From the Spa: August 22 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   

After a strong effort in the Grade III Shuvee, New Jersey bred Horologist returns to the Spa for the $120,000 Summer Colony Stakes. Like the Shuvee, the Summer Colony is run at a mile and one eighth on the dirt for fillies and mares four years old and up. With another crack at the Saratoga dirt course and this distance, Horologist is looking to finish the job this time around, after a tough defeat where she attempted to go wire to wire. A win here will put Horologist closer to breaking one million in career earnings, a very impressive milestone for this five year old bay mare by Gemologist – Cinderella Time, by Stephen Got Even.

Horologist breaks from the two post with a familiar rider in Junior Alvarado. Since he first became her pilot in October, Alvarado has placed her in a stalking position in most races, but finally took the early lead last time out. Despite getting passed in the stretch, Horologist showed off her upside with Alvarado’s aggressive ride, and now goes from overlooked at 5/1 to a morning line favorite at 2/1. With a new target on her back, it will be difficult to wire this field, but this multiple graded stakes winner has proven to be a consistent runner, finishing in the money in fifteen of twenty-four career starts. Since July of last year, Horologist has been trained by Bill Mott, who has has conditioned this bay mare to three stakes wins over that timeframe. Already with double digit wins this meet, Mott looks to add another stakes win to Horologist’s resume, giving her a sixth win in those races. Horologist is owned by There’s A Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Stauncher and was bred by Holly Crest Farm.