08/29/2011 6:54PM

Saratoga: Mineralogist toughs out a victory in Saratoga Dew

By Mike Welsch
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Barbara D. Livingston
Mineralogist, with David Cohen riding, wins the Saratoga Dew.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mineralogist hadn't won a race in nearly two years, and it appeared that streak would continue when the hole she was going for on the rail closed up nearing midstretch of Monday's $75,000 Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga. But the injury-prone New York-bred filly and jockey David Cohen persevered despite the traffic issues, recovering bravely to outfinish three others to post a well-deserved head decision over the tepid favorite, Banker's Buy, in the statebred stakes for fillies and mares.

Mineralogist, a homebred daughter of Mineshaft owned by Chester and Mary Broman and trained by John Kimmel, last visited the winner's circle on Oct. 24, 2009, when she rallied to a three-quarter-length victory in the Maid of the Mist Stakes at Belmont Park. She was subsequently sidelined more than 16 months first because of knee surgery and then a joint infection before returning this winter at Aqueduct. The Saratoga Dew was her fifth start of the year.

Cohen allowed Mineralogist to settle along the rail about a half-dozen lengths off a slow pace set by Spa City Princess. Mineralogist edged closer while continuing to save ground around the second turn, then attempted to rally inside the leader through the stretch when finally forced to steady and alter course to the outside leaving the furlong grounds.

Mineralogist dropped nearly two lengths off the lead at that point but came again under strong urging from Cohen, finishing best of all between horses to be up in the closing strides. Go Unbridled checked home a nose behind Banker's Buy to be third, with the tiring Spa City Princess another neck back in fourth.

Mineralogist covered 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:53.11 and paid $17.

"She was trying to come through, had nowhere to go, lost momentum, and probably had to make up another length and one half, but she was good enough to do so," said Kimmel. "Her last loss was probably my fault. I told David not to let them get too far in front and he sent her up into a heavy pace and it took her out of her game. You can't ask her to do something she's not comfortable with. Today I just told him to lay back and make one run and it worked out."