Harmonize much the best in P.G. Johnson Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Harmonize showed she had grown up quite a bit since her only previous start, drawing off with complete authority down the stretch to dominate the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes decided during a sudden burst of rain showers Thursday at Saratoga.

A field of only six 2-year-old fillies, three of them maidens, ran over a firm course in the 1 1/16-mile P.G. Johnson, a local fixture named after the Hall of Fame horseman. One of those maidens was Harmonize, a daughter of Scat Daddy who was beaten a nose by Thrilled after setting all the pace in her only previous start four weeks ago.

With Junior Alvarado aboard, Harmonize contested a quick early pace with the tepid favorite Ava’s Kitten, before Ava’s Kitten ultimately shook well clear midway down the backstretch. Harmonize commenced her bid in company and inside of Thrilled entering the far turn, took command once settling into the stretch, and then steadily increased her advantage to the wire.

Thrilled swept three wide to join the leaders entering the stretch but proved no match for the winner. She finished four lengths behind while easily second best. Finn’s Girl rallied belatedly near the inside to finish third, a head in front of the weary Ava’s Kitten.

Harmonize completed the distance in 1:41.41 over the firm course and paid $6.40.

“I looked at the horses that were going to be in there and it looked like the horses to beat were the ones in the race with us last time,” said trainer Bill Mott when asked about running a maiden in a stakes. “I thought our filly was very green last time. She was on the lead the whole way and just kind of got a little lonely being by herself turning for home and probably overreacted to the whip a little, drifted out and pulled herself up a little bit. When that horse [Ava’s Kitten] went past her down the backside, it actually helped us out a little bit because it gave her a target and something to focus on.”

Mott said his goal for Harmonize will be the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.