Bay of Plenty benefits from clean trip to win Alydar

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bay of Plenty took advantage of his inside post and his abundance of early speed to record a front-running, 2 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes at Saratoga, spoiling the return to the races of the multiple Grade 1 winner Palace Malice, who finished fourth.

Bay of Plenty, who was severely compromised by having to check hard early in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, had no such issues Sunday. Breaking from the rail, Joel Rosario was able to hustle Bay of Plenty out of the gate to secure a clear advantage going into the first turn.

Kept in the three path down the backside, Bay of Plenty set fractions of 23.29 seconds for the quarter, 46.84 for the half, and 1:10.94 for six furlongs while widening to a four-length lead. He was six in front at the eighth pole and won comfortably despite the game effort of Mylute, who rallied seven wide down the lane.

Bay of Plenty, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.92. He returned $8.80 as the 3-1 second choice.

“He got wiped out in his last race so it’s nice to see him have a nice clean trip, and he a ran big race,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Bay of Plenty for Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s Godolphin Racing. “He went to the lead and opened up and kept going, ran a fast time, and he was impressive today. We’ll have to see where we go from here, hopefully a graded stakes.”

McLaughlin didn’t discount the Grade 1 Woodward here Sept. 5.

“It’s a tough spot, but we would consider it,” McLaughlin said.

Bay of Plenty wore front bandages for the first time, something McLaughlin said was done as a precaution.

“He’s been hitting [himself] a little bit, running down a little bit,” said McLaughlin. “We put them on when we have to put them on.”

Palace Malice, in just his second start of the year and first since running third in the Diablo Stakes at six furlongs, broke a little slow, was three wide entering the first turn, and was five wide down the backside. He made a mild bid around the turn and showed some grit to get fourth by a neck over Noble Moon. Palace Malice was defeated 7 1/2 lengths.

“He got a little tired down the lane,” said John Velazquez, who rode Palace Malice. “He made a nice move around the turn. I thought I might not win, but at least I could be second. By the eighth pole, I knew he was getting tired. I kept trying to encourage him, and he ran an even race from the eighth pole to the wire.”

Cot Campbell, owner of Palace Malice, was disappointed but not discouraged.

“Not what we wanted, but we’re not down and out,” Campbell said. “I wouldn’t think we would throw the Woodward out.”