From the Spa: August 11 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.

The third race on Saturday, August 11th is the $200,000 Grade II Adirondack Stakes run at six and one half furlongs for two year old fillies. Of the six fillies entered to run, all have won in their first try, making this a very contentious race and one in which the winner has gone one to have good success in the remaining of their two year old season. Even with a small, well-matched field, our Mid-Atlantic bred Grandma Gertie goes into this race with morning line odds of 15/1, the longest of the group. But with strong success for Mid-Atlantic breds so far this meet, including a win for Realm last Sunday in the Alydar Stakes at long odds, a win here for Grandma Gertie would not be a surprise.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Fantasy Lane Stable, Grandma Gertie is looking to repeat her first race success for owners Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC. In that maiden race at Parx, she broke second, but quickly took the lead by three lengths after a quarter and increased the lead to seven and a quarter at the wire. Guided as the post-time favorite with jockey Mychel Sanchez there, who is returning in the irons for trainer Edward Coletti Jr., Grandma Gertie is looking to give this jockey trainer duo a thrilling stakes win for their first at Saratoga. By Uptowncharlybrown – Glorious Union, by Dixie Union, Grandma Gertie is a bay filly breaking from the four post.