SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — For the second time in three years, trainer Brent Brinkman won the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga. Only this year, he got credit for the win. In 2021, Brinkman shipped in Cilla to win the Prioress, but the 3-year-old filly ran under trainer Charlton Baker’s name, owing to Brinkman’s inability to get a workman’s compensation policy in New York in time. This year, Brinkman had everything in order and got to stand in the Saratoga’s circle after Alva Starr roared to an 8 3/4-length victory in the $242,500 Prioress. It was the first graded stakes victory for Brinkman. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  “It is, I’m not going to lie,” Brinkman said when asked if it was nice to get credit for this win. Brinkman was brimming with confidence when he brought Alva Starr from Delaware Park to Saratoga in time to get a workout over the track last Sunday. Brinkman had Jose Lezcano work the filly because he wanted him to have as much confidence in the filly as he did. “He has no idea who I am, they just called me on the phone and asked to ride her,” said Brinkman, who is the co-breeder and co-owner of Alva Starr along with Dale Ladner. “I felt like he was a good fit for her, he’s kind of a forward rider and in this race you have to be there and with her, her best asset is being there. “I felt like him getting on her was just going to give him added confidence that we felt like everybody needs,” Brinkman added. Breaking from post 4 in the five-horse field, Alva Starr was pressing the pace three-wide outside of Jersey Pearl and Unified Alliance through an opening quarter in 21.73 seconds. Going into the far turn, Alva Starr had moved away from that pair. Approaching the top of the lane, Prioress favorite Dazzling Blue came up to Alva Starr, but Lezcano asked his filly and she responded, running away from her and Jersey Pearl to get her third victory in five starts. Alva Starr, a daughter of Lord Nelson, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.14 and returned $9 as the third choice. Jersey Pearl got second by 2 1/2 lengths over 3-5 favorite Dazzling Blue. Unsung Melody and Unified Alliance completed the field. “A lot of times good horses make it look easy, but they’re running fast,” Brinkman said. “She’s got a quick turn of foot from a high cruising speed. I told Jose when he worked her and got on her today, I said let her be who she wants to be.” Lezcano said he wasn’t surprised how fast Alva Starr was going early on Saturday after working her the previous Sunday, a half-mile in 48.44 seconds. “I worked her last week and the track was a little heavy and she did it easy,” Lezcano said. “I felt like she was just galloping.” The only hiccup about the race is Alva Starr raced in red and white Saratoga house silks. Brinkman said he brought his silks – yellow with blue chevrons – to the silks’ room on Thursday but they were misplaced. Brinkman said after saddling Alva Starr, he went to the room and they were found and, after the race, Lezcano changed into them for the winner’s circle photo. “I think that’s the first race I’ve ever won in house silks,” Brinkman said. As he did with Cilla in 2021, Alva Starr will be pointed to the Grade 2, $350,000 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 21. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.