Simply Ravishing’s latest checkmark in P.G. Johnson

By Sean Clancy

Turf. Check.

Open Company. Check.

Dirt. Check.

Stakes. Check.

Simply Ravishing checked off all four in her undefeated career with her second win in her second start, taking Thursday’s P. G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Rained off the turf, the $93,000 stakes whittled to just four runners, including two main-track-only entries making their first starts for multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher.

They didn’t stand a chance.

Breaking from the outside in the 7-furlong stakes, Simply Ravishing established a stalking spot outside even-money favorite Con Lima through a quarter mile in :22.82 and a half in :45.67. Luis Saez waited until he wanted, allowing the free-moving filly to lengthen around the far turn, dispatching the favorite in a matter of strides and cruising to an untouched 6 ½-length win over Con Lima and Union Gables. With Saez looking once under his right arm and a couple of times at the infield screen, Simply Ravishing finished in 1:21.85.

Owned by Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing and Nehoc Racing, the New York-bred daughter of Laoban won her debut against open company at Saratoga Aug. 2. That was on the turf against open company.

Bred by Meg Levy, Simply Ravishing attracted the shrewd eyes of trainer Ken McPeek at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Purchased for $50,000, the daughter of a Jim Dandy winner and the maiden Four Wishes has proven to be a bargain.

“It’s so great, that little mare I bought for 500 bucks. I remember because it was my birthday, I was going to the Fasig February sale and somebody called me about this More Than Ready mare,” Levy said. “We bred her to Laoban, we had a breeding right because Mike (Levy, Meg Levy’s husband) did the stallion deal. I’m excited about her. She’s a beautiful horse. Hey, even the little guys can hope and wish. Fingers crossed.”

Laoban stands at Sequel Stallions in Hudson, New York. The son of Uncle Mo has produced two stakes performers in his first crop so far. In addition to Simply Ravishing, Ava’s Grace finished third in the Grade 2 Adirondack for Southern Equine Stable, which co-owned Laoban.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/09/03/simply-ravishings-latest-checkmark-in-p-g-johnson/

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