Saratoga Maidens, Presented By Keeneland, Cy Fair Was Worth A Second Look From Weaver

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The best thing trainer George Weaver did at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in-training was give a filly named Cy Fair (Not This Time) a second glance.

On Thursday, opening day of the 40-day race meet at Saratoga, Weaver was sure glad he did.

Cy Fair stamped herself as a keeper as she rolled to a 3 1/4-length win in a $100,000 Maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon turf course and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' in the process.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Cy Fair took control through the turn and then spurted away in the stretch on the way to a dominating victory.

“We are delighted,” Weaver said in the winner's circle. “Not surprised. Very happy.”

In April, when he saw her at Ocala, Weaver wasn't so sure that Cy Fair was for him. When he first saw her, he wasn't impressed.

“When we go to these sales, what it boils down to is, 'yes, I like her or, no, I don't,” Weaver said. “The first time I saw her, I didn't really fault her that much. She was light boned and small … it wasn't enough to get me jacked up.”

After Cy Fair walked out of the ring as an RNA, Weaver got a call from bloodstock agent Jake Ballis and it was suggested that perhaps the trainer should take another look.

“When I went back for the second look, I thought, 'you know, she is alright' and I told Jake that,” Weaver said. “And he decided to make a deal to buy her, and he did.”

George Weaver with John Velazquez | Sarah Andrew

A deal was struck for $185,000. Weaver knew there were some things to like.

“I did,” he said. “She worked in 9 and 4 and she has Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) on her page,” Weaver said.

Crimson Advocate, who began her career with Weaver is a two-time winner at Royal Ascot.

Cy Fair went off at 5-1 in the field of nine and completed the distance in 1:01.49. Mermaid (Caravaggio) chased her home and finished second, a head in front of Keto Drink (Twirling Candy).

As the post time 2-1 favorite, the Arnaud Delacour-trained Cooperation (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) was scratched after rearing up behind the gate.

“You just never know,” Weaver said. “The four [Cooperation] looked good in the paddock. It's Saratoga. I like mine; other guys like theirs. You put them in the gate, and you see what happens.”

Cy Fair returned $13.40, $7.50 and $4.90. Weaver started his Saratoga summer with a pair of wins; he also took the second race with Devil in Disguise (Bolt d'Oro).

“I'm two-for-two,” he said with a grin. “Batting 100 percent. Let's stop the meet. I'm done.”

Not hardly. As long as Weaver has horses like Cy Fair in the barn, he won't have any problems coming to work in the mornings.

“I love training 2-year-olds,” he said. “It's different from training a made horse or a claiming horse. Bringing them along, trying to teach them the ropes, trying to teach them how to be a racehorse. Their talent and their class and their acceptance of your lessons will decide how far you go with them.”

Cy Far is a dominant winner in R6 at Saratoga under @ljlmvel for trainer George Weaver! pic.twitter.com/nk4zGJcnjY

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 10, 2025

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