From the Spa: September 5 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, September 5th at Saratoga features four graded stakes races, including the prestigious Grade II Jim Dandy as the ninth race and Grade I Woodward as the eleventh. In between those two historic races is the Grade II Prioress, which, while lesser-known, has been around since 1948, and is one of the top sprint races for three year old fillies. Run at six furlongs on the dirt, this year’s Prioress will have a strong field of nine with plenty of entries looking to take control of the race early. Even with a likely hot pace and plenty of pressure, long-shot Hello Beautiful will look to run a career best effort in her first graded stakes try, and maintain her perfect two for two record at six furlongs.

Hello Beautiful is a dark brown three year old filly by Golden Lad – Hello Now, by Tiznow. Her four career wins for trainer Brittany Russell have all been wire to wire efforts, which should be perfect for aggressive jockey Kendrick Carmouche who rides her for the first time. Bred in Maryland by Hillwood Stables, LLC, Hello Beautiful will likely not be the post time favorite as she has been for five straight starts, but even at morning line odds of 10/1, she should not be overlooked with the step up in class. A recent four furlong work over the Saratoga track shows that she is in good form, so her first try at the Spa should be another successful one for familiar owners Madaket Stables LLC, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stable and Magic City Stables, LLC.