From the Spa: August 21 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, August 21st is the fifth running of the Skidmore Stakes, a five and one half furlong turf sprint for two year olds. This year’s Skidmore has a purse of $85,000 and a small field of six headlined by two of three Wesley Ward trainees in Fauci and Golden Pal. While the other four runners will need to find a way to tackle the two top choices, Sky’s Not Falling, a Maryland bred trained by Michael Trombetta, will draw a top jockey in Jose Ortiz and starts with respectable morning line odds of 5/1.

Sky’s Not Falling is a two year old gelding by Selville (GER) – Sky Copper, by Sky Mesa who is one for two lifetime and recently finished third in the Hansel Stakes at Colonial Downs. Despite fading in the stretch run after being positioned well in that try, this gelding may see improvement upon a switch to the turf for the first time, and aims to pick up a second win for co-owner and breeder Larry R. Johnson. On top of the surface change, Sky’s Not Falling will also need to run for the first time without Lasix, which is not permitted for this race. All of these changes may help or hurt Sky’s Not Falling’s chances here, but if his August 15th three furlong bullet work at Fair Hill is any indication, he is up for the challenge and ready to take on the top competitors here. Sky’s Not Falling is co-owned by R. D. M. Racing Stable.