A field of 12 go in Saturday’s Spinaway (G1) led by the Bob Baffert trained Chasing Yesterday. (photo credit: Bigstock.com)
A dozen will line up in Saturday’s $350,000 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga led by the half-sister to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Chasing Yesterday, the little sis to American Pharoah is also trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and comes to Saratoga off a sharp maiden score in her debut at Del Mar on July 28.
She faces eleven foes in the seven-furlong test, with the winner stamping a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as part of the “Win and You’re In” series of races.
“She doesn’t look like Pharoah. She probably looks more like her mother, but I see a lot of Tapit in her too,” Baffert said. “Her disposition is like Pharoah’s though. She’s a sweetheart, very loveable, like Abel Tasman in that way. When she gets on the track though, she’s like Pharaoh – all racehorse. She just turns it on.”
The Spinaway is one of four graded stakes on an outstanding 12-race card on closing weekend at the Spa. The Spinaway and the $750,000 Woodward (G1) will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network at 5:30 ET. The 40-day Saratoga meeting comes to a close on Monday.
Among the foes Chasing Yesterday meets in her stakes debut are the one-two finishers of the Schuylerville (G3) here on opening day—Catherinethegreat (7-2), who took the field gate to wire and Nonna Madeline (6-1) who was off a step slow in a runner up finish.
The undefeated Restless Rider (6-1) won the Debutante at Churchill Downs in her last outing and Virginia Eloise (10-1) and Guacamole (20-1) ran second and third in the Adirondack (G2) over the main track here on Aug. 11.
In addition to the Woodward, there are two supporting stakes on the card—the $300,000 Saranac (G3) and the $250,000 Glen Falls (G2).
Let’s head out to the Spa for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Saratoga Race 10 The Spinaway G1 (Post time 6:13 ET)
#7 Chasing Yesterday 5-2
#11 Restless Rider 6-1
#5 Nonna Madeline 6-1
#4 Catherinethegreat 7-2
Analysis: Chasing Yesterday ships in from the west coast for Baffert and is coming off an impressive maiden score at 1-5, drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. This gal was n secret when she made her debut due to her lofty pedigree. She is by Tapit and a half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. She put in a couple of good works with Baffert two has been lights out with his juveniles over the last three months, sending out a dozen and winning with eight. The filly owns the top last out speed fig and Smith has made the trip to stay on this gal.
Restless Rider is perfect in two starts under the Twin Spires, breaking her maiden in her debut and then coming back to win the Debutante by 11 1/4 lengths at 6-5 in her last outing. The $150,000 Keeneland purchase is by Distorted Humor out of an Unbridled’s Song mare that has dropped one other winner. She has put in four local drills over the Oklahoma training track and looks as if she still has some upside for McPeek.
Nonna Madeline broke her maiden in her debut at Monmouth Park and then last out was off a beat slow in the Schuylerville (G3) here on opening day. She tracked the early pace and could not get to the gate to wire winner Catherinethegreat, who was taking advantage of a racing strip that was kind to inside speed that day. She looks capable of turning the tables here for Pletcher who has won this race a record six times, the most recent coming with Sweet Loretta who finished in a deadheat for the win in 2016. She is a half to stakes winner Nonna Mela ($286,670).
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 7,11 / 4,5,7,11
TRI: 7,11 / 4,5,7,11 / 4,5,6,7,11
