Vergara winning the Tepin at Aqueduct Nov. 28, 2021. (Susie Raisher)
Saratoga Race Course Notes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gary Broad’s multiple graded stakes-placed Vergara has placed in three graded events by margins of one length or less, but will hope to turn things in her favor in the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, a 1 1/2-mile turf marathon for older fillies and mares on August 3, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of Noble Mission was last seen finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Eatontown on June 17 at Monmouth Park, defeated three-quarter lengths by Consumer Spending and headed out of place honors by Surprisingly after setting the pace under Jorge Ruiz.
It was the second start of the year for the bay filly, who began her 4-year-old campaign with a prominent fifth, beaten four lengths, in the Grade 3 Gallorette on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course, which saw the victorious Whitebeam exit that race to win the Grade 1 Diana at the Spa.
“All those fillies have come back and run really well, particularly from the Gallorette,” said Motion. “I was proud of her at Monmouth and thought it was a very good effort.”
Vegara was second by one length to Skims in the Sands Point.
Though Vergara has yet to visit the winner’s circle for a graded event, she has two stakes victories on her resume, including the 1 1/16-mile Tepin as a juvenile at Aqueduct Racetrack and the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Oaks in September at Kentucky Downs. Last year, her campaign also included a narrow head defeat to Souper Hoity Toity in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen at Woodbine and a close third in the one-mile Hilltop at Pimlico. She completed her season with a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont at the Big A one length behind Skims.
Motion said the Glens Falls’ marathon distance is ideal for Vergara.
“I think the distance is important for her, and she kind of showed that last time at Monmouth,” said Motion. “I think for the rest of the year we’ll keep her at the longer distances.”
Motion added last-out Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial-winner Sopran Basilea will join Vergara in the Glens Falls after her game neck triumph in the 1 3/8-mile test on July 1 at Delaware Park.
Motion also provided an update on last year’s Grade 1 Man o’ War winner Highland Chief, who has not raced finishing off-the-board in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Keeneland. Motion said the son of Gleneagles, owned by Mrs. Fitriani Hay, has been recovering from an injury.
“He had a tendon injury, so he’s been off since then,” said Motion. “He’s doing good, but he’s still turned out down in Ocala. I’m not in a rush and I feel like the longer you give them, the best. We’ll probably pick him up when we go back down to Florida.”
In addition to the Man o’ War, Highland Chief also won the Grade 3 Sycamore in October at Keeneland. He has amassed $708,300 through a lifetime record of 16-4-2-2.
