From the Spa: July 25 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
Entering the third Thursday of the 2024 Saratoga meet, Midlantic breds have only competed in two stakes races, with Studlydoright closing into second in the Grade III Sanford two weeks ago. Now, as has become a staple for Midlantic runners in recent years, the Grade III Caress Stakes will feature three of our highlighted entries as the ninth race on Thursday’s card. Returning from last year’s triumph as the outside breaking ten is Roses for Debra, the 8/5 morning line favorite bred in Pennsylvania. While she will receive much of the attention, a pair of improving four year old fillies enter with plenty of upside, both coming off back to back wins. In what appears to be a very evenly matched group going five and a half on the turf, it is anyones race here, as the successful Roses for Debra will have to be on her A-game to repeat this time around.
Roses for Debra is a Pennsylvania bred mare by Liam’s Map – Essential Rose, by Bernardini owned by Cheyenne Stable LLC and John O’Meara. After a very successful 2023 campaign which saw her win two stakes races at the Spa, she followed up her tough Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint loss with a grade III win at Keeneland in April. After a near two month layoff, Roses for Debra returned to Saratoga on Belmont weekend to run in the Grade II Intercontinental as the post time favorite. Despite a strong late run, a dry turf course led way to a win for Maryland bred Future Is Now who will face off with Debra once again in the Caress. Returning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. kept Roses for Debra close to the leaders in that try, but still left a bit too much ground to make up in the stretch. With plenty of speed again in this five and half furlong sprint on the turf, this Christophe Clement trainee will likely employ a similar stalking running style as she hopes for a bit more pace pressure on the leaders. Roses for Debra was bred by Blackstone Farm LLC and has amassed over $600,000 in her career.
The rising Future Is Now enters the Caress as the 7/2 second choice on the morning line after her impressive win in the Intercontinental over this turf course last month. Before that upset win at 10/1 odds, this four year old filly from the Michael Trombetta barn won The Very One Stakes at Pimlico on Black Eyed Susan day. She typically sits in the top two to three positions at the start, with Paco Lopez remaining in the irons here and likely to have her in second place early. Bred and owned by R Larry Johnson, Future Is Now is just beginning to break through in her career, showing improvement late this year by picking up her first and second stakes victories. Even if she has her work cut out for her here, the recent triumph on this track and strong record in turf sprints puts her amongst the top contenders in the Caress. Future Is Now is by Great Notion – Past as Prelude, by Bernardini and breaks from the three post.
Flying a bit more under the radar compared to the top two runners is Dontlookbackatall, a 10/1 morning line long shot bred in Pennsylvania by A1A Racing. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing, and Titletown Racing Stables, this filly will break from the eight post as the stablemate of Roses for Debra. Recently ridden by Irad Ortiz in her consecutive victories, Dontlookbackatall will be guided by Joel Rosario who has a strong connection with Clement especially on turf runners. By Peace and Justice – Celtic Arch, by Arch, this filly should also be amongst the leaders in this one, winning her last two stakes races after starting in second. Even if she doesn’t yet have a graded win under her belt like the other Midlantic entries, her speed at the distance cannot be disputed, never finishing worse than second in turf sprints. Dontlookbackatall also obtained one of the top speed figures of anyone in this group last time out and has the numbers to be a real win contender here.
Whether these three strong entries capture the Caress or not, clearly they have more good racing ahead as turf sprinters and as some of the top Midlantic bred fillies and mares in the game.
