Ratajkowski poised for another strong run in Union Avenue
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ratajkowski returned from a 203-day layoff to win the one-mile Critical Eye Stakes by a neck over Mrs. Orb eight weeks ago at Belmont Park. With that race under her belt, and sufficient time to recover, trainer Graham Motion is hopeful that Ratajkowski will be ready to deliver another winning performance in Thursday’s $85,000 Union Avenue Handicap at Saratoga.
A field of six New York-bred fillies and mares was entered in the Union Avenue, including Carrera Cat, who won this race last year when the race was run at 6 1/2 furlongs. This year, the Union Avenue is carded at seven furlongs.
Breaking from post 2 in the Critical Eye, Ratajkowski gradually made the lead under Jose Ortiz, shrugged off some pressure from even-money favorite More Mischief, and just held off the late-running Mrs. Orb to win.
Motion did not work Ratajkowski back for nearly a month after that race, but has given her four solid breezes leading up to this spot.
“I thought she had a hard race first time,” Motion said. “I wanted to be sure she had plenty of time. She’s done great. She’s very kind, very willing, very easy to be around. I wish she hadn’t drawn the one hole, but she’s pretty quick away from there.”
Carrera Cat also is quick away from the gate. A 5-year-old daughter of Courageous Cat, Carrera Cat has not run since finishing seventh in a division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct last Nov. 10. Trainer John Morrison told the New York Racing Association publicity staff that Carrera Cat was ready to run when Belmont reopened following the COVID-19-related closure, but she got sick and missed some time.
Though she’s had most of her success on the lead, Carrera Cat did win this race last year from a stalking position.
Kendrick Carmouche, who rode Carrera Cat in her first two career starts in 2017, is reunited with Carrera Cat after Rajiv Maragh had ridden her in her last 14 starts.
Trainer Mike Miceli is hoping for a speed duel between Ratajkowski and Carrera Cat for his late-running Mrs. Orb.
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Mrs. Orb, in her first start off a four-month layoff, just missed running down Ratajkowski in the Critical Eye.
“She needed a little break and came back good and ran a good race,” Miceli said. “There’s a lot of speed in there. Hopefully, we’ll have a little kick at the end.”
Newly Minted, who last year won stakes races from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, returns from a four-month layoff in the Union Avenue. Trainer Linda Rice said she turned Newly Minted out on a farm after her second-place finish in the Heavenly Prize and brought her back in late June to prepare for a summer and fall campaign.
“Is she at her best yet? Probably not quite, but she’s ready to run,” Rice said.
Collegeville ships up from Parx Racing off an open-company allowance victory. Forever Changed completes the field.
The Union Avenue goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. with a steeplechase event.