Baby Girls
Baby girls are showcased opening day at Saratoga Friday as 2-year-old fillies raise the curtain on the classy meeting. Named for the nearby town of Schuylerville, this race has been won by such speedballs as Marshua, Numbered Account, La Prevoyante, Meadow Star and Ashado.
Last year Hot Dixie Chick was singing in the winner’s circle after posting a 103 winning Schuylerville Beyer as she got a perfect trip right off the pace to draw away by over 6 lengths.
This year, a small but promising cast of 7 entered the 6-furlong event so let’s look at them from the rail out.
Stopspendingmaria was hung wide in live debut at Monmouth but made up for it with a tour-de-force breaking her maiden by 7 lengths with a 91 Beyer just over 3 weeks ago.
In the right hands, Stopspendingmaria is trained by Todd Pletcher, this filly has a right to have a useful career as her dam was game, won 6 times, banked nearly $170,000 and her other foal to race won.
Le Mi Geaux also won in her second start, by just over 7 lengths at Churchill Downs but with only a 64 Beyer. She flashed sub :22 speed and will likely try to steal this race. Out of a stakes winning dam that banked almost $250,000, Le Mi Geaux is kin to a minor league double winner.
Let’s Get Fiscal was no secret in the debut going chalk and winning by over 5 with a 81 Beyer. She is the first to race from a dam who excelled going long.
Wesley Ward will saddle one of two fillies, either Spa Sunrise or Final Mesa. The former won her debut from the Belmont rail but was getting late in the process while posting a winning 56 figure. She is probably the lesser light of the pair but still must be respected.
Final Mesa brings an unbeaten 3 for 3 record to the party. She has won at 3 different venues, 2 on the synthetic and one on the conventional surface at Delaware. This miss has keen speed but she has been able to sit just off the pace and still perform. She also has a right to mature with grace as there are several multiple race winners in the family including Grade 3 winner and over $300,000 earner Uncle Camie.
Dos Lunas, like all of her rivals today, is coming off a win. She shocked at 14-1 on the Churchill turf in late June drawing away at the end. Out of a SP winner, Dos Lunas is kin to juvenile winner African Moon and has to proven she can handle the main track.
Show Me the Bling had to fight hard for her debut win at Monmouth Park but that battle-tested result could help her here. She was flattered when the place and show horses in the debut came back to win. Her pedigree is on the soft side as the lone half brother to race lost thrice.
When the gates open, look for the race to unfold like an Indy 500 as there will be no holding back early. Expect Le Mi Geaux to gun and make the lead with Stopspendingmaria, Let’s Get Fiscal and Final Mesa in hot pursuit.
The pace will likely be somewhere in the :45 2/5 arena and at the top of the lane the cream of the crop will rise to the occasion as Final Mesa will get a perfect journey right off the lead and pounce when it counts to win going away.
Value will not be there for Final Mesa on top only but if you can successfully key her in a horizontal exotic, that may be the right ticket.
Good luck.
