Alterite tries to fire fresh against talented Diana cast
S ARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The filly-and-mare turf division seems to be without a clear-cut leader as we head into the second half of the year. The winner of Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes at Saratoga can certainly put herself in the mix.
A deep field of 10 graded stakes winners – five of whom are Grade 1 winners – were entered for the first Grade 1 of the Saratoga meet. The competitive nature of the race can be defined by the fact that nine of the 10 runners earned Beyer Speed Figures between 92 and 98 in their last starts. The 10th filly, morning-line favorite Alterite, earned a 102 Beyer in her last start, but that came 8 1/2 months ago when she finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
In the last five years, Chad Brown, the trainer of Alterite, has won at a 27 percent clip (38 for 141) with horses coming off a layoff of six months or longer. However, in graded stakes during that span, Brown is 0 for 11, with five seconds and a third, according to DRF ’s Formulator.
“It’s a tall task. Our horses generally really run well fresh,” Brown said. “The filly’s doing tremendous. It’s going to take a big number to win the race, but like I’ve said before, it’s not impossible the way she’s training. She’s never looked better physically, and every breeze has gotten better and better since the break.”
Alterite, an off-the-pace runner to be ridden by Javier Castellano, could get a good pace scenario as Somali Lemonade, Emollient, and Discreet Marq all show a propensity for racing on or close to the lead.
There are several closers who also would benefit, including Brown’s other entrant, Stephanie’s Kitten, who is off form but whose last two works have been terrific; Strathnaver, who just missed by a neck to Coffee Clique in the Grade 1 Just a Game at a mile; and Tannery, who finished second in the New York Stakes to Riposte, the tepid division leader.
DIANA STAKES (RACE 10)
KEY CONTENDERS
ALTERITE (Last 3 Beyers 102-94-92)
Surgery to remove an ankle chip has kept Grade 1 winner Alterite sidelined since the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, where she ran a game third behind Dank and Romantica.
Brown said he chose this race over next weekend’s Matchmaker at Monmouth because it sets up Alterite better for the Beverly D. at Arlington on Aug. 16.
“I like the extra week to the Beverly D.,” Brown said. “Not to say she can’t win this race, but it puts us in position for a filly getting started late in the year to hit two nice Grade 1’s in the summer.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Alterite. Trainer Chad Brown is 0 for 10 over the past five years in graded stakes turf routes following a layoff of at least 180 days.Click for more details. – Dan Illman
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
SOMALI LEMONADE (Last 3 Beyers 95-96-91)
Almost retired after four lackluster performances at the end of her 4-year-old season, Somali Lemonade has turned her career around with the addition of blinkers. In four starts with blinkers, she has two wins, a second, and an extremely game third in the Grade 1 Just a Game last out at Belmont Park.
“I don’t know if it’s the blinkers or the fact she had time off and everything just settled with her,” trainer Michael Matz said.
Matz said that since a third-level allowance win at Keeneland on April 13, “she’s been training more aggressively, more enthusiastically, even without the blinkers.”
Matz’s main concern is avoiding a speed duel with Emollient and/or Discreet Marq.
DISCREET MARQ (Last 3 Beyers 95-93-97)
Trainer Christophe Clement felt she was compromised by a wide trip as the beaten favorite in the Just a Game. Clement doesn’t anticipate his filly getting into a speed duel with Somali Lemonade.
“You can do whatever you want with her. She’s versatile,” said Clement, who added, “She’s a better horse today” than in the Just a Game.
TANNERY (Last 3 Beyers 95-90-92)
Trainer Alan Goldberg said he believes jockey Joel Rosario outrode his rider, Castellano, when Tannery was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Riposte in the New York.
“Rosario rode a tremendous race, packed us in, and got first run,” Goldberg said. “I think half a dozen horses could win depending on the trip.”
Goldberg said he’s worried about being able to get a good trip from post 10 while adding that his filly might want to run farther than the Diana’s distance of 1 1/8 miles.