Just Cindy's Schuylerville a carbon copy of her debut victory
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Six 2-year-old fillies went into Thursday’s $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes with unblemished records. Only one, Just Cindy, came out of the race still unbeaten after rallying to a convincing 2 1/4-length decision over the 6-5 favorite Summer Promise in the Grade 3 dash that traditionally highlights the opening-day program of the 40-day Saratoga racing season.
Just Cindy, a daughter of Justify, duplicated her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 17, which she also won by 2 1/4 lengths in similar late-running fashion. The extra sixteenth of a mile and a field of talented rivals proved no problem for the promising homebred trained by Eddie Kenneally for Clarkland Farm LLC.
Under confident handling by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Just Cindy rated within easy striking distance of the leaders while saving ground during the early going of the six-furlong Schuylerville. Just Cindy angled out to commence her bid approaching the quarter pole, appeared to brush momentarily with Summer Promise upon settling into the stretch, and edged away readily through the final sixteenth.
Summer Promise, who won her maiden in easy fashion last month at Churchill, stalked the pacesetting Musicmansandy before readily taking command midway on the turn, but proved no match for the winner while remaining easily second best. Janis Joplin, the only maiden in the field of seven juvenile fillies, rallied from last to finish third while never menacing the top pair.
Just Cindy completed the distance over a fast track in 1:11.95 and paid $6.20. She earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure.
“We liked her going into her first start, she got it done and I thought she came back and ran a very professional race today, especially breaking from the inside,” said Kenneally by phone from Kentucky after the race. “Irad rode her patiently and with such confidence. He found a seam and got her out at the right time, and I think she’ll improve again next time with some distance.”
Kenneally said he would definitely bypass the second graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies here this summer, the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack on Aug. 7, to await the Grade 1 Spinaway four weeks later.
“She only had 27 days from her first start to this one so the next race [the Adirondack] definitely comes up too soon,” Kenneally noted. “So we’ll give her a good six to seven weeks and wait for the Spinaway at the end of the meet.”