Competitive Edge scores in Hopeful

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - I Spent It made his presence felt in the paddock. Competitive Edge waited until the gates opened.

In a highly anticipated matchup between sons of the stallion Super Saver, Competitive Edge was the much more professional of the two and rolled to a convincing 5 3/4-length victory over I Spent It in Monday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga.

I Spent It, who acted up in the paddock, in the post parade and in the gate, finished second, nine lengths ahead of the maiden Sharm in third. Requite, Dekabrist, Signature Cat and Maratik completed the order of finish.

Competitive Edge made it 2 for 2, with both wins coming during the Saratoga meet.

Competitive Edge was so quiet in the paddock that his trainer, Todd Pletcher, was a little bit concerned. Conversely, I Spent It gave his handlers all kinds of fits while being saddled and even gave jockey Javier Castellano a difficult time when he attempted to get on the horse.

Walking in the paddock right behind the rambunctious I Spent It was the cool, calm and collected Competitive Edge - perhaps too calm for his trainer.

“I was hoping he’d show a little sign of life there,” Pletcher said. “What’s it going to take to make you get up on your toes? Once we’ve gotten to know him we know that’s him. It’s just amazing that he can do some of the things he does and then come back and absolutely not blow out a match.”

John Velazquez, the rider of Competitive Edge, said he was only worried about I Spent It. Signature Cat went out to the lead and I Spent It went after him through an opening quarter in 22.64 seconds. Velazquez put Competitive Edge right outside of I Spent It, who was ridden by Javier Castellano.

"That was my chance to put the pressure on him, engage him, and let him use his horse early on, and that’s exactly what happened,” Velazquez said.

Competitive Edge put a head in front with three furlongs remaining and ran away form I Spent It and the rest of them in the stretch.
Competitive Edge, owned by Nancy Favreau, Kathy Psoinos and the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier, ran seven furlongs in 1:24.11 and returned $3.30 as the 3-5 favorite.

“He’s impressed us in everything he’s done so far," said Pletcher, who won his third Hopeful. "We’ll see how he continues to stretch out, but I think having such a good disposition is going to enable him to run a little further."

Pletcher must decide now whether to point Competitive Edge for the Champagne at Belmont on Oct. 4 or run in the Frontrunner Stakes, a two-turn race, on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita, site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

I Spent It had misbehaved before, but he overcame it to win a maiden race at Belmont and the Grade 2 Saratoga Special here three weeks ago.

“He has always had behavior issues, problems," said trainer Tony Dutrow. "You can see in the paddock saddling he was a lot different than he was in his two previous races, and he obviously got himself out of sorts today. I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to see. I didn’t know how he’d react to it. Today wasn’t his day for a number of reasons. We’ll work with him and hope for a better day this fall.”