From the Spa: August 4 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes

I Spent It wins the 2014 Saratoga Special. Photo by NYRA/Adam Coglianese.

by Joseph Aiello

“From the Spa” returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes.

On August 4th, Saratoga’s ninth race is the 33rd running of the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. Previously won a record six times by Hall of Fame trainer William I. Mott, this one mile and one sixteenth race on the turf figures to be a tight battle.

Mott sends out the third choice here, Japanese-bred Yoshida. Riding for Mott is jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., possibly a future Hall of Famer, who has won this race the previous three years in a row.

While that tandem will be tough to beat, future Hall of Fame trainer Todd A. Pletcher should have something to say about it with Maryland-bred Bonus Points, 20-1 on the morning line. Riding for him is able journeyman jockey Kendrick Carmouche. Carmouche has yet to ride Bonus Points, but if this brown three year old colt by Majestic Warrior – Baby Love, by Not For Love can repeat his effort from a few months ago in the Parx Derby, he will have no problem getting accustomed to him. Bonus Points was bred by Country Life Farm and then originally bought by Three Diamond Farms for $6,500 back in 2014. Since this initial purchase by the current owners, he has been offered for sale twice, selling for $35,000 as a yearling and then not meeting his reserve when bidding topped out at $60,000 as a two-year-old. It’ll be a heavy lift for this Maryland-bred, but he certainly has the right connections.