Celtic Dawn to Suzie O'Cain
:quality(75))
Celtic Dawn, unbeaten in three starts, will attempt to stretch out to one mile on turf in the $200,000 Suzie O’Cain Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares on July 23 at Saratoga, trainer Carlos Martin said Wednesday.
Celtic Dawn won her first two starts on dirt before switching to the turf on June 13. In that race she dominated the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Series by 2 1/2 lengths.
Martin said he wanted to keep Celtic Dawn on the turf but wasn’t sure if he would stretch her out against New York-breds or keep her sprinting in a race like the Grade 3, $225,000 Coronation Cup on July 18 at 5 1/2 furlongs.
“She’s doing excellent. I’m dying to stretch her out,” Martin said. “This way, I can keep her with 3-year-olds and I can keep her with New York-breds.”
Since the Cupecoy’s Joy, Celtic Dawn has worked twice at Belmont Park, including a half-mile move in 48.29 seconds, one in which she galloped out five furlongs in 1:01, according to Martin.