Backup plan pays off for I'llhandalthecash in License Fee Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – If trainer Ray Handal had his way, I’llhandalthecash wouldn’t have run in Friday’s $80,000 License Fee Stakes at Belmont Park.

Handal desired to run the filly back in an allowance race that was having a hard time filling. Owners Brian Hahn and Greg Petrosky suggested nominating to the License Fee as a backup plan.

Smart move.

I’llhandalthecash, under a heady ride by Jose Ortiz during a driving rainstorm, overtook the pacesetting Miss Auramet in upper stretch, turned aside longshot A Great Time, and then held off a late run from favored Dalika to win the License Fee by a half-length. Dalika was second by three-quarters of a length over A Great Time.

Getmotherarose was fourth, followed by Souper Escape, Escapade, Bridlewood Cat, and Miss Auramet.

“Credit to the owners for picking the spot out,” Handal said.

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I’llhandalthecash was coming out of an allowance race at Churchill Downs where she encountered plenty of trouble in finishing fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. She was moved to third when the runner-up, Hidden Facts, was disqualified for impeding I’llhandalthecash.

Friday, I’llhandalthecash was placed in a stalking position by Ortiz, who had her within a length of pacesetting Miss Auramet through a quarter in 22.02 seconds and a half-mile in 45.56 as the rain teemed down.

Ortiz said he put I’llhandalthecash in that attending position after he noticed the usually speedy Escapade further off the pace than he expected.

“When I saw [Escapade] didn’t go, I said ‘This is going to be a slow pace’ because [Miss Auramet] is going by herself,” Ortiz said. “I decided to take advantage. I was already there, I broke well, and just take my position and hold it as long as I could. She gave me a good kick turning for home.”

Ortiz said that I’llhandalthecash dug in to turn back A Great Time before favored Dalika came with a late run after lacking room at the top of the stretch.

“I’m glad the wire was there,” said Ortiz, who won three races Friday after winning four Thursday.

Handal credited with Ortiz for putting I’llhandalthecash in the game early.

“Kudos to Jose for calling that from the gate,” Handal said. “With the rain coming down, just keeping her in the clear and giving her a shot I thought it was a smart move. On the backside, everyone was trying to get better position, and she was up there, so it was really a heady ride and it paid off.”

I’llhandalthecash, a 4-year-old daughter of Point of Entry, covered the six furlongs over good turf in 1:09.11 and returned $11.80 as the second choice.

I’llhandalthecash could be considered for the $200,000 Caress Stakes on Aug. 1 at Saratoga.