Maybesomaybenot too fast for Sanford foes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Maybesomaybenot outsprinted a field of fast 2-year-olds to the lead and never looked back en route to a 1 1/2-length victory over the late-running Nacho Saint in Sunday's $150,000 Sanford at Saratoga.

Bail Out the Cat, the 9-5 favorite, was among those expected to contest the early pace in the Grade 2 Sanford only to lose all chance when he broke very awkwardly and conceded more than a half-dozen lengths to the rest of the field.

Maybesomaybenot, who had gate issues of his own when launching his career late this spring, entered the Sanford off a convincing wire-to-wire maiden win earlier this month. Both those starts came at Churchill Downs.

Maybesomaybenot came out running from his inside post under jockey Julien Leparoux and quickly assumed control of the six-furlong Sanford. A gelded son of Sunday Break, Maybesomaybenot disposed of a challenge from Another Silver Oak around the final turn and into the stretch, then easily withstood a final surge from Nacho Saint. The latter, the only maiden in the field of eight juveniles, saved ground around the turn, eased out in early stretch, and finished willingly. Another Silver Oak gradually weakened and checked home another 1 1/4 lengths farther back in third.

Bail Out the Cat, an impressive winner of his only previous start, finished eighth and last following his unlucky beginning.

Maybesomaybenot covered six furlongs in 1:10.97 over a good track and paid $21.20.

"Having the rail kind of forced our hand, so I wasn't surprised to see him in front," said Mike Maker who trains the homebred Maybesomaybenot for owners Carolyn and Karen Scisney. "There are no plans for him at the moment. We'll just enjoy this one for now and go from there."

Bail Out the Cat's poor start was reminiscent of a similar incident that happened to the colt's trainer, Rick Violette, and jockey, Alan Garcia, last summer when the favored Bulls and Bears broke very poorly in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

"Alan said the colt wasn't settled and he kept yelling no, no to the starter just before the gate opened," said Violette.