Apple Betty has pace edge in Waya Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Apple Betty was put on the lead early on by John Velazquez in last month’s River Memories Stakes at Belmont Park, and the 4-year-old filly was never caught in recording a half-length victory, her first in the U.S. in four starts.

Those front-running tactics may prove useful again Saturday when Apple Betty seeks her first graded stakes victory in the U.S. in the Grade 3, $200,000 Waya Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles over Saratoga’s inner turf course. The race was carded as the third of 11.

Apple Betty, trained by Shug McGaughey for Joe Allen, looks to be the lone speed in the Waya, and she has the further advantage of having drawn the rail in the eight-horse field.

“Let her do her thing, whatever that is,” McGaughey said. “I don’t think she has to be on the lead. You just have to leave her alone.”

Though she began her career in France, Apple Betty appears to appreciate firm ground rather than soft. Rain was in the forecast for Saturday.

Suffused runs in the Waya for a second straight year. She was second in the Waya last year and then came back to win the Grade 3 Glens Falls going 1 3/8 miles here on closing weekend. She had a good winter at Gulfstream Park, winning the La Prevoyante and then the The Very One.

Suffused has lost three straight since then but was beaten only three-quarters of a length when fourth in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine on July 2.

“It wasn’t a horrible race,” trainer Bill Mott said.

Mott believes the 1 1/2 miles of the Waya will benefit Suffused because that distance typically is a race for grinders.

“All those other races, she gallops out in front after the wire,” Mott said. “She doesn’t have the same turn of foot some of those others have.”

Jose Ortiz will ride Suffused from post 4.

Guilty Twelve showed a very good turn of foot to get up in the Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park on July 8, her second consecutive victory this year.

“She’s really game, she’s very tough,” trainer Graham Motion said. “Last time, the turf course was really long and a little more taxing. [At Saratoga] it’s going to be tight and firm.”

Motion also sends out Lottie, who was third, beaten a half-length by Apple Betty, in the River Memories. She gets in with 114 pounds, but jockey Joel Rosario typically does 118.

“We always thought a lot of this filly,” Motion said. “As a 3-year-old, she went to California and got loose one morning and ran into a rail and had a setback.”

Motion said running 1 1/2 miles “is what this filly has wanted to do all along.”

Summersault, second in the River Memories, is a two-time winner over the Saratoga turf course.

Estrechada, Evidently, and Gone Away complete the field.