Likely rematch for Pretty City Dancer, Sweet Loretta in BC Juvenile Fillies
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Pretty City Dancer and Sweet Loretta, the two progeny of Tapit who dead-heated for the win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga, will likely meet again in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but will take different paths getting there.
Pretty City Dancer, trained by Mark Casse, will soon depart for Kentucky and be pointed to the Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 7. Sweet Loretta, trained by Todd Pletcher, said he will train his filly up to the Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.
Pretty City Dancer, who added the Spinaway to her victory in the Debutante at Churchill Downs on July 2, was able to catch Sweet Loretta despite failing to change leads in the stretch.
“She’s always been that way a little bit,” said Casse, who trains Pretty City Dancer for John Oxley. “She’s still learning. The good news is I think the farther the better. We’re excited. I think she’s a legitimate Breeders’ Cup horse and I think she proved that yesterday.”
After finishing third in her debut at Churchill Downs in May, Pretty City Dancer has reeled off three consecutive victories.
Sweet Loretta is 3 for 3 and added the Spinaway to a resume that also includes the Grade 3 Schuylerville here on opening day.
Sweet Loretta drifted out a bit in the stretch and bumped Pretty City Dancer late. There was a steward’s inquiry into the finish, but no change was made.
“It’s one of those things where I talked to 10 different people and heard 11 different opinions,” said Pletcher, who won his record sixth Spinaway. “We’re happy she got the victory.”
Pletcher said, after speaking with owner Vinnie and Teresa Viola of St. Elias Stable on Sunday morning, the decision has been made to simply train Sweet Loretta up to the Breeders’ Cup.
“She’s handled every increase in class and distance that we’ve asked her to so far,” Pletcher said. “Each step gets a little bigger and a little farther, but we’re optimistic.”
Pretty City Dancer and Sweet Loretta both earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for the Spinaway.
Pretty City Dancer and Sweet Loretta were among several horses who appeared to lose their footing coming out of the gate in the Spinaway. Cherry Lodge, a Pletcher trainee, bobbled at the break, dueled on the lead with Runway Doll and finished third.
“Her first step was okay, her second step she really bobbled and when she got up, she got a little too keen after that; it set her on fire a little bit,” Pletcher said. “I thought she ran credibly, considering.”
Pletcher said he had not yet spoken to Antony Beck of Gainesway Stable about what would be next for Cherry Lodge.