing those two bullets that she fired in the morning. As mentioned in my ‘Sum Up and Learnings’ article on Monday, you gotta go with the best horse and this clearly is the best horse(s). Best of luck to the owner of the #1A in the Game of Silks – Alpha Dragon Lair (#1 is still available in the pool at the Game of Silks).
Good luck in this one, all of my Edgie Heroes. Lots going on, but we will work hard to keep you updated with all of the best insight and info. Take care – and thank you. Stay safe and well.
