From the Spa: July 15 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes
by Joseph Aiello
“From the Spa” returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes
The Grade III Sanford Stakes is a six furlong sprint run exclusively for two-year-olds over Saratoga’s dirt course. With some historic winners, and upsets, the Sanford is one of the top prep races for young runners who are looking to prepare for successful three year old seasons. Triple Crown winners Secretariat and Affirmed both won the Sanford, with Preakness and Belmont winner Afleet Alex being the most recent classic winner to capture this two year old prep. Many of its winners end up sticking to shorter distances, or in the case of Wit, the victor from two years ago, become turf winners in their future. Perhaps the most notable Sanford was the one that wasn’t won by Man of War, ultimately becoming the only loss of his twenty-one race career to the appropriately named Upset. This year’s version may not end up with the same notoriety of those contests, but of one of these ten horses go on to have a successful racing career, a Sanford victory could very well be the launching point to it all.
The tenth race on Saratoga’s Saturday card, the Sanford features a pair of Pennsylvania bred longshots who will line up next to each other in the starting gate. The longer morning line odds of the two at 30/1 is Factor U and Me In, who breaks from the five post and is trained by Edward Coletti Jr. In his first race, Factor U and Me In was in the barn of Clovis Crane and debuted in an unconventional two furlong sprint at Parx where he won easily. Sold for $100,000 as a two-year-old and now owned by F L I Racing, it was clear that this colt had bigger things to accomplish than his first victory. Now stepping up into stakes company and adding half a mile of ground, Factor U and Me In looks to be forwardly placed with the always aggressive Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Even though this may appear to be an uphill battle as an unproven runner against a classier field, this colt by The Factor – You Betcha Babe, by Yes It’s True has a chance to dictate the race and show that he belongs with this group. Factor U and Me In was bred by Blackstone Farm LLC.
To his outside in the six hole is Ramming Speed, a bay gelding by Flashback – Miss Foreesta, by Grand Slam who begins with fairer odds of 15/1. A starter of two at Presque Isle Downs, this gelding broke his maiden last time with a stalking trip at four and a half furlongs for $30,000. He is conditioned and owned by Kevin Rice, who has won at a strong twenty-five percent clip with jockey Gaddiel Martinez over the past year. Martinez will make his first start at Saratoga in his career, and will likely have Ramming Speed sitting off the leaders as he adds a bit more distance to his repertoire. Ramming Speed may be overlooked similar to Factor U and Me In, but with back to back forty-six and change four furlong works he clearly has the sprinting speed to be in the mix with this group. Kevin Rice also feels confident in his form to have him back on the track after just a twelve day layoff, as the quick turnaround could be a sign for another good performance here. Bred by Glenn E. Brok, LLC, Ramming Speed looks to become our first Midlantic bred runner to win a Saratoga Stakes this meet.
