Quietside romps in her debut Aug. 4 at Saratoga (NYRA/Coglianese)
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Keeneland Barn Notes
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Shortleaf Stable’s homebred Quietside, runner-up in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga in her most recent start, is one of eight 2-year-old fillies entered for Friday’s 73rd running of the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) at 1 1/16th miles. She will face undefeated Spinaway winner Immersive and third-place finisher Sherbini.
“What we saw in the Spinaway was that she can go a distance,” trainer John Ortiz said. “She put in an effort for the whole race. With the added distance (from 7 furlongs), I want to see her come home with a big kick.”
The Darley Alcibiades is a “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Ortiz said he recognized Quietside’s talent when she first arrived at his barn.
“We could tell she was special,” he said. “She just looked the part. We watched her train, and she had the right attitude. Sure enough when she started breezing, you could see all of her ability starting to shine through. I told (Shortleaf owner) Mr. John Ed Anthony ‘this one might have it’ and she has proven me right.”
Ortiz routinely rides the horses in his care and said he also sensed Quietside’s talent from the saddle.
“I’ve been on her several times, and she is a little powerhouse,” he said. “I have been on a lot of nice horses through my career, and she definitely fits all the criteria.”
Shortleaf is the downsized version Anthony’s Loblolly Stable, which produced a steady stream of superior horses, including 1993 Blue Grass (G2) and Preakness (G1) winner Prairie Bayou, who earned an Eclipse Award that season. Other standouts include champion and 1980 Belmont (G1) winner Temperence Hill and 1992 Preakness winner Pine Bluff.
On Saturday, Ortiz will send out WSS Racing’s Grade 1 winner Brightwork in Keeneland’s $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2). Fifth in last year’s Darley Alcibiades, she is coming off a win in the Aug. 31 Prioress (G3) at Saratoga in her 2024 debut.
