From the Spa: July 17 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   

Friday, July 17th showcases the De La Rose and Shine Again Stakes at the Spa. The Shine Again is a seven furlong sprint on the dirt for fillies and mares four years old and up, and features an evenly matched ten horse field including Blamed, a five year old mare trained by Bill Mott. Breaking from the nine post, Blamed carries high expectations as the 7/2 morning line second choice, and looks to kick off a successful meet for our Midlantic bred stakes entries.

Bred in Maryland by Sagamore Farm, Blamed boasts an impressive nine wins in fifteen career starts, with over half a million in earnings for owner Cleber J. Massey. Purchased as a yearling for $77,000, this bay mare by Blame – Salsa Star, by Giant’s Causeway has already more than recouped her value, and can add to that success with her first stakes win in over a year. Picking up a top jockey in Jose Ortiz will certainly help her chances, as will dropping from the Grade I Ogden Phipps Stakes a month ago at Belmont. Perhaps Blamed’s best indicator of a good performance, however, was shown in a forty-seven and three quarter seconds four furlong work over the Saratoga dirt track just five days ago, marking her first time running over Saratoga in her career. If Blamed takes to the track and improves with a class drop, she will have every chance to find herself in the winner’s circle.