Saratoga Maidens: Emotional Day for Pletcher, But He Gets Another Juvenile Score

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There is no time for real celebration and there certainly isn't time to feel sorry for oneself. In horse racing, the game just keeps going on.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had first-hand experience of that Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. Just before 2 p.m., he was elated and crushed in the same race, the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Just over an hour later, he had to push those emotions to the side and saddle a 2-year-old in a $100,000 maiden special weight.

It was the seventh race, a six-furlong event for fillies and Pletcher had the horse to beat in the even-money favorite, Lovely Christina (Vekoma).

And she ran like it. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Lovely Christina won the pace duel with All About You (Maclean's Music), the 8-1 third choice, and then drew off to win by an easy 1 ¾ lengths. Second went to Paige Turner (Army Mule), who was 6-1.

Lovely Christina covered the distance in 1:11.42 and paid $4.00, $3.00 and $2.30.

Of course, Pletcher was delighted with how Lovely Christina ran for owner Leland Ackerley Racing, but it was only human nature that his mind would wander back to the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

He had two horses in that race. The one most expected would run the best–Mindframe (Constitution)–lost jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and didn't finish the race. The other, 13-1 Antiquarian (Preservationist), was the winner.

An hour later, the emotions were still raw. Both good and bad.

“That was a tough one,” Pletcher said. “Part of you is so excited for Antiquarian and (owner) Centennial (Farms) because they deserve to have a horse win a race like that. On the other hand, you feel horrible for Mindframe and Irad and (owners) St. Elias and (Mike) Repole.”

Pletcher said he had just gotten off the phone with Ortiz, who was in an ambulance and on his way to Albany Medical Center with what appeared to be a wrist injury. Mindframe, he was happy to say, was ok.

“My biggest concern,' Pletcher said, “was over at the quarter pole gap. A lot of times when a horse gets loose, they look to where they go on and off the track and goes on at that gap. I was really worried he might go that way and something really bad could happen. Thankfully, he was able to maintain his composure once he loped past that and the outriders came and got him.”

Pletcher could only imagine what might have been with Mindframe, but he still got the big prize with Antiquarian.

And then he had to switch focus quickly and get ready to saddle Lovely Christina. Bred by Spendthrift Farm, she had finished a distant second in her 6 1/2-furlong debut on Aug. 10. That race was won by Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach).

“She ran into a buzzsaw the last time and ran very well,” said Pletcher, who notched his 13th maiden special weight victory of the meet.

Her performance was good, but Pletcher had to decide if he was going to run her back on three weeks rest.

“A little concerned about that,” he said. “But she had done well since the race and the next opportunity was not going to be until around Sept. 25 at Aqueduct. I don't think she needed to wait that long.”

 

7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.42, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
LOVELY CHRISTINA (f, 2, Vekoma–Daring Kathy {GSW-USA, GSP-Can, $494,956}, by Wildcat Heir) found Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach) too tough in her career debut when seen finishing 5 1/2 lengths back in second at the Spa Aug. 10. Backed down to even-money favoritism in her first start back, the bay broke sharply and prompted a :22.83 opening quarter set by All About You (Maclean's Music). Edging ahead of that rival at the quarter pole, Lovely Christina drew off to score by 1 3/4 lengths over the closing firster Paige Turner (Army Mule). The winner is a half to How's Ur Attitude (Street Sense), SP, $191,549. The winner's graded stakes winning dam Daring Kathy produced a filly by Mo Donegal and a filly by Vekoma over the past two seasons. Sales history: $170,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $425,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $75,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Leland Ackerley Racing; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

 

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