Mainstay, Ontheonesandtwos among promising group in Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mainstay came out second best following a bit of an eventful beginning behind the Norm Casse-trained Pretty Birdie in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day of the 2021 Saratoga session. And it is another Casse-trained 2-year-old filly in Ontheonesandtwos whom Mainstay may have to beat when she wheels right back here Sunday in the $200,000 Adirondack.

Mainstay was bet to the 6-5 favorite in the six-furlong Schuylerville off a wire-to-wire 7 3/4-length victory in her career debut a little over a month earlier at Monmouth Park. But after bobbling at the break of the Schuylerville, Mainstay was forced to chase the speedy Pretty Birdie. She remained in striking distance but failed to muster enough of a late kick to get closer than two lengths to the winner. She was much the best of the others, finishing 5 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Saucy Lady T, who will also wheel back in 24 days in the Grade 2 Adirondack.

“Obviously, bobbling at the break did not help, although I think she might have lost her best chance even more so in the lane when she seemed to lose her attention,” trainer Butch Reid Jr. said when looking back on the Schuylerville. “It looked like something caught her eye in the grandstand and it caused her to duck in behind the leader in the stretch, which might have cost her even more than the start.”

Reid said Mainstay bounced out of the Schuylerville in great shape, which is why he decided to bring her back and stretch her out to 6 1/2 furlongs in the second of three graded stakes for juvenile fillies here this summer.

“She’s doing well and the exercise rider feels she’s been more focused in the morning since that race,” said Reid. “It’s all part of the learning process for these young fillies. One thing I’m glad of is that she’s finally drawn an outside post. She’s got good tactical speed, so hopefully she’ll be able to sit in the catbird seat early from out there.”

Joel Rosario will replace Frankie Pennington aboard Mainstay from post 8 in a field of nine on Sunday.

Ontheonesandtwos was also an impressive debut winner but then a beaten favorite in her stakes debut, finishing second in the Debutante at Churchill Downs on June 26. She, too, was the victim of an unlucky trip that began with a bit of a slow start. She was forced to race very wide around the turn and into the stretch, and did well to lose by one length.

“She ran into a fast pace while very wide and had every reason to lay down at the end,” Casse said when asked about Ontheonesandtwos’s trip in the Debutante. “Yet she still ran on right to the wire and I felt she was the best horse that day. We’ve been trying to teach her to run from off horses. She’s doing well, and I’m really excited about bringing her here Sunday.”

Ontheonesandtwos will also have a new rider for the Adirondack in Irad Ortiz Jr.

Although Mainstay and Ontheonesandtwos figure to draw plenty of support, the Adirondack is anything but a two-horse race. The field includes Microbiome, who led throughout and drew away to an easy 5 1/2-length victory when debuting here on July 15, and Wicked Halo, who set an eye-catching early pace in the Debutante before succumbing grudgingly to finish third, a half-length behind Ontheonesandtwos.