Feel Glorious gets Clement's weekend off to good start in Perfect Sting Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After winning 15 races from his first 44 starters, trainer Christophe Clement went a bit cold at Saratoga, losing with 17 consecutive runners.
But after Friday’s $100,000 Perfect Sting Stakes, Clement can feel glorious again.
Feel Glorious, the fifth choice in a field of six, found running room in upper stretch under Junior Alvarado and outfinished Chaleur to win the Perfect Sting by a half-length. It was a half-length back to Secret Message in third. She was followed by 9-5 favorite Altea, Cafe Americano, and Piedi Bianchi.
The win was Clement’s 16th of the meet – one behind leading trainer Todd Pletcher – and his seventh stakes victory. It also could be the start of a big weekend for Clement, who sends out top contenders Decorated Invader and Gufo in Saturday’s $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational and Speaktomeofsummer in Sunday’s $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational.
Feel Glorious was coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Matchmaker at Monmouth Park. Clement felt jockey Nik Juarez left Feel Glorious too much to do in that spot.
Friday, Junior Alvarado had Feel Glorious just behind the pacesetting Piedi Bianchi, who set a modest pace of 1:14.04 for six furlongs while stalked by Chaleur.
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In upper stretch, Piedi Bianchi drifted off the rail giving Joel Rosario an opening for Altea, while Alvarado had to go three wide seeking room. Once Alvarado found the room, Feel Glorious kicked in and made the lead in the final 70 yards, overtaking Chaleur who struck the front in upper stretch.
“Every time I asked her she was there for me,” Alvarado said. “When we turned for home, I was lucky to get that nice run on the outside and she showed a nice kick at the end.”
Feel Glorious, a 4-year-old English-bred daughter of Bated Breath owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing, covered the 1 1/16-miles in 1:42.09 and returned $13.60 to win.
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“He rode her with an enormous amount of confidence, so he probably felt he had a lot of horse underneath him the whole time,” Clement said. “I know it’s not a great race, but a good race, you had a short field of good fillies. I think she was the fourth or fifth choice, which surprised me because she trained very well and her two races this year were very good races.”