Hope Road’s dam, Marley’s Freedom, won her first Grade 1 race in the 2018 Ballerina for trainer Baffert. (Joe Labozzetta)
By Lynne Snierson
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Like Mother, like daughter.
Cicero Farms’ Kentucky homebred Hope Road, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, captured her first top-level trophy with a statement win in Saturday’s 47th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina, a seven-furlong affair for fillies and mares 3-years-old and older at Saratoga Race Course.
The 4-year-old filly’s dam, Cicero Farms’ Marley’s Freedom, won her first Grade 1 race in the 2018 edition of this race for Baffert.
“The same connections, seven years later, we come back, and we win,” said an elated Cicero Farms owner Barbara Perry.
Baffert, who watched the race from his Del Mar base, said via phone, “I’m so happy for the owners – I won that race with her mother and they really appreciate those big wins like that. It’s pretty rare to do that. They’re passionate owners and horse crazy and I wish I could have been there with them to watch them cheer for their horse.
“There’s nothing better to me in racing than to win a Grade 1 at Saratoga – that is huge, especially on Travers Day,” Baffert added. “That is really huge in this business. I just wish I could have been there to enjoy it with them. I’m so proud of my crew there.”
With the victory, Hope Road, a daughter of Quality Road, was guaranteed a starting gate spot for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Del Mar through the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
Though reluctant to enter the gate before the start, once she loaded, Hope Road stood perfectly in the far outside post and then broke with intention under jockey Jose Ortiz as the 2-1 favorite in the field of seven. Hope Road was able to use her tactical speed as she rated patiently behind Scylla as the Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trainee set blistering splits of 22.31 and 44.56 for the first half-mile on the fast dirt under Flavien Prat, with Claret Beret racing behind her.
Then, Hope Road made her move in the far turn and while racing outside of Scylla, she revved up her engine as the mark of 1:08.58 was set for three-quarters. Hope Road reeled in Scylla by the eighth pole and kicked clear, fending off game attempts to re-rally by the pacesetter, to win by two lengths in the final time of 1:21.93
On Hope Road being difficult to load into the gate, the two-time Triple Crown-winning Baffert said, “She’s funny. Sometimes she won’t even load into the horse trailer. She can be very headstrong.”
Nevertheless, she was all racehorse when it counted. The multiple graded stakes-winning Hope Road had won her first four starts after being transferred to Baffert last year, but she hadn’t found the winner’s circle in her three prior starts this year.
“I’m so proud of that mare. She deserved a Grade 1. Jose rode her perfectly. He had her in a nice spot turning for home – I was hoping she was fit enough to go because training at Del Mar and training there is a little bit different, it’s more taxing at Saratoga – but she ran her race,” her trainer said.
Majestic Oops, making her first appearance in a Grade 1 event in her 31st start, was another four lengths behind in third. The remaining order of finish was Brightwork, Halina’s Forte, Claret Beret, and the New York-bred reigning Horse of the Year My Mane Squeeze was eased to the finish and walked off. Mystic Lake and Zeitlos were scratched.
Ortiz, aboard Hope Road for the first time in the afternoon, was also impressed with the big effort from his charge.
“She was travelling very nicely. At the three-eighths pole, I attacked them and I had horse. And Scylla, the horse kept coming. And Bill Mott is great. You can’t give him an inch. When I saw she broke like that, I knew she was on her ‘A’ game. Usually when a horse breaks like that, they’re coming to run. So, I went after her,” said Ortiz, who added he was a little bit surprised to see Scylla on the lead. “A little bit. But Flavien is a great rider, he played it by ear. I like to ride the same way sometimes.”
Prat, the reigning champion jockey who was riding Scylla for the first time in the afternoon, said, “I had a good trip. My filly ran a good race, the winner was just better than us today.”
Kendrick Carmouche, aboard third place finisher Majestic Oops, had high praise for the 5-year-old mare.
“I had a perfect trip. You know, we wanted this filly to break really sharp. She broke really sharp. She put me in a good spot going down the backside. I was in between horses. I thought she ran a brilliant race cutting back on the distance in a Grade 1. She done well. I think the two horses in front of her had the best pace in front of us, set the race up. It just never came back. I thought she ran a Grade 1 race today,” Carmouche said.
Perry, who admitted that she was nervous through the stretch run, is now looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup.
“We’ve had amazing luck with Mr. Baffert. He’s fantastic with the horses — he listens to them. He said, ‘You know, we’ve run her back too soon.’ The nice thing about this is this gives her a lot of time to get ready for Breeders’ Cup. And honestly, we’ll see how she is. I just want to enjoy the day,” she said.
The Kentucky-bred Hope Road returned $6.10 for a $2 win bet. With the $275,000 winner’s share of the purse, she upped her bankroll to $866,620 as she improved her record to 5-4-1 in 12 outings.
“I was in the first race here at Del Mar and got two favorites beat. That’s what I love about horse racing, you get a favorite beat and a minute later you win a Grade 1 – I like that.” said Baffert.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card featuring the $150,000 West Point presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
