P.G. Johnson anyone’s race
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Romantic Babe will not be a bomb longshot in the P. G. Johnson Stakes on turf Thursday at the Spa.
Most folks were looking the other way when she won her debut on Aug. 11 at 38to-1 odds, overcoming some traffic problems and rallying strongly at 5 ½ furlongs.
Romantic Babe stretches out in the P.G. Johnson, worth $100,000 at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
“I knew she wanted to get to the grass, but I didn’t know how much quality she had,” said trainer David Donk. “Obviously, her debut was pretty impressive. She got squeezed at the break and got back in the bridle down the backside. She then had to look for room and split horses, and she finished up really well.”
Romantic Babe is owned by Alifyte Racing LLC and ridden by Manny Franco, who was aboard for her debut victory.
A win by any of the seven 2-year-old fillies entered in the P.G. Johnson would not be a surprise.
Mentality has drawn the inside post and will be hard to handle if she duplicates her first out score at Belmont Park on June 16.
The New York-bred daughter of Freud led all the way in open company at 6 furlongs without being asked for much.
Orbolution, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Orb, broke her maiden at Saratoga on July 23 at this distance on the grass.
It was her third try, following dirt races at Keeneland and Belmont Park.
Life Time Citizen, fourth in the Bolton Landing Stakes on Aug. 16, looks like she will appreciate the distance of the P.G. Johnson.
She broke her maiden at Indiana Grand on May 24 at 5 panels, and makes her fifth career start in this event.
Sassy Siena also won at Indiana Grand, winning her career debut on July 19 at 7 ½ furlongs on turf with a strong late run.
Oldfashioned Style makes her turf debut in the P.G. Johnson off a 7-furlong maiden victory on Aug. 13 that was transferred to the main track.
Wild N Ready, a maiden, completes the field.
She finished third to Romantic Babe on Aug. 11, finding her best stride in the late stages.