Iron Orchard impresses in debut

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Iron Orchard was bet like she couldn’t lose her career debut on July 3 – and she didn’t. The New York-bred daughter of Authentic, who brought $500,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s 2-year-olds-in-training auction in April, broke running under Joel Rosario and led every step of the way to win by 5 1/2 lengths. The race was for horses who sold for $60,000 or less at auction or are New York-breds.

Iron Orchard had touted herself in the morning with a series of fast workouts, including a three-furlong move in 34.61 seconds out of the gate on June 2 and a half-mile in 47.06, also out of the gate, on June 19.

“I kind of backed off of her going into the race. She was working too fast,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “I didn’t work her for two weeks going into the race because she was doing too much and I didn’t want to get her over the top. Then I got to worrying about that a little bit. I thought I outsmarted myself. Sometimes you get lucky and it all works out and it goes the right way.”

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Iron Orchard was sent off the 3-5 favorite in the field of nine and returned $3.20 to win. She ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.46 and earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She didn’t run crazy fast because she didn’t have to,” Gargan said. “We think she’s going to get better and I think she’ll stretch out, so we’ll take our time and try to do the right thing by her.”

Options for Iron Orchard at Saratoga include the Grade 3, $175,000 Adirondack going 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 3 or the $150,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes for New York-breds going six furlongs on Aug. 22.

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