Roses for Debra scores in Smart N Fancy for new part-owner
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Everett Dobson had been hanging around the Christophe Clement barn a lot this summer and was drawn to a gray filly who he watched train on many mornings.
Impressed by Roses for Debra physically and then, naturally by her race record, Dobson approached her owner John O’Meara about potentially buying into her.
“I was just really impressed with her physically as much as anything,” Dobson said. “I approached John and we got a deal done.”
In her first start with Dobson as part-owner, Roses for Debra galloped to a 3 1/4-length victory in Friday’s $139,500 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga. Bubble Rock finished second by a length over Train to Artemus. Talkin Tipsy was last.
Can’t Buy Love and Poppy Flower scratched.
The win was the fourth in as many starts on turf for Roses for Debra, a daughter of Liam’s Map trained by Christophe Clement. She added the Smart N Fancy to a victory earlier this meet in the Grade 3 Caress.
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“The only question mark was the turf had a little give in it,” Dobson said. “I think she just showed her class today. That’s what we were hopeful of.”
Roses for Debra settled into third place early, about 2 1/2 lengths off the pacesetting Train to Artemus. Roses for Debra came wide into the lane, and easily went by Train to Artemus and Bubble Rock in midstretch and drew clear over the inner turf , which was rated good.
“It’s a little soft, but I rode her with confidence,” said Ortiz, who is now 2 for 2 on Roses for Debra. “Last time she gave a great feeling. She got the job done. She did it easy, very impressive turn of foot on the soft ground.”
Roses for Debra covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.82 and returned $2.70 as the 1-5 favorite.
“I told Irad at least one of the two speed horses is going to go in front, just give us a good trip,” Clement said. “He rode her with a lot of confidence. She’s very nice.”
O’Meara said he was willing to sell part-interest in the filly to “take some money off the table” while also getting the chance to include a knowledgeable partner. Dobson races under the banner Cheyenne Stable.
“Most of the time it doesn’t go as well as this,” O’Meara said. “If you’re doing business with people who understand that, it makes it a lot easier.”
Roses for Debra is now 7 for 9 overall. Her first four wins came over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs when in the barn of Michelle Brafford. O’Meara said he would like to point Roses for Debra to the Grade 2, $300,000 Presque Isle Masters on Sept. 18.
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