By Your Side much the best in Sanford
“I got the perfect trip,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr, who was aboard By Your Side for the first time. “I had the outside post, and he put me in a good spot early. The speed went, and he was second. He was acting like a professional. He relaxed so well and when I asked him to go, he just turned it on.”
Tomato Bill, a $500k yearling buy at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last summer, took the field through a quarter-mile in 22.60 seconds and a half in 46.19. The More Than Ready colt still led coming off the turn, but By Your Side was poised to his outside, with Raging Whiskey posing a possible threat on the rail. Once By Your Side made his move, however, the outcome was never in doubt.
The winner covered the six furlongs in 1 minute, 10.22 seconds over a fast track. Tomato Bill stayed up for the place by 1 ¾ lengths over Raging Whiskey. Cucina and Memorable also ran.
“He’s shown that he’s the real deal for a while,” said winning trainer Eddie Kenneally, who saddled Bitumin to win the 2016 Sanford. “He’s a very professional horse. He does everything right and relaxed nicely after breaking quick.
“He came to me at Keeneland in April and just continued on from there,” added the Kentucky-based Kenneally. “He never did anything wrong. He has a very efficient, long stride, and his pedigree says that he wants to go longer. The way he relaxed will help [him] go longer as well.”
By Your Side, who races for Anderson Stables LLC, was picked up for $240k at last year’s Keeneland September sale.