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Georgie’s Angel’s Schuylerville Stakes

 

Legendary Turf writer Red Smith once described Saratoga: “From New York City, you drive north for about one hundred seventy-five miles, turn left on Union Avenue, and go back one hundred years.”

Many have referred to the entrance of Saratoga as a portal to racing’s rich past.Saratoga Race Course, the oldest sports venue still operating in the nation, has always paved a path towards horseracing’s future.The racetrack has commonly been the starting gate for the best of racing’s legends.Horses such as Man O’ War, Native Dancer, and Secretariat, have used this racetrack as a stage to first reveal their excellence.

Up and coming juvenile filly, Georgie’s Angel, has also used Saratoga Race Course, nicknamed ‘The Spa’, as a stage to spotlight her early success.When she gave her trainer, Todd Pletcher, his fourth win in the Schuylerville Stakes, Georgie’s Angel proved to be a horse that may have the ability to take the juvenile championships for fillies.

The Schuylerville, the feature race for Saratoga’s opening day, originally attracted a field of nine, but was a six horse contest due to the scratching of three horses.Among the cluster of promising fillies was Gypsy Robin whose race prior to the Schuylerville was a seventh place in the Group II Queen Mary Stakes.Georgie’s Angel, coming off a 6 ¼ length romp at Churchill Downs, was the betting choice at 4-5 by post time.

With John Velazquez aboard, Georgie’s Angel was the first to break from the gates.After a clean start, she was held back in third while 18-1 shot Vukovar rushed up to set the pace with Gypsy Robin (7-2) not far behind in second.Georgie’s Angel calmly maintained a half-length lead over eventual third placer, Force de La Nature at odds of 7-2.

After Vukovar set a blistering quarter mile of :21.38, Georgie’s Angel drew away from Force de La Nature, but the opposing juveniles trailing the Bellamy Road filly did not let her out of their sights.The entire field overtook the two leading fillies into the homestretch, despite having to go wide around the turn.Georgie’s Angel, owned by Sheffer Racing Stable, looked slightly weary under urging mid-stretch, however, when Velazquez went to the whip left-handed, it appeared that the filly accelerated, and galloped strong to the wire.With a time of 1:10.68, Georgie’s Angel’s winning margin was 1 ½ lengths.

Following the win, Pletcher stated that Georgie’s Angel’s next start will come in the form of the GI Spinaway Stakes on September 4.

Georgie’s Angel’s pedigree tells us that she should have the ability to run all day.Along with having a couple crosses of Belmont Stakes winner, Man O’ War, her third dam is by New Prospect, tracing back to La Troienne (FR).Another cross of La Troienne’s sire, Teddy (FR), can be found in New Prospect.

The Belmont Stakes in engrained into her female family.Horses from family eight include Belmont Stakes winner, Birdstone; Roman Ruler, a sire of Belmont Stakes winner, Ruler on Ice; Whirlaway, who won the Belmont Stakes to complete a successful bid for the Triple Crown; Belmont Stakes winners, Jazil, and his sister, Rags To Riches.Then there are other successful horses in that family such as Kentucky Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus; John Henry, who had multiple wins on Turf at the Belmont Stakes distance; and legendary sire, Storm Cat.

 

Overdriven’s Sanford Stakes

 

This proved to be a big weekend for Tale of the Cat’s stud record, having two big wins in the form of It’s Tricky in the C.C.A Oaks, and Overdriven, in the Sanford Stakes.Overdriven has an extremely similar pedigree to It’s Tricky, whose broodmare sire is Tale of the Cat.Both horses have crosses of Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, and Bold Ruler.

Adding to this, the impressive three year old filly, and the juvenile colt are members of female family eight, which also had success this weekend with Georgie’s Angel, and Plum Pretty, who placed to It’s Tricky in the C.C.A Oaks.Each of these strong performances by the family eight horses come at Saratoga Race Course.

Overdriven is one of the multiple standouts out of a power-packed weekend of racing across the country.The physically impressive juvenile is owned by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable that campaigns Belmont Stakes second placer, Stay Thirsty; and Uncle Mo, who had his first workout at the dawn of Saratoga’s opening.

In the Sanford Stakes, Overdriven’s main opposition came in the form of Jack’s In The Deck, who was the only Stakes winner competing in the race.Jack’s In The Deck was my selection entering the Sanford.However, upon watching him cross the wire third beaten seven lengths, I have come to the conclusion that he may have to be dealt out of the Bits N’ Bunny deck if he continues to show no improvement.

Going off at odds of 1-4 in the six furlong contest, the colt ridden by John Velazquez broke cleanly from gate six, and hung at the hindquarters of pacemaker, Black Rhino.The two juveniles traveled several lengths ahead of the field.

Following the quarter mile run in :22.4, and a half mile run in :45.67, Overdriven had a surge at the quarter pole that brought him neck and neck with the opposing 11-1 shot.Overdriven overtook the eventual fourth placer, Black Rhino, into the stretch, and pulled away from the six horse field to win by four lengths.With his solid, fluid stride, this bay colt ran a relaxed race that displayed a remarkable young horse.

Trainer Todd Pletcher described his potential star perfectly: "...he's obviously a very mature two year old, physically and mentally, precocious and gifted with some natural talent."

Regarding the Champagne, we already know that Overdriven will handle the sandy track well, having won on the surface prior to the race.Against a five horse field, his maiden victory came at Belmont Park.Despite bobbling at the start, the Kentucky-bred two year old went on to defeat his competition by 3 ½ lengths.