From the Spa: August 6 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.

Race 10 at Saratoga on August 6th is the $250,000 Troy Handicap, a 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and upward.

This race features a couple of very accomplished graded stakes winners, including our entry of interest, Long On Value, who has been a Saratoga regular and won the Lucky Coin Stakes here last year. Returning from his victorious effort in the Lucky Coin Stakes last year is jockey Joel Rosario, who regularly rides for trainer William I. Mott. In that effort, Long On Value broke late and settled in towards the back of the pack, only to take over at the top of the stretch and never look back. This tends to be his style of race, and makes him tough to beat when he is on his game.

By Value Plus – Long Message, by Orientate, Long On Value was bred by Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds and has morning line odds of 5/1. While this may seem a little long on value to some, for owners Wachtel Stable, George J. Kerr, and Gary Barber, this would be a perfect spot for their brown six year old horse to push his career earnings past the one million dollar mark.