Sweetlou’sgotaces breaks her maiden in the Tepin back in November of 2022 (Susie Raisher)
Plans Uncertain for Streaking 7YO Daddy Knows
NYRA Press Office
ELMONT, N.Y.— Stakes-winner Sweetlou’sgotaces will look to take another shot at graded black type this summer for trainer Ray Handal in the Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George, a one-mile turf test for sophomores fillies on July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.
Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Twin Sports Racing, the daughter of Constitution was a determined winner of a one-mile first-level allowance facing older company on June 11 at Belmont Park. There, she added blinkers for the first time and pounced from 3 1/4 lengths off the pace under Dylan Davis to collar pace-presser Cadencia in the final strides and land the neck victory in a final time of 1:34.32.
The effort garnered an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, equaling her career-high she earned for a nose defeat in her third lifetime outing.
“She came back good and jogged yesterday,” said Handal. “Her numbers have jumped back up to how she was running last year. Running out of her own stall is huge because she’s a horse that mentally can really wear herself out. I think it’s a huge advantage to be able to ship up to Saratoga and get her acclimated and school her.”
Sweetlou’sgotaces graduated in style in the one-mile Tepin in November at Aqueduct Racetrack. She followed with off-the-board efforts in a pair of graded events at Gulfstream Park to start her sophomore campaign before returning north in April to post a runner-up finish in a first-level optional claimer at the Big A.
“She showed us a lot of promise early on and I don’t think she really enjoyed her winter in Florida, but she’s really enjoying herself now in New York,” Handal said.
Sweetlou’sgotaces provided Handal with his first of two wins in the June 11 card at Belmont. He enjoyed a sharp state-bred optional claiming victory three races later with Daddy Knows, who he co-owns with Adelphi Racing Club, Cutair Racing and Dark Horse Racing Stable. The 7-year-old New York-bred son of Scat Daddy scored a head victory to notch his second consecutive win on the heels of a similar effort one month earlier.
“I’m not sure what we’re going to do with him,” Handal said. “I don’t think Saratoga is a good track for him with the [tighter] turns, so we might wheel him back in two weeks here. It’s up for debate. He owes us nothing and I wish all of them were like him.”
