Maple Leaf Mel makes short work of Seeking the Ante Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Maple Leaf Mel ran her record to two wins in as many starts by turning back a challenge in midstretch and then drawing away for a geared-down win in the $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds at Saratoga on Friday.
Owned by Bill Parcells, the NFL Hall of Fame coach, Maple Leaf Mel won her first start gate to wire by five lengths sixteen days ago, earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, best in the five-horse Seeking the Ante field. She went off in the Seeking the Ante at 3-5 and raced to her odds.
Under Joel Rosario, Maple Leaf Mel ceded the early lead to Song Parody to her inside, but Rosario then rushed her up to the helm within the first furlong of the 6 1/2-furlong race. She laid down a quick first quarter of 21.74 on the sloppy track and then geared down for her next quarter, completing the first half-mile in 45.42 while being pressured by Song Parody.
Around the turn, Lady Mine rushed up from mid-pack, and by the 3/16th pole she had drawn even with Maple Leaf Mel. But Rosario pushed back, Maple Leaf Mel responded, and the filly darted away to win by 3 1/2 easy lengths in final time of 1:18.07. Lady Mine was second, 2 1/4 lengths better than Miracle in third.
Parcells said he wasn’t worried when Lady Mine caught up to his filly.
“I know Joel pretty well,” he said after the race. “I’ve seen him, what he does, how he behaves. He’s worked the horse, he’s been on the horse. I knew he had horse left. … Her first race wasn’t contested. So we wanted her to get in a little scuffle.”
Maple Leaf Mel, who has a steel-gray coat, is named for trainer Jeremiah Englehardt’s assistant, Melanie Giddings, who is from Canada. Maple Leaf Mel was purchased by Parcells at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale in May for $150,000. She is by Cross Traffic, out of the City Place mare City Gift.
Englehardt said that Maple Leaf Mel may face open company next.
“We knew she was a talented filly, and she handled another test, coming back on a short rest and handling an off track and doing everything Joel asked her to do,” Englehardt said.