No Saratoga start for Stopchargingmaria

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Stopchargingmaria has won races at Saratoga in three straight summers, but she won’t make this summer’s meet.

Stopchargingmaria was forced to miss the Grade 3 Shuvee here last month due to an illness. She resumed training earlier this month and has breezed twice. However, trainer Todd Pletcher did not work her over the weekend and said he will come up with a new plan for last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner.

“She needs a little more time,” Pletcher said. “I didn’t feel like I could make the Personal Ensign at a mile and an eighth, and I didn’t feel like I could have her ready for a sharp seven-eighths like the Ballerina.”

Pletcher said he would consider the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 9 as a possible next start for Stopchargingmaria.

Stopchargingmaria has run twice this year. She finished second, beaten a neck by Sheer Drama, in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland in April before finishing sixth of seven in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 11.