Bayerness catches Aunt Kat to win Shine Again Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Bayerness proved she can be just as fast and effective on a dry track as she has been over a wet one.

Finding the room in midstretch, jockey Luis Saez tipped Bayerness off the rail and they were able to run by favored Aunt Kat inside the sixteenth pole to win Wednesday’s $120,000 Shine Again Stakes by one length at Saratoga.

Aunt Kat, who set a pressure pace under Junior Alvarado, held second by a nose over Casual. Whispering Pines, Honor Way and Bronx Beauty completed the order of finish.

The win was the fourth from 10 starts and first in a stakes for Bayerness, a 4-year-old daughter of Bayern owned by Belladonna Racing and trained by Cherie DeVaux. It was her first win on a fast track since she won a six-furlong maiden race at Keeneland in October 2019.

In her first three starts this year, Bayerness had caught wet tracks, winning an allowance and placing twice in stakes, but running the highest speed figures of her career.

“It’s been quite some time since she’s been able to get on a dry track, and last year when she was stretching out, she was on a lot of fair, fast tracks but [routing] wasn’t what she really was meant to do,” DeVaux said from Kentucky where she watched the race on television. “I think the time off, her maturity, and keeping her at sprint distances has really done her well. It’s nice to see her get the win on a fast track and get a fair assessment of where she is.”

Saez, the leading rider at the meet with 26 wins, had Bayerness in fourth and on the inside while Aunt Kat set the pace, pressed by Bronx Beauty and a three wide Whispering Pines, through a half-mile in 46.24 seconds.

In the stretch, Saez had plenty of horse, but just needed some room. He moved his horse forward just as Bronx Beauty, under Irad Ortiz Jr., was going backward. Once clear, Bayerness had dead aim on the leader and was able to run by Aunt Kat.

“She likes to be covered up and in the stretch find a way to keep going, and she gave me a nice, nice kick,” Saez said. “I was a little patient, waiting for the room.”

Bayerness covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.80 and returned $9.10 as the second choice.

“You hold your breath and hope there comes a time when she can get through,” said DeVaux, who won her second career stakes, first at Saratoga. “Luis is riding so well right now, has all the confidence in the world. He didn’t panic and it made the difference.”

DeVaux said Bayerness will be considered for the Grade 1 Ballerina here on Aug. 28.