Adam Coglianese
Peter Deutsch’s Saratoga Dreamer (Elusive Quality), whose first two career starts came on the green, fulfilled trainer Christophe Clement’s expectations that he would thrive on dirt by winning the inaugural running of the $125,000 Rego Park Stakes for New York-bred sophomores at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday.
Originally scheduled for last Saturday, but lost due to a weather cancellation, the six-furlong sprint attracted one additional entry when it was redrawn for Friday to make up a field of seven.
During the loading process, Saratoga Dreamer, 3-1 second choice at post time, hardly acted the part of a horse destined to end up in the winner’s circle, resisting the assistant starters and requiring a blindfold to get in the gate. Once settled, however, the chestnut colt was all business, breaking well and setting up shop behind duelers Regal Minister and Breakin the Fever, who led the field through a first quarter-mile in 23.56 and clocked a half in 47.29.
In the far turn Saratoga Dreamer picked up the tempo and angled out with intent, advancing into second as he entered the lane and taking aim at pacesetter Regal Minister with two lengths to make up.
Closing the gap, he engaged a game Regal Minister in the final furlong, made a steady determined bid for the lead, and took over in the final seventy yards before edging away to secure win by a neck. Favorite Regal Minister finished second, followed across the line by Drama King, Breakin the Fever, Agent Van Alden, Deficit Hawk, and Chasing Bubbles. The final time for six furlongs over the fast inner track of 1:12.83. [VIDEO]
Saratoga Dreamer won his turf sprint debut at Saratoga on August 20, but followed up with a last-of-eight finish in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on turf at Woodbine on September 13 after more shenanigans behind the gate. For his third start at Aqueduct, the colt added lasix and was reunited with winning debut rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Ortiz said, “I broke good and he put me in a great position. I didn’t have to use my horse in the first part of the race, just save him for the end. He finished good. One thing I like about Christophe Clement is that he trains the babies very good; he puts them behind horses to take some dirt. I was very confident with the dirt, and when I asked him he kicked in.”
Adam Coglianese
Clement, who had said as early as last summer following the colt’s winning turf debut, “I’m not 100% sold he is a turf horse,” commented by telephone, “The horse had trained spectacularly on the dirt in Florida. I was thinking about a race here for him, but it got cancelled. I saw this race and was able to get him up there to run in it. Before he ever ran, he trained so well on the grass I felt I had to run him on the grass. The second time, I tried stretching him out to a mile but he acted up badly behind the gate. He probably wants to sprint at this stage.”
Saratoga Dreamer’s reward for his Rego Park victory will be to spend the rest of the winter in a friendly climate. Said Clement, “He’ll come back to Florida for a freshening and return to New York in the spring.” Saratoga Dreamer’s earnings now total $120,603.
Bred by Aynsford Holdings LLC and foaled on March 24, 2012 at Hidden Lake Farm in Otisville, Saratoga Dreamer is the fourth winner from four foals to start out of St Francis Wood, a black type placed daughter of Irish River (FR) purchased by Anynsford Holdings at the 2011 Keeneland January sale for $47,000. St Francis Wood is a full sister to turf stakes winner Abbey Bridge.
Offered at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Saratoga Dreamer was a $95,000 RNA. A younger sibling, 2-year-old filly Laurel Heights (Capo Blanco [IRE]), brought $180,000 at the Fasig-Tipton preferred New York-Bred yearlings sale in 2014.
