Eskenformoney seeks elusive stakes win in Summer Colony

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After a frustrating second-place finish in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher last month at Monmouth Park, Eskenformoney appears well spotted to make amends when she faces just five other fillies and mares in Monday’s $100,000 Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga.

Eskenformoney was outgamed a neck by Genre in the Molly Pitcher after taking the lead in early stretch. Had Eskenformoney won the race, she would not have been eligible for the 1 1/8-mile Summer Colony, which is written for horses who have not won a graded stakes in 2016.

Eskenformoney, owned by Star Ladies Racing, has placed in graded stakes four times. She was given seven months off following her fourth-place finish last September in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx, and she may be in the best form of her career following three straight solid efforts, capped off by her near miss in the Molly Pitcher.

“I think she’s cycling back to her best form right now,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Her last three races were very good, unfortunately without a win. It looked like she had Genre beat last time, and Genre just fought back on the inside. But I thought it was a good effort for her. I’m a little concerned about the turnaround, but I thought this was a good opportunity for her.”

Eskenformoney has won three of her 17 starts but is winless in eight stakes races, seven of them graded.

Sweetgrass, who finished a distant third in the Grade 3 Shuvee in her last start, and Tiger Ride may prove to be Eskenformoney’s chief foes.

Sweetgrass has placed in three graded stakes and was extremely impressive two starts back when rallying to a 5 3/4-length win in an optional claimer/allowance at Belmont Park for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Tiger Ride has been racing exclusively on grass of late but is proven on dirt as well. She’s also the only graded stakes winner in the field, having captured the Grade 3 Valley View, a race moved from turf to the main track, last fall at Keeneland.

Money’soncharlotte, Rachel’s Temper, and Milaya complete the field.

Key Contenders

Eskenformoney, by Eskendereya
Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-87

◗ She will break from the outside under Javier Castellano, but Pletcher said he’s not concerned about the post. “I think she’s got enough tactical speed, and she doesn’t mind being in the clear,” he said. “Hopefully, she’ll be able to save some ground around the first turn.”

Sweetgrass, by Street Sense
Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-84

◗ She has been a model of consistency of late from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint, although she may have to up her game a bit to match strides with Eskenformoney and Tiger Ride.

Tiger Ride, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 87-81-90

◗ Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will make a rare appearance here this summer to keep his regular seat on the versatile filly, with whom he won the Valley View last fall.

Solid allowance sprint

The Summer Colony is the main event on a card that also includes a stakes-quality field of New York-breds competing under allowance conditions going six furlongs in the sixth race.

Weekend Hideaway, a two-time stakes winner this spring at Belmont Park, likely will be favored against a lineup that also includes Pletcher’s Awesome Gent and the speedy Love That Jazz.