Ginger N Rye looking to continue strong Saratoga showing
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Patience usually pays with thoroughbreds.
Trainer Horacio DePaz noticed last winter that something was amiss with his stakes mare Ginger N Rye, who enters Sunday’s $100,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes off an excellent Saratoga victory on July 23.
The Smart N Fancy is for fillies and mares at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.
Ginger N Rye placed in two stakes last year in her home state of Maryland and concluded her season with a second in an optional claiming event on Oct. 30 at Laurel.
She did not race again until her local victory.
“Something was not right with her last winter at Palm Meadows,” said DePaz. “She is usually a very happy filly and when we started her this year she was quiet, which is not like her. We had her diagnosed and her blood work came back not quite right, so we had to give her extra time to get over that hump.”
Her Saratoga race was at the Smart N Fancy distance, marked by a strong late run that saw her defeat two of her rivals today.
They are Miss Katie May, who was second, and thirdplace Rumble Doll, both of which rallied that day from far back.
“Her return was a very nice effort,” said DePaz. “Obvously, with the layoff and her being a 5-year-old now you wonder if she would come back to the form she had before. So it was nice to see she was able to see her run like that off the layoff.”
Ginger N Rye is owned by Sagamore Farm and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.
The first two finishers from the Caress Stakes here on July 24, Miss Ella and Fair Point, are in the Smart N Fancy, the former winning by a length at this distance.
Interestingly, they were also one-two in last year’s Smart N Fancy, with Fair Point the winner that day by a head over Miss Ella.
Paquita Coqueta, Chanteline, and Pretty Perfection appear to be the quickest from the gate in the Smart N Fancy.
Paquita Coqueta set the pace in the Caress Stakes before tiring to fifth.
Chanteline makes her Saratoga and turf debut following a third in the Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows on July 6 at six furlongs.
Pretty Perfection was sixth in the Caress, marked by traffic problems.
However, she strung together three straight turf sprint victories at Gulfstream Park this past winter, winning two stakes including the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint at 5 furlongs.
Ava’s Kitten is right in the mix here and exits a sharp win at this distance at Saratoga on July 27 in top level optional claiming company.
Completing the Smart N Fancy field are Wheatfield, Ultimate Holiday, and Carolina Shag, who was third in the Caress.
Fire Key is on the also eligible list, while Royal Inheritance is entered for main track only.