From the Spa: July 31 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes

“From the Spa,” written by our on-site correspondent Joe Aiello, III, returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes.

Saratoga’s tenth race on Sunday, July 31st, is named after the multiple graded stakes-winning mare Caress, trained by Allen Jerkens, who won over a half a million in earnings back in the mid-nineties.; quite an accomplishment for this time period. This mare foaled Sky Mesa, who won the Hopeful and Breeders’ Futurity for famous horse owner John Oxley.

Our Mid-Atlantic entry in the $100,000 five and one-half furlong Caress Stakes is Rocky Policy, a Maryland bred four year old filly. By Rock Slide – Smart Policy, by Smart Strike, Rocky Policy gains the services of jockey Manuel Franco for Maryland-based trainer Dale Capuano, who also has Disco Barbie in this race.  Owner Richard Vermillion and breeders Shamrock Farm hope the trip up I-95 and I-87 from Pimlico will be a prosperous one. In her last race, and allowance optional claimer, she finished third after making a three wide move at odds of almost 4/1. For the Caress, the track handicapper has assigned her morning line odds of 20/1.