Despite getting off to a poor start, heavily favored Contested was able to wear down Gypsy Robin in the Saratoga homestretch to win the $500,000 Test Stakes (gr. I) this afternoon in impressive fashion.
Ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano, Contested was very slow into stride and was beaten to the lead by Ullapool and Gypsy Robin, with Ullapool setting blazing fractions of :21 2/5 and :44 flat while leading Gypsy Robin by two lengths. There was another gap of three lengths back to Contested, with Well Kept and Beautiful But Blue next in line. Book Review, the second choice, was last of ten early on.
Rounding the final turn, Gypsy Robin moved up on the outside of Ullapool to challenge for the lead, and the front-runner quickly gave way. But Gypsy Robin's lead was short-lived, as Contested was rallying into contention on the far outside. Despite the change in running style, Contested was able to overcome the adversity and wear down Gypsy Robin inside the eighth pole to win going away by about two or three lengths. The final time was 1:22.47 seconds.
Gypsy Robin held well to finish second, while Beautiful But Blue and Well Kept rounded out the superfecta. Book Review failed to rally. The winner is owned by Natalie Baffert and trained by Bob Baffert.
-Keelerman
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