

Aug 15, 2014
AMERICAN TURF CLUB LEAD-FOURSTARDAVE STAKES
By: JOE GIRARDI
On the
weekend of August 9th and 10th Saratoga hosted three
Grade II races, one on Saturday the 9th and two on Sunday the 10th.
The Fourstardave was run on Saturday the 9th, named after the gusty
New York bred gelding who loved Saratoga and was nick named the Sultan of
Saratoga. He was owned by the late Richard Bomze and although he was a very
good horse he became a great horse when Saratoga came around.
The
Grade II Fourstardave was run on the turf over one mile with a purse of
$500,000. There was a six horse field that went postward with Silver Max going
off as the 3-2 favorite. After breaking from the rail, Silver Max set the pace
through fractions of 23:1, 46, 1:09:2 while being tracked closely by Sayaad. As
they hit the ¾ mark, Silver Max just didn’t have it and began to tire, Sayaad
briefly took over the lead but he couldn’t go with the leaders also. Seek
Again, who was sent off as the 2-1 second choice was in behind the leaders and
got stopped a few times before squeezing through on the rail and getting up to
win over Grand Arch who had to settle for second. Jack Milton, the third choice
in the race had to settle for a close-up third with longshot Dorsett another
neck back in fourth with Sayaad and Silver Max checking in fifth and sixth. The
final time of the race was a track record time of 1:33:1. This was a huge
effort from Seek Again who had to encounter trouble and still was able to win
especially in that sharp time. Look for this Bill Mott trainee come Breeders’
Cup time in November.
On the
next day, Sunday August 10th, Saratoga hosted two Grade II races
both for two year olds, the Grade II Adirondack for filly two year olds run
over six and one-half furlongs with a purse of $200,000 and the Grade II
Saratoga Special for two year olds also run over six and one-half furlongs also
with a purse of $200,000.
In the
Adirondack there was a field of seven fillies going postward with Angela Renee
going off as the slight 9-5 favorite. As they broke from the gate, Vivian Da
Bling, an undefeated filly shipping in from Lone Star Park, came out running
and set the pace through some sharp fractions of 22:3, 45:3, 1:09:4 as she lead
to the top of the lane. Angela Renee, took over the lead but was quickly
tackled by Cavorting, those two battled through the lane but Cavorting edged
away late to score by almost two lengths. Angela Renee held on for an easy
second over Wonder Gal who checked in third. Pacesetter Vivian Da Bling who led
from the start tired to finish fourth. The final time of race was a solid
1:16:2. Cavorting, who is now 2 for 2 for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has the
look and the breeding of a horse who would stretchout in distance, look to hear
from her come the fall.
The
Saratoga Special came next, there was a field of 10 that went postward with I
Spent It going off as the lukewarm favorite at 5-2. As the gates broke, Nonna’s
Boy came out running setting a sharp early pace through fractions of 21:3,
44:3, 1:10:1 while under pressure from Cinco Charlie with Majestic Affair
chasing three wide. I Spent It under leading rider Javier Castellano was just
in behind those leaders racing in fourth while down inside. As the field moved
into the lane the early leaders began to tire as the second choice Mr. Z
started to gain. Finding room along the rail, I Spent It burst through and ran
on well to the wire to score by almost three lengths over Mr. Z who was five
lengths clear of the show horse W V Jetsetter who just got up for third by a
nose. The final time of the was 1:16:3 a little more than a 1/5 of a second
slower than the Adirondack a race earlier. I Spent It, who is the by the hot
freshman stallion Super Saver ran his record to 2 for 2 after scoring in his
debut back in early July. This two year old purchase runs for trainer Anthony
Dutrow and looks like he may have a future ahead of him. The prep races over
the next two months and the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita should have some
exciting prospects to look forward too.
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