From the Spa: August 24 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.

Thursday, August 24 features two stakes races at Saratoga, a $150,000 Grade I hurdle in the first race, and a $100,000 stakes on the flat in the ninth race. Both races include a Mid-Atlantic entry, each of whom have already run at the Spa this meet.

In the Grade I New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap, a hurdle race run at two miles and three eighths for four year olds and upwards, All the Way Jose draws the inside post for trainer and breeder Jonathan E. Sheppard. By Señor Swinger – Maternity Leave, by Northern Baby, this bay gelding has had a few rough trips over the Saratoga track in his career, failing to finish in his most recent tries. Despite these trips, this 8/1 morning line stakes winner has shown he can win at the Spa, picking up an allowance victory in 2014. If jockey Darren Nagle can summon that performance out of the seven-year-old Pennsylvania bred, it will be third victory of the 2017 season for the Buttonwood Farm-owned runner.

The one mile Riskaverse Stakes for three-year-old fillies is a turf race with fifteen entries, with three being also-eligibles. Of these entries, Chubby Star has morning line odds of 9/2, making her the third choice for rider Robby Albarado and trainer Horacio DePaz. Bred in Maryland by Sagamore Farm, also the owners, this chestnut filly by Malibu Moon – Salsa Star, by Giant’s Causeway flashed her potential at the Spa in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes one month ago. In that race, she broke second, only to quickly take the lead after a quarter and hold until the stretch run where she faded but still managed to hold onto fourth. With the cut back in distance in this race, Chubby Star may be able to hang on to the lead at the wire, which would add a stakes victory to her resume.