Civil Union keeps rolling in Glens Falls
SARATOGA SPRINGS. N.Y. - The late-developing Civil Union made her graded stakes debut a winning one when rallying from just off a snail-like pace to a one-length victory over 8-5 favorite My Sister Nat in the Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes Saturday at Saratoga.
Civil Union entered her 5-year-old campaign this year with only three starts, and has blossomed this summer. She entered the 11-furlong Glens Falls off a pair of victories, including a 1 3/4-length triumph going 12 furlongs in the River Memories earlier this summer at Belmont Park.
With Joel Rosario aboard for the first time on Saturday, Civil Union raced within easy striking distance of the pace-setting Beau Belle, who posted pedestrian splits of 26.76, 53.22 and 1:19.58 for the opening six furlongs over a course listed firm but which appeared to have a little give to it. Civil Union tipped off the rail out closer to the center of the course upon settling into the stretch the second time around, then responded when given her cue by Rosario to readily run down the leader and win going clear.
My Sister Nat trailed through the early going, rallied widest of all into the stretch, finished willingly down the middle of the track through the final furlong, and was just along to be second, a nose in front of the tiring Beau Belle. Lovely Lucky, Eliade, Pallas Athene, and Complicit rounded out the order of finish.
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Civil Union, a homebred daughter of War Front, is owned by the Allen Stable Inc. and trained by Shug McGaughey. Final time was 2:19.80. The winner paid $6.50.
“Ever since she won the River Memories, this is where I planned on running her,” said McGaughey. “I think she may have gotten sick a time or two earlier in her career. After we ran her at Gulfstream, I decided to just wait until we got to the bigger track at Belmont, and she’s done well since then. I liked where we were behind the slow pace. I have a lot of confidence in Joel, but I was watching behind me down the stretch.”
McGaughey said the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont on Oct. 10 was among the possible options for Civil Union’s next start.