NYRA/Adam Coglianese
By Sarah Mace
Less than 24 hours after presiding over Moonlight Song’s scintillating title defense in the John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack, trainer Charlie Baker sent Francis Paolangeli’s homebred Freud’s Friend from the paddock for his career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for New York-bred juveniles on Friday, only to rejoin the gelding in the winner’s circle after he wired the field at odds of 15-1.
Jockey Manuel Franco hustled Freud’s Friend out of the gate from post five, and the bay, who sports a distinctive long narrow blaze, quickly emerged from the scrum in-between horses to lead the full field of 10 by a length though an opening quarter mile in 22.37.
Saving ground around the far turn, Freud’s Friend opened up some daylight in upper stretch, but challengers were on the move.
Inside the final furlong Freud’s Friend had to dug deep to hold off a determined Jo’s Bold Cat, a first-time starter by Courageous Cat trained by Rick Violette. Freud’s Friend shifted a couple of paths toward the grandstand side under a left-handed whip late, but kept to his task gamely and secured the victory by a nose. After a half-mile in 46.01, the final time for 5 1/2 furlongs over the firm turf was 1:03.60. [VIDEO]
Baker said of his expectations first time out for Freud’s Friend, “You are never sure with a first-time starter. They’ve got to experience the gate and all that stuff, but I felt good coming in because he was training beautiful. He showed speed in his workouts and I figured he’s going to be up close to the pace, but he exceeded our expectations as far as winning and the way he ran.”
The gelding had posted a long, regular series of works at Finger Lakes since April, including multiple moves from the gate.
As far as collecting a pair of Spa victories in less than 24 hours, one in a stakes race, Baker said, “[It’s] great. Great. It’s always good to win at Saratoga. I love it.”
Freud’s Friend, who paid $32.40 to win for a $2 wager, is out of the winning New York-bred mare Thanza Million, by Millions, who has produced five winners from seven foals to start.
Freud stands at Sequel Stallions New York. Freud’s 2016 stud fee was $10,000.
