At about the same time last year that Colonial Flag won the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes, fellow 3-year-old filly Tippie Tap barely won a conditioned $30,000 claimer.
The huge class difference did not appear to matter in midstretch of Saturday’s $50,000 Rosenna Stakes at Delaware Park. With a furlong remaining in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, Tippie Tap held a 2 1/2-length lead while Colonial Flag was still five lengths behind in sixth.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Lighthouse Bay, winner of the Grade 1 Prioress in her last start, and Baby J, winner of the Grade 3 Victory Ride in her last race, both put in workouts early Saturday morning for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes.
In his first two tries against New York-bred stakes company earlier this summer, B Shanny couldn’t carry his speed seven furlongs or the slightly shorter distance of 6 1/2 furlongs. But as he proved in Saturday’s $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes, six furlongs is right in B Shanny’s comfort zone.
Sent to the front by his first-time rider, John Davila Jr., B Shanny rolled to an easy 4 1/2-length victory in the sprint for statebreds. After setting fractions of 22.55 and 45.69 seconds, B Shanny ($2.70) was never threatened en route to reaching the wire in 1:10.27.
Mucho Macho Man, third in the Grade 1 Whitney Invitational, showed his connections he’s ready to go again in the Grade 1 Woodward on Aug. 31 by working a solid six furlongs in 1:14.39 Saturday morning over Saratoga’s main track.
SARATOGA SPRING, N.Y. - After winning Friday’s Yaddo Stakes for New York-breds, Dayatthespa will target the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 5, trainer Chad Brown said Saturday.
Dayatthespa is 2 for 2 at Keeneland, having won the Grade 3 Appalachian and Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth over the course last year.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While Palace Malice, Verrazano, and Orb will garner most of the attention coming into the Grade 1 Travers, a couple of 3-year-olds who figure to be flying under the radar, Moreno and War Dancer, had their final tune-ups for Saratoga’s marquee event here on Saturday.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Fordubai, it’s fair to say, is not the most willing racehorse. Three furlongs from the finish of the $66,800 Straight Line Stakes, the opening race on Arlington Million Day here, Fordubai held perfect position down at the rail and just behind battling leaders. The horse had no great interest staying there.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Eric Guillot sent out his top 3-year-old sprinter Salutos Amigos to work five furlongs 1:02.52 at Saratoga early Saturday. The Grade 2-placed Salutos Amigos, who ran third in the Amsterdam earlier in the meet, broke off two lengths behind stablemate Crawford the Crook, an unraced 3-year-old, and pulled well clear in late stretch without being asked before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.79.
RACE 1
6 1/2 Furlongs
Maiden Special Weight
2-year-old fillies
Purse $80,000
Saturday Nite Ride had an easy time winning the $75,000 City of Edmonton Distaff at Northlands Park on Saturday. She paid $3.90 as the heavy favorite in the three-turn 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares that drew five horses.
With Aaron Gryder aboard, Saturday Nite Ride broke on top leaving from the rail and was never under any pressure while coasting through moderate fractions of 24.00 and 48.20 seconds. She was in complete control after six furlongs in 1:13 and went on to win by 5 1/2 lengths. The final time was 1:45.60.
