AMERICAN TURF CLUB LEAD-FOURSTARDAVE STAKES

By: JOE GIRARDI

               On the weekend of August 9^th and 10^th Saratoga hosted three Grade II races, one on Saturday the 9^th and two on Sunday the 10^th. The Fourstardave was run on Saturday the 9^th, 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 10^th, 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.