Iron Orchard wins Fleet Indian in dominant fashion
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Perhaps it’s not too late for Iron Orchard to make good on her lavish purchase price last fall.
Iron Orchard, a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly who was purchased for $2.5 million by KatieRich Stables before last October’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, flashed the form that made her so attractive, going gate to wire to win Friday’s $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes by 12 lengths.
Lady Rose, running back six days after winning an allowance race here, rallied for second, 3 1/4 lengths clear of Venetta, the New York Oaks winner. Unlock the Value, Victory Hall, Power of Women, and New York Special completed the order of finish in the 1 1/8-mile dirt race, which was restricted to 3-year-old New York-bred fillies.
Iron Orchard, a daughter of Authentic, had won her first two starts – both sprints – against New York-breds here last summer for trainer Danny Gargan and owners Randy Hill and Ed Childs. She then got up by a nose to win the Grade 1 Frizette at Aqueduct and two weeks later went through a digital sale, where she was bought by Larry Doyle, who races under the moniker KatieRich Stables.
Iron Orchard stumbled in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar and was beaten by 43 lengths. She was transferred to Steve Asmussen, who was preparing her this spring at Churchill Downs when she got loose one day and ran off the racetrack. Iron Orchard was then off the work tab for a month.
After missing a start in the Bouwerie Stakes for New York-breds in June, Iron Orchard ran in the Grade 3 Victory Ride off a nine-month layoff and finished ninth. Back with New York-breds in the seven-furlong Johnstone Stakes on Aug. 5, Iron Orchard ran fourth.
“The Victory Ride was a disappointment. I needed the Johnstone to get to here,” Asmussen said.
Under Jose Ortiz, Iron Orchard took control of the Fleet Indian soon after the start, outsprinting Power of Women to the front. Iron Orchard was a length clear of pace-prompter Venetta through a half-mile in 47.10 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.42.
Venetta couldn’t keep up and no one else made up any ground as Iron Orchard bounded home a clear winner. The daughter of Authentic covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.70 and returned $5.20 as the favorite.
“I knew [Power of Women] had speed. I was able to clear her and she relaxed very well,” said Ortiz, who won three races on the card and now has a meet-leading 62 victories. “We got pressured at the three-eighths pole. I took a peek. Everybody was struggling behind me, so I was very happy with that.”
Asmussen was simply happy to see Iron Orchard back in the winner’s circle.
“We needed to win this race today,” Asmussen said. “She’s got a lot of races left in her.”
Depending how ambitious her connections want to get, a race like the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 19 could be in play for Iron Orchard.
