Piedi Bianchi justifies supplement by drawing off to win Smart N Fancy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A late decision to supplement Piedi Bianchi into the $120,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes Saturday at Saratoga paid big dividends when the versatile mare rallied to a convincing 2 1/4-length victory over Lead Guitar in the 5 ½-furlong dash for older fillies and mares on the turf.

Trainer Carlos Martin said he and Piedi Bianchi’s ownership group decided at the last minute to scrap plans to send her to Indiana Downs for an Indiana-bred stakes, where she’d have likely been an odds-on favorite, to try their luck instead in the Smart N Fancy. Piedi Bianchi came into the race winless in four starts on the grass, including a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Intercontinental going seven furlongs at Belmont Park on June 3.

With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, Piedi Bianchi stalked the early pace of the 4-5 favorite Robin Sparkles in the Smart N Fancy, overtook Robin Sparkles leaving the furlong grounds, and increased her advantage under pressure. Lead Guitar steadied from tight quarters during the early running, saved ground on the turn, continued inside for the drive, but could never muster a late response over the yielding course.

Robin Sparkles, a winner of five of seven starts on turf but a tiring third last month in the Grade 3 Caress, set the pace removed from the rail but had little left upon settling into the stretch. Hydra, who took up sharply after brushing the gate at the start, trailed throughout, finishing a distant fourth and last.

The multiple graded stakes winner Pacific Gale, expected to make her turf debut in the Smart N Fancy, was scratched.

Piedi Bianchi completed the distance in 1:04.95 and paid $11.80.

“We talked it over and I told my owners she’s training so good, we’re here, it’s going to come up a light field, and I really don’t want to ship since there could be a hurricane in the area,” explained Martin when asked why the late change of plans. “It was just meant to be. She’s been a special filly from Day 1, we’re happy to have her, and I feel blessed to win a stakes at Saratoga to keep the Martin name going.”

Martin said he felt the give in the ground also played in his mare’s favor.

“We know she liked the turf after she ran a good second in the Intercontinental, and today she loved the going,” Martin said. “It made a big, big difference. The other horses are great horses, but it worked out perfect for us today.”

Martin said the initial thought now might be to skip any further trips to Indiana and think about keeping her on the grass, possibly with an eye towards the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

“I have some game owners, so maybe we could find something at Del Mar for her,” Martin said. “She was Grade 1 stakes placed there earlier in her career, and I’d love for her career to end on a high, high note.”