Embellish the Lace bounces back in big way with Alabama win

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In his younger days, trainer Tony Dutrow wouldn’t have run Embellish the Lace in the Grade 1 Alabama coming off such a dreadful performance in the filly’s previous start.

But wisdom gained from nearly 30 years of training on his own gave Dutrow the confidence to believe in himself and his filly and to give her another opportunity in a big race.

That faith was rewarded in a big way Saturday as Embellish the Lace, under Javier Castellano, led many of the best 3-year-old dirt fillies in training on a merry but futile chase as she captured the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama by 1 1/4 lengths at sun-splashed Saratoga.

I’m a Chatterbox, off a bit slow, rallied to get second by 3 1/2 lengths over Curalina, the 2-1 favorite who finished a half-length in front of Danette. She was followed in order by Include Betty, Lovely Maria, and Sweetgrass.

The result muddied the waters of the 3-year-old filly division, which now is lacking a clear leader.

“It’s wide open,” said Larry Jones, trainer of I’m a Chatterbox and two-time Grade 1 winner Lovely Maria. “It’s whoever finishes up the year the best is what it looks like.”

Though Dutrow has won several Grade 1 races – including the King’s Bishop, the Ballerina, and the Spinaway twice here – he called this the biggest win of his career.

“I consider the Alabama an iconic race, personally,” Dutrow said. “I’ve won my share of nice races, but I don’t feel that I’ve won a race of this magnitude.”

Embellish the Lace won a first-level allowance race by 13 3/4 lengths at Pimlico going two turns June 4. Twenty-three days later, Dutrow ran her back in the Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont. Embellish the Lace showed runaway speed dueling through a hot half-mile only to fade to ninth, beaten 11 1/2 lengths by Include Betty.

Dutrow said he ran the filly back too quickly, and the one-turn configuration of the Mother Goose wasn’t to her liking.

“I made some mistakes, which I should have known better,” Dutrow said.

Dutrow, 57, was willing to forgive the race and soldier on, something he might not have done if he were 37.

“Had I been a younger man, I would have been disappointed and given up on my filly to this extent,” Dutrow said. “But she always made me feel way too good that I was willing to forget that race and go on to the Alabama. When we brought her up to Saratoga and trained her for this race, I had no doubts where she was going to run.”

Looking at the pace scenario for the race, Dutrow had no doubt how Embellish the Lace would try to win the Alabama: on the front end. He was taken somewhat aback when Castellano came to the paddock and said he thought he would try to sit second.

“When Javier came out and told me he was going to try and sit second, I was like, ‘Javy, you’ll know what to do when the gates open, but I think they all may be watching you, so if they give it to you, don’t hesitate.’ ”

Embellish the Lace came out on top and opened a length lead after a quarter in 24.03 seconds. She maintained that advantage through a half-mile in 48.38, six furlongs in 1:12.85, and a mile in 1:37.33. She opened the lead to three lengths by midstretch and settled for a 1 1/4-length margin as I’m a Chatterbox tried to close the gap.

Embellish the Lace, a son of Super Saver and a half-sister to the Travers winner Afleet Express, covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.97. She returned $14 as the fifth choice. Embellish the Lace is owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

“I didn’t expect her to be on the lead, to be honest with you,” Castellano said. “I thought there was more speed in the race, but nobody wanted to go. I tried to rate a little bit in the first turn, but nobody wanted to take it, so I took it. They let me go the first quarter nice and slow, and I go from there.”

Jones wanted I’m a Chatterbox to be a little closer earlier in the race but thought she was compromised by a bobble at the break under Florent Geroux.

“She got put in tight and had to get back on her feet at the start, so it started her off a little farther back than what we wanted,” Jones said. “But she had a good trip."