Miss Ella suited for any surface in Caress Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rain or shine, Saratoga seems to bring out the best in Miss Ella.

Miss Ella has a win and two seconds from three starts at Saratoga. She has recorded three of her top four Beyer Speed Figures here. Trainer Graham Motion hopes that trend continues Monday when Miss Ella heads a field of 12 in the $200,000 Caress Stakes, scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs over Saratoga’s inner turf course.

Miss Ella won last year’s Caress after it was moved to the main track due to rain. There is rain in the forecast for Sunday into Monday, potentially creating a similar scenario.

Miss Ella has handled Saratoga’s turf as well. She finished second, beaten a head by Fair Point, in the Smart N Fancy Stakes here last summer going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. In 2015, Miss Ella finished second to the then-razor-sharp Lady Shipman in the Coronation Cup, also going 5 1/2 furlongs over the turf.

:: Saratoga Clocker Report: Get in-depth workout analysis for Monday's $577,107 pick six carryover

Miss Ella has run twice this year, finishing second to Portmagee in the License Fee Stakes at Belmont before running fourth as the favorite in the Hendrie Stakes over the synthetic surface at Woodbine.

“She’s always been a tricky filly,” Motion said. “She should want to go farther, but she doesn’t seem to want to. She handles the dirt, but she’s a little better on the grass.”

Joel Rosario rides Miss Ella from post 9.

Fair Point nailed Miss Ella on the wire in last year’s Smart N Fancy. Fair Point is coming off a pair of fourth-place finishes in the License Fee and the Grade 3 Intercontinental, where she was only beaten a length by Mississippi Delta.

“I think we knocked the rust off her the first couple of times we ran her,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “She’s sitting on a good race.”

Animal Appeal, third in the Smart N Fancy last year, is coming off a front-running victory over yielding turf at Belmont.

Ruby Notion, Mississippi Delta, and Everything Lovely are other contenders.

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Ella, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-94

◗ Though she disappointed in her first two starts this year, Motion said he is happy with the way the mare has trained since her last race.

“She’s a bigger, stronger filly than she was last year,” Motion said.

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

◗ Does her best running with a fast pace, something she may get Monday.

◗ McGaughey said the far-outside post “doesn’t bother me” and added that Fair Point would run if the race is transferred to the dirt.

Ruby Notion, by Great Notion
Last 3 Beyers: 89-89-90

◗ Got a confidence booster with a solid allowance win at Churchill last month.

◗ Did win the Selima Stakes by eight lengths when that turf race came off the grass and was run over a sloppy track.

Pretty Perfection, by Majesticperfection
Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-73

◗ Already a three-time winner this year, including two stakes wins going five furlongs at Gulfstream in the winter.

◗ Didn’t run well in her lone start here last year, finishing last in the Smart N Fancy.