From the Spa: August 17 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.

On Wednesday August 17th, Saratoga’s ninth race is the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing Stakes on the turf. Exclusively for two year old fillies, this sprint will be the second try at the Spa for our Mid-Atlantic bred Inspired Flight this meet. Having last run in the Grade III Schuylerville on opening day, this chestnut filly looks to rebound from a tough loss to take home the $100,000 Bolton Landing purse.

Inspired Flight won a maiden special weight test at Laurel Park at first asking prior to her Schuylerville start.  After breaking sixth in the Schuylerville, Inspired Flight quickly gained ground to a one and one half length lead after a quarter mile in s sharp 21.68 seconds. This lead was short-lived however, as the filly was not able to hang with the fast half-mile pace of 44.79 seconds. Near the top of the stretch, Inspired Flight faded and ended up finishing last in the six furlong dirt sprint.

Inspired Flight was bred in Maryland by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC and then sold to part owner D. Hatman Thoroughbreds as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale. Phil Schoenthal, who is the other owner, trains the filly, and decided that a dirt to turf change would help Inspired Flight improve her form. Another change is the jockey, from Edgar Prado to Feargal Lynch. Although this filly had a tough trip last time out at the Spa, maybe these changes are all she needs to show her true potential. She is by Orientate – I Love to Fly, by Not For Love, and has morning line odds of 20/1.