From the Spa: August 27 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
So far this meet, our Midlantic bred runners have run admirably in stakes tries, often finishing in the money, but have not yet found the winner’s circle. In Thursday’s Smart N Fancy Stakes at the Spa, two Maryland bred entries will look to put an end to that losing streak by tackling a very evenly-matched eight horse field. The Smart N Fancy will be the seventh race and is a five and a half furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares four years old and up, with our entries of interest breaking from the four and six posts.
From the four post is A Great Time, a six year old mare who has respectable morning line odds of 9/2, making her the third choice in a field with no one over 10/1. A Great Time is by Street Magician – Short Time, by Clever Trick and is owned by Larry Johnson, who also bred her. She has become familiar with running at five and a half on the turf, having tried this distance nine times, finishing in the money in seven of those starts. While winning has been a bit of an issue, A Great Time consistently puts her best foot forward, having most recently finished a close third in the License Fee Stakes at Belmont in early July. Returning to the irons from that race is John Velazquez, who has yet to win with trainer Michael Trombetta this meet, but the two of them team up again here for what appears to be a promising effort.
The lukewarm morning line favorite at 3/1 is Introduced, a four year old filly breaking from the six post. By El Padrino – Stuttgart, by Cherokee Run, Introduced takes her second swing at Saratoga stakes this summer after finishing a close fourth by three lengths in the Caress on August 1st. While jockey Manny Franco was more aggressive in that try, he and trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. may be more inclined to sit off of others here in their second try together with this filly. Reverting Introduced to a closing style may get her back to winning, having already won two of three tries this year both from off the pace. A win here would get Introduced closer to recouping her $310,000 price tag as a two year old for owners Colts Neck Stables LLC, while also giving one of Maryland’s top breeders in Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, LLC another feather in their cap.
