Prat rides the rail with Miss Justify en route to Wilton win
?q=100)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher admitted Friday’s $135,000 Wilton Stakes for 3-year-old fillies didn’t quite play out as he’d expected, although the end result turned out just fine after his Miss Justify rallied to a one-length decision over Striker Has Dial with her stablemate Courbe finishing another neck further back in third.
Pletcher said he was looking for Miss Justify to prompt the early running of the one-mile Wilton, just like she had done in a 2 1/2-length allowance victory going the same distance in her previous start at Churchill Downs on June 1. But after breaking alertly from the rail, Miss Justify found herself rating back in fourth position down the backstretch under jockey Flavien Prat, about a half dozen lengths off the rapid pace of Dazzling Move, who rushed to a somewhat unexpected and commanding advantage shortly after leaving the mile chute.
Dazzling Move gave way readily when engaged by Striker Has Dial midway on the second turn, with Miss Justify commencing her bid, from about four lengths back, at the same time. Prat eased Miss Justify off the rail briefly to come around the faltering Dazzling Move approaching the stretch, and deftly dropped her back to the fence upon settling for the drive. The pair finished full of run along the inside to run down Striker Has Deal inside the sixteenth pole and win going away.
Striker Has Dial got in front early, before relinquishing command to the very eager Dazzling Move. She then easily over-took that rival midway on the turn, and quickly drew well clear before ultimately proving no match for the winner. Courbe, making her first start since October, rallied out near the middle of the track to within easy striking distance of the leaders while still on her left lead near the furlong grounds, but could not sustain her bid.
Bells Beach, a somewhat surprising even money favorite coming off her maiden win six weeks earlier, raced near the rear of the field, angled well wide off the turn and was never a serious factor.
Miss Justify, who gave Prat his third win on the card, returned $7.50 after completing the distance over a fast track in 1:37.51 seconds.
“I thought we’d be battling for the lead with the 2 and the 4,” said Pletcher, referring to Windy Walk and Striker Has Dial. “I think it turned out to be a pretty hot pace for a mile-chute race and it worked out. We were able to save ground, get in a good spot, and she [Miss Justify] was able to re-rally the last part and find a little more.”
Pletcher praised Prat for his patience in light of the way the race developed.
“The race didn’t unfold the way we saw it on paper so he adapted, like you’d expect an experienced journeyman to do,” said Pletcher. “It’s also nice to see that she can come from off the pace while able to win wire to wire last time.”
Pletcher was also pleased with Courbe’s effort in defeat.
“I thought her race was very good. It was her first out in a while and I thought for a moment she was going to get there,” Pletcher added. “I think maybe the layoff told on her just a little bit the last 100 yards there.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.