Needmore Flattery faces Bold Cait again in Pay the Man
Needmore Flattery, rounding back into the sharp form that enabled her to win back-to-back titles as the best Ohio-bred the past two seasons, will try to turn the tables on rising 3-year-old statebred star Bold Cait when they meet for the second time this summer in Saturday’s $75,000 Pay the Man Stakes at ThistleDown.
After beginning her 4-year-old campaign with three straight losses, including a 5 1/4-length drubbing by Bold Cait in the J. William Petro Memorial in late June, Needmore Flattery rebounded to crush open company in a first-level optional $15,000 claimer and easily defeated 11 opponents in the Vivacious Handicap on turf.
Bold Cait has won her three most recent starts by a combined 20 3/4 lengths, including easy victories in her first two attempts going the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Pay the Man. She has been freshened since her romp in the Petro two months ago.
The field also includes the 3-year-old Redstart, the winner of the 1 1/8-mile Queen City Oaks at Belterra Park in her two-turn debut, and Deniro’s Saint, a two-time stakes winner going long last season who might be set for a peak performance while making the third start of her form cycle.
KEY CONTENDERS
Bold Cait (Last 3 Beyers: 76-64-71)
◗ She easily handled her first assignment facing older fillies and mares and is 2 for 2 in routes. The only question is whether she can pick up where she left off following two months on the sidelines.
Needmore Flattery (Last 3 Beyers: 70-69-67)
◗ She was no match for Bold Cait when she finished second as the 4-5 favorite in their first meeting in late June, but she’s in far better form now and has the edge of recency over her younger opponent.
Redstart (Last 3 Beyers: 55-60-50)
◗ She ran well in her first start beyond six furlongs and her first outing against Ohio-breds, but she must move forward on the Beyer Speed Figure scale to challenge either of the top two contenders.
Deniro’s Saint (Last 3 Beyers: 55-60-65)
◗ She was well behind Bold Cait and Needmore Flattery in the Petro but likely needed that race while making her first start in 11 months. She improved in her second start off the layoff and could be sitting on a peak performance now.