From the Spa: August 6 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.

Saturday, August 6th features three Mid-Atlantic-breds racing at the Spa. Two of these entries will compete in the 9th race, the $200,000 Grade III Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes, while the last entry will run in the 11th and final race on the card, the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes. Fasig Tipton is one of the country’s top sales companies, and their auction ring is located within ten minutes of the thoroughbred track in Saratoga Springs.

In the 1 ½ mile Fasig-Tipton Waya stakes, two 20/1 morning line mares are among the entries; one from Maryland and one from Pennsylvania. From Maryland is Vielsalm, a six year old by Fairbanks – Merriweather, by Opening Verse. Bred and owned by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Brooke Bowman, Vielsalm had an impressive showing on 2016 Preakness day in the Grade III Gallorette Handicap, in which it lost by a nose at long odds of 76/1. Ridden by Forest Boyce and trained by Lynn A. Ashby, the Vielsalm team hopes for this mare’s first graded stakes win.

Bred in Pennsylvania is Al’s Gal, a five year old bay owned by renowned horse owners Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey. With the strong connections of trainer Michael J. Maker and jockey Luis Saez, Al’s Gal has changed hands at auctions three times, and has recently won a non-graded stakes at Churchill Downs. This mare by English Channel – Dans La Ville (CHI), by Winning, was bred by Malone Racing LLC.

The last Fasig Tipton stakes of the day, the De La Rose, has an even longer morning line Mid-Atlantic entry at odds of 30/1. Bred in Maryland by Country Life Farm and Fifteen Moons LLC., Mayla is a four year old filly, who, like Al’s Gal, will have Luis Saez in the irons. Mayla is by Sharp Humor – Fifteen Moons, by Malibu Moon and is conditioned by W. Bret Calhoun. Owners Brad Grady and Carl L. Moore are hoping for a stellar effort from this filly who recently worked on the Saratoga turf training course in anticipation of a solid effort in the one mile grass race.