Guapaza favored to make it three straight in Glens Falls
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When Guapaza isn’t facing stablemates Sea Calisi or Dacita, she’s difficult to beat. Guapaza will go for her third straight win sans those stable stars when she heads a field of 10 in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga.
In her last start, Guapaza won the Grade 3 Waya by a head over Suffused, who returns Saturday. The Waya was run at 1 1/2 miles; the Glens Falls is run at 1 3/8 miles.
“If anything, I think a mile and a half might be stretching it just a touch for her,” said Chad Brown, who trains Guapaza for the Don Alberto Stable. “She’s been successful at it, but I’m fine with the cutback.”
Guapaza has made five starts for Brown. She finished third behind Olorda and Dacita in the The Very One at Gulfstream in March and was then second to Sea Calisi in the Sheepshead Bay at Belmont in May. In the Grade 2 New York at Belmont, Guapaza again finished third behind Dacita and Sea Calisi. Out of that race, Sea Calisi won the Grade 1 Beverly D., Dacita won the Grade 1 Diana, and Guapaza won the River Memories.
“For the third time in a row, she’s getting class relief by avoiding the likes of Sea Calisi and Dacita,” Brown said. “In that regard, she looks clearly like the one to beat on class. But it’s another mile and three-eighths at Saratoga, another three-turn race with some other talented horses and top connections. It’s going to come down to probably trip.”
Last week, Brown won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer for Juddmonte Farms with Flintshire. On Saturday, Juddmonte will be trying to beat Brown with Suffused, trained by Bill Mott.
The race has other contenders, including Achnaha, Itsonlyactingdad, Gap Year, and Modernstone.
Key Contenders
Guapaza, by Seeking the Dia
Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-95
◗ In winning the Waya, she came from off the pace with a sustained late run, which Brown feels is her preferred running style. She won the River Memories by laying close to a pedestrian pace.
◗ Came home a sharp final quarter in 23.94 seconds in a Sunday workout with fellow Glens Falls starter Ball Dancing.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Guapaza. Trainer Chad Brown is 19-9-2-2 with a $3.83 ROI over the past five years with last-out winners in turf route graded stakes at Saratoga. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Suffused, by Champs Elysees
Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-81
◗ Just missed to Guapaza in the Waya.
“She had to wait a little,” Mott said. “The winner got first run on us.”
◗ Suffused has come out of that race with two solid half-mile breezes over the Oklahoma training track.
“She’s sharp, doing well,” Mott said.
Itsonlyactingdad, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-78
◗ Picked up her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Matchmaker at Monmouth over yielding ground going 1 1/8 miles last time.
◗ In her lone try beyond nine furlongs, she finished second to Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks last year.
“I think the way she ran in the Belmont Oaks last year, when she was a good second to Lady Eli at a mile and a quarter, I’ve been looking forward to stretching her out,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Achnaha, by Haatef
Last 3 Beyers: 93-86-86
◗ Has a record of 1-1-3 from six starts this year.
◗ Beaten only 1 1/2 lengths when third behind Guapaza and Suffused in the Waya.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Modernstone. Trainer Christophe Clement is 16-9-1-1 with a $4.95 ROI over the past five years in turf route graded stakes with John Velazquez aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan