From the Spa: July 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 

Wednesday, July 24th brings us the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at the Spa in the first race. It is a $75,000 hurdle race for four year olds and upwards at two and one sixteenth miles on the turf, and is the first hurdle stakes for the Saratoga meet. Featuring a well-stocked field of eleven entries, it is no surprise that our Mid-Atlantic bred, Corky Lemon, is a bit overlooked at the second longest morning line odds of 12/1. Despite this, he will look to build on what has already been a successful year, with two wins in three starts for owners Peter and Heather Austin.

Corky Lemon breaks from the five post, and picks up the services of jockey Sean McDermott, who rode Soluble against him two months ago at Malvern, only to be bested by one and three quarter lengths at the wire. In that try, Corky Lemon showed great tenacity, out-dueling his contenders and drawing away from the field after taking over at the top of the stretch. That same tenacity is expected from him by trainer Mark Beecher, who will need his chestnut gelding to continue to improve in what will be his first stakes attempt. Corky Lemon is by Denis of Cork – Lemon Drop Chick, by Lemon Drop Kid, and was bred in West Virginia by James Casey.