The Juveniles at Saratoga -- August 12-13th, 2012

Over the course of these two days, it seemed that promising two-year-olds were turning in great performances left and right. Kauai Katie and Spurious Precision back up their impressive debut victories with strong stakes triumphs, and names like Seasoned Warrior and Agilion turned in efforts that left me wondering if they might become stakes winners someday too.

August 12th

Race 6: Maiden Special Weight
6 furlongs for 2yo fillies

Seasoned Warrior was the odds-on favorite for trainer Bill Mott, and the filly ran like on odds-on favorite should. With Junior Alvarado aboard, Seasoned Warrior broke on top, tracked Distortion through an opening quarter mile in :22.36 seconds, took over the lead shortly thereafter, and finished up with powerfully under a hand ride to win by 3 3/4 lengths in the sharp time of 1:10.47 seconds. Bliss rallied from off-the-pace to finish second, while Toasting overcame some traffic issues to be third. Distortion tired to fifth after her early efforts.

Race 7: Maiden Special Weight
1 1/16th miles on turf for 2yo fillies

The stallion Kitten's Joy has been having an excellent Saratoga meet, especially with his two-year-olds going long on the turf. Kitten's Dumplings, trained by Mike Maker and owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, became the latest winner for her magnificent sire when she easily rallied from off-the-pace to win this race by a decisive two lengths. With Javier Castellano aboard, the filly was bumped around a bit at the start, but recovered to race in eighth place while the leaders set slow fractions of :49.59 and 1:15.97. Then, Kitten's Dumpling made an eye-catching five-wide bid to secure the lead in upper stretch and draw off from their to win by two lengths, stopping the clock in 1:46.19 over a yielding turf course. Gustavia rallied from last despite traffic to finish second, while Oscar Party finished third after spending a good portion of the race in that position. Minnie Bear and Neith finished ninth and tenth, respectively, after setting the pace.

Race 10: Adirondack Stakes (gr. II)
6-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies

Kauai Katie was the heavy favorite thanks to her super-impressive debut victory on the opening day of the Saratoga meet, and the filly lived up to expectations to win this race in terrific fashion. With Rosie Napravnik aboard, Kauai Katie went straight to the lead and set stiff fractions of :21.77 and :44.93, yet still had enough left in the tank to coast home under hand urging and score by 2 3/4 lengths. The final time of 1:16.81 was not phenomenal, but her performance most definitely was. Owned by Stonestreet Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher, Kauai Katie's next start will likely come in the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park. Salamera put in a decent run to finish second, but was never a match for the winner. Fully Living turned in a similar effort to be third. Cayllano failed to mount a rally while trailing for much of the race, and Vitameta tired badly after tracking Kauai Katie's pace.

Race 11: Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II)
6-1/2 furlongs for 2yos

Spurious Precision was the favorite at 3-4, and like Kauai Katie earlier on the card, was coming into his stakes engagement off of an impressive debut performance here at Saratoga. Ridden to victory by Alan Garcia, the Richard Violette Jr.-trainee got off to a good start and quickly seized command of the lead, but had to run the opening quarter mile in a practically unheard of :21.35 in order to do so. That alone could have fried his chances, and the half-mile fraction of :44.02 should have, but Spurious Precision just kept on running, opening up a two-length lead past the eighth pole before easing up at the finish to win by five. His final time of 1:16.53 seconds was even faster than Kauai Katie ran one race earlier! He's So Fine took advantage of the fast pace to rally for second, but never threatened the winner. In Harm's Way also closed well to be third. Drum Roll and Southern Honor finished fourth and fifth, respectively, after chasing the winner for a half-mile, while Dan the Tin Man stopped badly on the turn and finished a distant last.

August 13th

Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
6 furlongs for New York-bred 2yo fillies

The favorite was La Java, trained by Richard Violette Jr., but the filly spent most of the race in fourth-place and wound up there at the finish. In the meantime, Agilion turned in one of the most impressive performances I have seen at this meet, rallying from last under a strong hand ride to absolutely blow her six rivals away en route to a decisive 5 3/4-length victory. This despite trailing the field by 6 1/2 lengths passing the quarter pole. To me, this daughter of Lion Heart looks like a very promising prospect indeed, and I cannot wait to see where she runs next. Riptherubberoff dueled with Grand Lely Drive for the early lead and held on well to finish second while no match for the winner. Carameaway tracked the leaders in third but never really presented a rally while maintaining that position to the wire.

Race 7: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs on the turf for 2yo fillies

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole have raced a lot of horses together, with their most famous being 2010 Eclipse champion 2yo male Uncle Mo. Thus, whenever they team up and send out an impressive debut winner, it is natural to think "Could this be the next Uncle Mo?" It is undoubtedly too early to be making comparisons, but I must admit that Coconut Shrimp looked like a filly with a future after winning this race. With Javier Castellano aboard, Coconut Shrimp got off to an excellent start and dueled through fractions of :22.91 and :46.55. She then kicked clear and opened up a 1 1/2-length lead passing the eighth pole before holding off a late challenge from Dancing for Glory to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:04.40. The latter filly raced in fourth for much of the race before finishing up with a strong late kick, giving the impression that she could be one to watch in the future. Sunset Time dueled with Coconut Shrimp for the early lead before tiring somewhat en route to finishing third.

-Keelerman