From the Spa: August 3 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
Saturday, August 3rd at the Spa is Whitney day, which features five stakes including two Grade I races. These are the Longines Test Stakes and the Whitney Stakes. The Test is a $500,000 seven furlong sprint for three year old fillies on the dirt, and the Whitney is a $1,000,000 race for three year olds and upwards at a mile and an eighth on the dirt. Being prestigious Grade I races are not the only thing they have in common, however, with each containing a Pennsylvania bred entry in their field. In the Test, it is Please Flatter Me breaking from the six post, and in the Whitney, Monongahela breaks from the three post. Both entries are being somewhat overlooked with long morning line odds of 15/1 and 12/1 respectively, but if the past is any indication, the “Graveyard of Champions” will likely claim another.
Please Flatter Me is a three year old filly owned by Hieder Family Stables LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, and Doheny Racing Stable and was bred by Mary Katherine Haire. By Munnings – She’s Flattering, by Flatter, Please Flatter Me has been an impressive four for six lifetime under trainer Mark Reid, with a recent win at Laurel Park in the Alma North Stakes as the post time favorite. She has also already won two other stakes races, but will be guided for the first time by jockey John Velazquez. Despite this change, this dark brown filly will be right at home in this seven furlong race, and should be able to challenge the top sprinters in her class.
Monongahela is a bay five year old horse by K One King – Record High, by Touch Gold who was bred by Gunpowder Farms LLC. He is owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC, and Gary Aisquith, and is coming off a four length win in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth. In that try, he sat off of Diamond King before taking over in the far turn and pulling away from the crowd. Even with a repeat performance, Monongahela will certainly need to find an extra gear to hold off this tough group, making the jockey and trainer duo of Jose Lezcano and Jason Servis vital to his success. Monongahela has career earnings of $381,043.
