From the Spa: July 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.
Thursday, July 11th is Saratoga’s opening day, which features two Grade III stakes in the Schuylerville and Quick Call. The Schuylerville is a six furlong sprint on the dirt for two year old fillies and is the eighth race on the card, opening the 2019 meet with our first two Mid-Atlantic entries for the summer. Both fillies will look to repeat strong wins in their maiden tries, hopefully leading to successful racing futures. Here’s a look at the entries.
From the four post is Lula’s Roadrunner, a Pennsylvania bred owned and bred by Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC. Starting at the longest morning line odds of 20/1, this dark brown filly by Uptowncharlybrown – Be Bop a Lula, by Unbridled’s Song does not seem to be garnering the same respect as her foes, but certainly should not be overlooked after holding off a late charge by Double Down Dare in her maiden try at Parx. The lesser-known connections of jockey Mychel Sanchez and trainer Edward Coletti Jr. may be more reason for the odds, but their strong win together in the Grade III Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont last summer proves they have what it takes to play upset.
Coming from the outside nine post is Kiss the Girl, a Maryland bred with a more household-name duo in jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher. These connections yield more respectable morning line odds of 6/1, but the $210,000 yearling price tag to owner Three Diamonds Farm could indicate the racing potential that this bay filly by Into Mischief – Spin the Bottle, by Hard Spun has to offer. Kiss the Girl won her only try in a dominating fashion, pulling away in the stretch for a four and a half length victory as the morning-line favorite. Bred by Classic Thoroughbred XII, Kiss the Girl will look to add to her $44,000 career earnings.
The ninth race, following the Schuylerville, is the Quick Call Stakes, which was upgraded from an ungraded stakes level last year to a Grade III this meet. The Quick Call remains as a five and one half furlong turf sprint for three year olds, and certainly has a loaded group with eleven entries. Our entry of interest, Call Paul, is one that is familiar with the Spa, having won the Grade II Saratoga Special last year on the dirt. However, this three year old colt has yet to have a turf try, making this attempt a completely new challenge for him in his already successful young career.
Caul Paul was bred in Pennsylvania by Beatrice Patterson and Vicky Schowe, and breaks from the six post as the morning line favorite with odds of 5/2. Owners Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC, and Bruce Irom also bought Caul Paul as a two year old for the hefty price tag of $210,000, which has already returned nearly half a million in career earnings. With a recent six length stakes win at Penn National, the decision to switch Call Paul to turf by trainer Jason Servis seems questionable, but with a top jockey in Manny Franco, this bay colt is destined for continued success. Call Paul is by Friesan Fire – Avani Force, by Forestry.
