My Mane Squeeze. (Adam Coglianese)
By Mary Eddy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – William “Buck” Butler and WinStar Farm’s dual graded stakes-winner My Mane Squeeze proved much the best when wiring Wednesday’s $150,000 Johnstone, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Mike Maker, the 4-year-old Butler homebred daughter of Audible rebounded from a last-out off-the-board finish in the Grade 2 Chicago on June 21 at Churchill Downs and made her first start outside of graded company since a trio of state-bred stakes wins as a juvenile and sophomore at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Maker said he was content to leave tactics in the capable hands of the filly’s regular rider Luis Saez after the scratches of potential pacesetters Landed and Bernietakescharge.
“The pace in the race scratched and she’s laid fairly close in some of her other races, but I just left it up to Luis to see how it played out when they broke,” Maker said. “I thought it was a good performance and resembled our old ‘Mane Squeeze.’
“She’s been keeping pretty tough company,” he added. “She didn’t embarrass herself last time. She didn’t handle the heat very well, so I was hoping for a little bit of rain.”
My Mane Squeeze was away best from post 3 in the field of six and marked an opening quarter-mile in 23.42 seconds over the fast footing with Tricky Temper and Dolomite in a battle for second.
Dolomite faded rounding the turn as My Mane Squeeze pulled away from the chasing Tricky Temper through the half-mile in 46.12. The multiple graded stakes-placed millionaire Sterling Silver commenced her rally from mid-pack and moved into third position at the head of the lane, but My Mane Squeeze had already kicked clear to a four-length lead through three-quarters in 1:09.96 and was never in doubt down the stretch as she crossed the wire 6 1/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:22.66.
Tricky Temper held second by 3 1/2 lengths over Sterling Silver with Caldwell Luvs Gold, Cupid’s Heart and Dolomite completing the order of finish. Majestic Return, Cara’s Time, Landed, Bernietakescharge and Maggy’s Palace were scratched.
Dolomite was pulled up in the gallop out and was provided a ride back in the equine ambulance after she was reported to have bled.
Saez, aboard for both of My Mane Squeeze’s graded wins, said he let the break dictate what kind of trip he would carve out.
“You know when I saw the program, they scratched the speed…but we also have a lot of pace so we just tried to break from there,” Saez said. “If we break on the lead, we take it, and if not, we will follow somebody, but she broke from there so well. She controlled the pace, and really, we weren’t worried about how she was on the lead.”
Maker said it is possible My Mane Squeeze could wheel back for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina on August 23 here, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Del Mar.
“Let’s get through this one, but it’s possible,” Maker said. “I’ll talk to the connections and go from there.”
My Mane Squeeze, the reigning NYTB Horse of the Year, scored her two graded wins at Churchill last year in the Grade 2 Eight Belles and Grade 3 Dogwood. Her stellar 9-4-2-1 campaign also included a Grade 1 placing when third in the Test presented by Ticketmaster here. She would go on to earn another top-level placing with a game third in this year’s Madison at Keeneland to begin her 4-year-old season in April.
The talented dark bay banked $82,500 in victory while improving her overall record to 17-7-2-5 and returning $4.30 on a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the $150,000 John Morrissey in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
