Love and Pride posted a 10-1 upset this afternoon in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, holding off a late bid from Royal Delta to win the nine-furlong race by a half-length.
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Love and Pride got off to a good start and found herself in second place early on, tracking a moderate pace of :23.16 and :47.69 set by Brushed by a Star. Royal Delta was racing in third on the outside, followed by It's Tricky, who stumbled very badly at the start and found herself off-the-pace rather than on the lead. Tiz Miz Sue and R Gypsy Gold were content to trail the field.
The positions remained unchanged down the backstretch, but rounding the final turn, Love and Pride moved up to take over the lead while Royal Delta loomed a serious threat on the far outside. Then, along the rail, It's Tricky found racing room and shot through to contend for the lead as the field turned for home.
It appeared as though the expected battle between It's Tricky and Royal Delta was about to materialize, but Love and Pride spurted away from them at the top of the stretch and appeared to be on her way to a decisive victory. Royal Delta rallied well inside the final eighth of a mile to make it close, but Love and Pride had enough left to pull off the upset, racing the nine furlongs in 1:49.22 seconds.
Royal Delta finished one length clear of It's Tricky, who flattened out just a bit in the homestretch. Tiz Miz Sue, Brushed by a Star, and R Gypsy Gold completed the order of finish. The winner is trained by Todd Pletcher.
-Keelerman
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