Olive Branch in better shape now for Adirondack Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Having an extra six days to prepare for Friday’s $200,000 Adirondack Stakes due to the cancellation of part of last Saturday’s card may not be that big a deal for the majority of the original field entered for the Grade 2 dash for juvenile fillies. But those six days made all the difference in the world for trainer Rick Violette and his Adirondack hopeful, Olive Branch.
Violette had already scratched Olive Branch prior to last Saturday’s cancellation. Now, he’ll get a second chance to run the daughter of Speightstown, who was one of seven 2-year-old fillies entered when the Adirondack was redrawn this week. The cancellation also gives Romantic Music, who was not in the original lineup, an opportunity to compete in the six-furlong dash.
Olive Branch had gone on what Violette called “a hunger strike” in the week leading up to the originally scheduled Adirondack. But he said everything is back to normal now.
“She’s been eating better, and we’re leaning towards running this time,” said Violette. “She worked good, just a little in-hand breeze the other day. Sometimes we tend to back off horses when they’re not eating, and sometimes you have to train them to get them back in the feed tub. She’s doing great, her attitude is great. Right now, you wouldn’t know we had any issues.”
Olive Branch rallied to a two-length victory in her debut before finishing a tiring fifth with plenty of excuses in the Grade 3 Schuylerville here on opening day.
“She was scratched when being an idiot in the paddock the race before the Schuylerville, and then she was an idiot once again,” said Violette. “She backed up, caught her hind shoe, and ripped it off. They tacked it back on, but it didn’t make the course. It came off somewhere during the race. She had multiple excuses you hate to make. She’s perfect schooling in the afternoon. We’ll try to change a few things up on race day and try to keep that under control.”
The speedy Silvertoni likely will vie for favoritism in the Adirondack with the undefeated pair of Ever So Clever and Libby’s Tail, both of whom rallied from off the pace to win their debuts. Nonna Mela and Dial Me complete the lineup.
Adirondack, Race 10
Key Contenders
Ever So Clever, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last Beyer: 72
◗ “I think she’s going to stretch out beautifully,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She’s trained wonderfully since she’s been up here, and this is a good spot to get her a bridge to two-turn races.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Ever So Clever. Earned the top Beyer in this field in her maiden win, but runners she beat have gone 5-0-0-1 in their next start. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Silvertoni, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: NA-72-NA
◗ She suffered her only loss in three starts when a distant ninth at Ascot in the Group 3 Coventry Stakes.
“I really thought she’d like the turf, but the ground was soft that day, and she just didn’t handle it,” said trainer Wesley Ward.
Libby’s Tail, by Tiz Wonderful
Beyer: 77
◗ She overcame a tough trip, especially for beginners, when rallying from last and very wide turning for home to a 1 1/4-length victory debuting last month at Belmont Park.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Olive Branch. Won her debut May 18 at Belmont, and although that race produced no next-out winners, the field she beat went 7-0-4-2 in their immediate next starts. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Six in Skidmore Stakes
A field of six 2-year-old colts and geldings will make their stakes debuts earlier on Friday’s card in the $100,000 Skidmore, going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.
Iron Mane, Harlan’s Harmony, and Freud’s Friend all successfully launched their careers on grass. Iron Mane was a popular 6 3/4-length winner of his debut at Indiana Grand. Harlan’s Harmony rallied to a one-length victory going six furlongs at Belmont Park. Freud’s Friend is the only member of this field with a win over the local course, having held on gamely for a nose decision over New York-bred rivals earlier in the meet.
Wellabled also was impressive at first asking, winning by 7 1/2 lengths over the synthetic surface at Arlington Park on July 9.