Miss Ella, Fair Point square off again in Smart N Fancy Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Miss Ella and Fair Point will renew their turf-sprint rivalry at Saratoga on Sunday when they head an overflow field entered for the $100,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Fair Point defeated Miss Ella by a head in this race last year, and Miss Ella turned the tables in the Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland last fall. In two meetings this year, Miss Ella has finished ahead of Fair Point both times, including a one-length victory in the Caress Stakes here on July 24.

Trainer Graham Motion had thought Miss Ella was ready for a big year, but the 5-year-old mare disappointed somewhat in her first two starts, a second in the License Fee at Belmont and a fourth in the Grade 3 Hendrie over the synthetic surface at Woodbine.

“I felt like she was better this year, but after her first couple of races, you walked away disappointed,” Motion said. “I don’t think she runs as well at Belmont, for whatever reason. She does seem to particularly like it up there.”

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Fair Point, who had 4 wins and 3 seconds in 2016, is winless in three starts this year. She was taken back to next to last by Jose Ortiz in the Caress, and her run came too late.

“To me, she acts like she might want to run a little bit farther now,” trainer Shug McGaughey said.

The Smart N Fancy drew 13 runners for the turf and one main-track-only entrant. The field is limited to 12.

Ava’s Kitten, trained by Chad Brown, has won only two races over the last two years, but both were 5 1/2-furlong allowance turf races at Saratoga. Her sprint success has come as a bit of a surprise considering her pedigree, which suggests that she would prefer going longer.

“I thought she finished off her last race very professionally and she earned the right to run in a stakes race,” Brown said.

Adding to the depth of this group are Carolina Shag, third in the Caress, and Ginger N Rye, Miss Katie Mae, and Rumble Doll, the top three finishers from an allowance race here July 23.

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Ella, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 96-84-86

◗ Closed from last to beat Fair Point in the Caress going the same distance as this race.

◗ Must carry the high weight of 124 pounds, spotting three to five pounds to most of her opponents.

Fair Point, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-82

◗ Simply couldn’t match strides with Miss Ella in the Caress, but was able to beat her in this race last year.

◗ Had a solid half-mile breeze in 50.65 seconds on Monday.

Ava’s Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 91-81-85

◗ She is 2 for 2 at the distance, and her stalking style gives her the chance to get the jump on Miss Ella and Fair Point.

Ginger N Rye, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-88

◗ Pulled off an 11-1 upset when turned back to a turf sprint for the first time in two years.

◗ Worked a sharp half-mile over the main track last Sunday.