Brightwork runs away with Adirondack Stakes
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Following a maiden victory by Brightwork at Keeneland in April, trainer John Ortiz made a plan for the 2-year-old filly by targeting Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.
Everything worked smoothly to get here and then even better in the race as Brightwork, sitting a beautiful stalking trip under Irad Ortiz Jr., ran away from the competition to win the Adirondack by five lengths at sun-soaked Saratoga.
Here U Come Again, sent off as the 5-2 favorite off one impressive maiden win at Ellis Park, was part of the early pace and held second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of the other speed, Streaming Now.
Magic Cross finished fourth, followed by Princess Indy, Princesa Celina, Schuylerville winner Becky’s Joker, and Copper Em. Cara’s Time and Saratoga Secret were scratched.
The was the third win in as many starts for Brightwork, a daughter of Outwork owned by Bill Simon’s WSS Racing.
In between her maiden win and Sunday, Brightwork won the Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park on July 2. Ortiz came into the Adirondack very confident and expressed as much to Irad Ortiz Jr., who was riding the filly for the first time.
“He told me in the paddock ‘I’m pretty confident she’s going to run a good race, so ride her with confidence,’“ said Irad Ortiz, who added the only thing the trainer didn’t want to do was get involved in a speed duel.
Ortiz had Brightwork in the second flight of horses, one length behind Here U Come Again and Streaming Now, who battled through a half-mile in 45.33 seconds.
Ortiz tipped Brightwork out into the clear turning for home and she responded when he asked her to run.
Brightwork covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.85 and returned $12.20 as the 5-1 third choice. She earned as 89 Beyer Speed Figure.
“She blows me away every time, not only in the mornings, but in the afternoons,” Ortiz said. “It magnifies what I see in the mornings. She comes out of every race with such class.”
Ortiz said he would point Brightwork to the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway here on Sept. 3.
Becky’s Joker, who upset the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day, never got involved Sunday, finished seventh, beaten 15 1/4 lengths.
Trainer Gary Contessa said that jockey Javier Castellano told him Becky’s Joker “was acting really squirrely in the gate, like maybe she’s in heat.”
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