From the Spa: July 13 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
Thursday, July 13th is Saratoga’s opening day for the 2023 Summer meet. As usual, the Grade III Schuylerville Stakes begins the Summer as the feature race for two year old fillies who are targeting the Grade III Adirondack and Grade I Spinaway later in the meet. The Schuylerville is run at six furlongs over the dirt track and has a very evenly matched field of eleven entries with two Pennsylvania breds shipping up north to compete in their first stakes race. Even at a lukewarm 5/1 and 6/1 on the morning line, Carmelina and Dancing Diana have plenty of reason to believe that the Midlantic will plant their flag early as stakes winners at Saratoga. Seating a couple of accomplished jockeys should only help their chances, as we begin to keep tabs on our Midlantic bred entries at the Spa for this year.
Breaking from the inside post is Carmelina, a bay filly by Maximus Mischief – Complete St., by St Averil. Bred by Lillith E. Boucher and owned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, this filly won first time out at Parx by five and three-quarter lengths going four and a half furlongs on the dirt. Clearly reaching for more distance in that try, Carmelina was ready to step up in class after easily disposing her foes in the stretch. Attempting to go gate to wire in this field may prove more difficult, but a jockey change to Jose Ortiz puts her in good hands as a few others will look to grab the early lead. Carmelina is conditioned by Robert E. Reid Jr. who has had his fair share of Saratoga upsets in the past, while also recently training this year’s Delaware Oaks winner in Foggy Night.
From the nine hole is Dancing Diana, a James Lawrence II trainee who comes off a dominant seven and a half length win at Delaware Park in her debut. In that maiden effort at five furlongs, Dancing Diana was ridden to the early lead by jockey Mychel Sanchez who also guided Carmelina in her first start. Sanchez knew he had the best horse in that race, as Dancing Diana was never challenged in the stretch and drew off without much urging. This time, John Velazquez will be tasked with trying to gain a positional advantage from one of the outside posts for trainer James L. Lawrence II, as he will have to contend with the other speed in this field to his inside. With a yearling price tag of $100,000, it is clear that there are high hopes for this filly who still has plenty of racing ahead in her young career. By Bolt d’Oro – Oh Scatty Oh, by Scat Daddy, Dancing Diana is owned by Manor Stable LLC and was bred by Gordon Mitchnick.
