Coinage cashes in by switching surfaces in With Anticipation Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Coinage had a win and two thirds in his first three career starts, but in Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse’s mind the royally bred New York-bred colt was disappointing.

“I thought he was an underachiever,” Casse said.

So, Casse decided to give the son of Tapit and Bar of Gold a try on the grass in the mornings and, based on what he saw, was expecting big improvement when he ran Coinage on the turf for the first time Wednesday at Saratoga.

Able to make the lead and set slow fractions under Junior Alvarado, Coinage delivered his best performance yet, cruising to a front-running, two-length victory in Wednesday’s Grade 3, $150,000 With Anticipation Stakes for 2-year-olds.

The debut winning Portfolio Company, a bit rank early on, finished second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of 4-5 favorite Limited Liability, also a debut winner. Gooch Go Bragh, Kavod, and Silipo completed the order of finish. Ready to March scratched.

Casse said he came to the track Wednesday quite confident in Coinage’s chances. He also came with very succinct instructions to jockey Junior Alvarado.

“Take no prisoners and go,” Casse said he told Alvarado. “This horse is a good horse and he’s got a real high cruising speed.”

Alvarado, breaking from the outside post in the six-horse field, was able to guide Coinage to a clear lead through an opening quarter in 25.66 seconds. He maintained a clear advantage through a half-mile in 50.65. Portfolio Company moved to within a half-length at the top of the lane, but Coinage had plenty left to record the two-length score.

“At the quarter pole, as soon as I ask him, he started moving those legs all over the place very quick,” Alvarado said. “I didn’t think at that point somebody could really go by me. The way he was coming from the quarter pole to the wire I was pretty confident with what I had at that point.”

Coinage, owned by Leonard Green’s D J Stable and Chester and Mary Broman, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.69 and returned $15.80 as the fourth choice in the field of six.

Though Bar of Gold, the mother of Coinage, won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on dirt, she also won the Yaddo here on turf in 2017. Casse said he saw and Alvarado said he felt a difference in Coinage on turf.

“I think he moves good on the dirt but the way he moves on the turf is 100 times better for sure,” Alvarado said.