From the Spa: August 18 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.

August 18th at the Spa is Alabama Day, which features the Grade I Alabama run at a mile and a quarter on the dirt for the top three year old fillies. Also run for fillies is the Grade II Lake Placid, at a mile and an eighth but on the turf. While this turf race has half the purse of the Alabama at $300,000, it is nonetheless prestigious, featuring a strong field of seven fillies who have proven themselves as some of the better three year old turf runners in the country. Included in that group is Daddy Is a Legend, who returns after a victorious effort in the Lake George earlier this meet.

Bred in Pennsylvania by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC, Daddy Is a Legend keeps her winning connections from the Lake George of trainer George Weaver and jockey Manny Franco. In that race, Daddy Is a Legend went off as the post time favorite and did not disappoint, demonstrating a powerful closing kick in the stretch run after trailing by two lengths. While she is unlikely to be favored in this stronger field, her talent gives her a great chance to be competitive, most notably reflected in her yearling price tag of $160,000 to owners Jim and Susan Hill. This dark brown filly by Scat Daddy – Randie’s Legend, by Benchmark will look to win her first Grade II try while also adding to her career earnings of $229,410.