Saratoga Maidens Presented By Keeneland: Steer Clear Makes It Count In Second Career Start

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–The beat goes on for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

It only seems like every 2-year-old he enters in $100,000 maiden special weight races at Saratoga Race Course wins.

Pletcher was once again front and center in a baby race, this time in Friday's second race, a seven-furlong event for juvenile fillies. And, like he has been so many times before during the Saratoga summer, he found himself in the winner's circle when it was over.

On this day, the hero was Steer Clear (Street Sense), who powered to the front from the start and stayed there. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rode her confidently to a 1 1/4-length victory over Americathegreat (Curlin).

Pletcher's numbers with the young horses had been mind-boggling.

According to Equibase, Pletcher has started 57 2-year-olds at the meet and has 14 wins. In $100,000 maiden special weights, he has had 47 starts and 11 wins. He said he cannot recall ever having that many during a summer meet at Saratoga.

Owned by Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farm, Steer Clear made sure the other six fillies in the race did just that. She had made her debut on Aug. 2 and ran well, but just not well enough.

Steer Clear had the lead but could not hold it and had to settle for second place, 2 1/4 lengths behind 'TDN Rising Star' Ornellaia (Girvin), who is running in the GI Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

Pletcher thought enough of Steer Clear's first effort that he cross-entered her in the Spinaway.

“We just thought we would give her another start,” Pletcher said in the winner's circle. “She had the good debut and came back and trained well after that.”

Steer Clear ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.93 and paid $5.70, $3.40 and $2.70.

Since that first race, Steer Clear had two works at Saratoga, the most recent being Aug. 26 when she went four furlongs in :49.55 (70/115).

“That first start moved her forward,” Pletcher said. “She got a little bit late the first time; the last part she was tired. She was much improved today.”

It also put a smile on the face of Ned Toffey, Spendthrift's general manager, who was in the house to watch the filly.

“She ran a really good race the first time,” Toffey said. “I have been up here just enough this meet to see how well she has moved forward since that first start. It seemed like the light went on as she has been training with great energy and just really looked the part out on the track, even just galloping. After the first start, some go the wrong way and some really move forward and she has seemed to have done that.”

She was purchased for $575,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.

“She was a real classy, balanced filly,” Toffey said. “She made Mike's (Repole) list and made our list, and we decided to partner up.”

Repole, Toffey said, mentioned the Spinaway and, at first, he was surprised at the thought.

“At first,” he said. “But the way she ran today, it was not a bad thought. I think she would have been competitive in there. Even if she was third, she would have Grade I black type two starts into her career. At the same time, this win hopefully means bigger and better things are to come.”

Pletcher and Toffey's celebratory mood was muted somewhat after Catchy (Medaglia d'Oro), who finished third in the race, suffered a catastrophic injury to her left front while galloping out and was euthanized on the track.

Her jockey, Jose Lezcano, was down for several minutes but got up and was wearing a sling on his left arm when he walked to an ambulance on track. He was then transported to Albany Medical Center for further evaluation of a possible left shoulder injury.

The post Saratoga Maidens Presented By Keeneland: Steer Clear Makes It Count In Second Career Start appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article