To a Flame wins Wild Applause, NYRA Photo
Mary Eddy
Bregman Family Racing’s To a Flame was a 1 1/4-length winner of the restricted Listed $150,000 Wild Applause for trainer Rusty Arnold on Opening Day Friday at Saratoga Race Course.
The daughter of Justify earned her third career win in the Wild Applause, a one-mile inner turf test restricted to sophomore fillies who have not won a stakes. She improved from two off-the-board finishes in graded company this spring in Kentucky and adds to a campaign that includes an optional claiming victory at this distance in March at Gulfstream Park.
“She had trained really good into this,” Arnold said. “She’s a filly we’ve been extremely high on and she kind of got off track in the spring. She left Florida doing great and then things didn’t go good. She took a step backwards and Alex Bregman called and said, ‘give her time and get her ready.’ We took two months and got her ready. Hopefully, it will pay off for the summer and the fall.”
To a Flame emerged from post 6-of-10 under Jose Ortiz and stalked in a shared third with I Love Giraffes behind the pace set by Candy Moonshine, who marked splits of 23.85 seconds, 48.19 and 1:11.97 over the firm turf with Pillar of Beauty just behind in second.
The Wild Applause result was affected by an incident in the far turn that saw the advancing I Love Giraffes appear to clip heels and fall, causing the outside trio of Smexy, Lovely Grey and Paris Carver to also go down. With the contenders on inside paths largely unaffected, To a Flame kicked on in the final sixteenth to overtake Candy Moonshine and Pillar of Beauty to win in a final time of 1:35.29.
Tyler Gaffalione, Dylan Davis and Paco Lopez, the respective riders of Smexy, Lovely Grey and I Love Giraffes, each walked off the course under their own power. Gaffalione and Lopez were cleared to ride, with the latter winning the Listed Schuylerville aboard Harper’s Corner in the following race. Davis also walked out of onsite first aid under his own power, but took off his remaining mounts for precautionary reasons.
Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, aboard Paris Carver, has been transported to Saratoga Hospital for further evaluation and x-rays. He is awake and alert with movement in all extremities.
Each of the horses were collared by the outriders, with Smexy, Paris Carver and I Love Giraffes walking off the course. Lovely Grey, who was provided a ride back to the barn area in the equine ambulance, was reported to be in good order according to a post on X from owner Dave Portnoy of Go Go Greys Stable.
Pillar of Beauty finished second, followed by Code, Candy Moonshine, Scratch It and Alone Time. A stewards’ inquiry into the incident resulted in no change to the order of finish.
Arnold expressed his pride in his filly, while also acknowledging the affected horses.
“She looked like she was pretty loaded the whole way,” Arnold said. “We felt like Jose had a lot of horse. I hate that the race was marred and hope that everyone is alright.”
The trainer added that the nine-furlong Grade 1, $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on October 10 at Keeneland is the main target for the improving filly.
“We won’t run her back really quick because we gave her the proper time for this one,” Arnold said. “We’ll let her tell us. The main objective for me will be the Queen Elizabeth. We feel she’s that type of horse.”
To a Flame was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt and was a $375,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She returned $7.50 on a $2 win ticket as the 5-2 post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga for an 11-race Independence Day program that features a pair of Grade 1s in the Belmont Oaks in Race 7 and the Belmont Derby in Race 9, along with the Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life in Race 8 and the Grade 3 Sanford in Race 5. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.
Saratoga Live presents daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
