Fillies by first- year sires duel in P.G. Johnson
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> An interesting angle to today’s $100,000 P. G. Johnson Stakes is that half of the eight entrants, including the two morning-line favorites, are by first-year sires.
Sweet Melania (9-5), a daughter of first-year stallion American Pharoah, comes into today’s race off a maiden win at the P. G. Johnson’s 8½-furlong distance. The victory, on the first Sunday of the meet, followed a pair of unsuccessful maiden tries at shorter distances. Sweet Melania has been working well on the turf at Oklahoma, including a bullet four furlongs two works back.
Crystalle (3-1), a daughter of first-year stallion Palace Malice, crossed the finish line first in her career debut here on Aug. 4 but was disqualified and placed third. Nevertheless, she impressed in that race, rallying from ninth place to finish 2¼ lengths clear of the next finisher. The race was contested at 8½ furlongs.
English Breeze (5-1) is another Saratoga maiden special winner, having cruised by 4 ¾ lengths in her debut (at 8½ furlongs) 15 days ago. The New York-bred daughter of English Channel has been working well at Oklahoma.
Ginseng (8-1) broke her maiden at first asking, at a mile, at Indiana Grand on Aug. 6. The Tiznow filly has been working regularly at Churchill Downs. Sunset Promise (8-1) left the maiden ranks in her third try, a 7½-furlong maiden special at Gulfstream on June 22. The Broken Vow filly will be making her first start around two turns in the P. G. Johnson.
Lucky Jingle (12-1), a daughter of first-year sire Tonalist, broke her maiden in her second try on a yielding course at Laurel on Aug. 10. In her debut, on firm going here at Saratoga, she finished third at 8½ furlongs.
Apurate (6-1), a daughter of first-year stallion Summer Front, is winless in two starts. Lucky Kitten (15-1) has won her last two races, breaking her maiden at five furlongs at Delaware Park and winning an entry-level allowance at a mile at Laurel on Aug. 11.