Partisan Politics overcomes wide trip to win P.G. Johnson going way

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Partisan Politics overcame a bit of a rough run around the opening bend and a subsequent wide trip to register an impressive 2 3/4-length victory over Sunday Sonnet in Wednesday’s $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga.

Partisan Politics was one of two maidens entered in the 1 1/16-mile P.G. Johnson, along with the post-time favorite Flying Tipat. Partisan Politics finished third, beaten a head, when debuting at 5 1/2 furlongs here earlier in the meet.

With leading rider Javier Castellano aboard, Partisan Politics was bumped and forced wide after Ancient Goddess raced rankly and bore well out into the clubhouse turn. Partisan Politics recovered to race well placed outside Flying Tipat in the second flight, angled four wide advancing near the three-eighths pole, overtook the pacesetter Sunday Sonnet a furlong from the wire, and won going away.

Sunday Sonnet saved ground making the pace and, while no match for the winner, remained a length clear of Ancient Goddess, who was making her U.S. debut, to finish second. Rainha Da Baleria, Magnificent Margo, Flying Tipat, and Slava completed the order of finish.

Partisan Politics is trained by Chad Brown for the partnership of William Lawrence and the Klaravich Stable and paid $11.20.

“I really wanted to get the spot the one [Ancient Goddess] had into the first turn because I knew there wasn’t a lot of speed in the race,” said Brown. “But when the one broke slow and ran off in the first turn and pitched us four wide, I was not happy. It was not the trip I wanted, but I’m real proud of this horse to get bumped like she did, go four wide, and still win convincingly. I wasn’t positive she wanted to go a mile and one-sixteenth just yet. That’s why I debuted her sprinting. Today, I thought we’d have to save a little more ground than she did to win, but she didn’t need it. She got a wide trip and still won.”