Saratoga: Bahnah works toward Spinaway

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Bahnah, dead-heat winner of the Schuylerville Stakes here on opening day, worked a sharp half-mile in 48.12 seconds Saturday over the main track in preparation for a start in next Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway.

Under jockey Rosie Napravnik, Bahnah came home her final quarter in 23.60 while galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.05. Coincidentally, Napravnik rode Brazen Persuasion, who dead-heated with Bahnah, in the Schuylerville and will ride her again in the Spinaway. Corey Lanerie will ride Bahnah.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She’s not an easy horse to work, Rosie has figured out how to handle her. Her last eighth was very good, and she came back to the barn full of energy.”

Calhoun said that his other stakes-winning 2-year-old filly, Fiftyshadesofgold, had surgery Wednesday to repair a fractured shin and remove a chip from of knee. Calhoun said that Fiftyshadesofgold had two screws inserted into the shin and is back at his barn at Churchill Downs.

Dr. Larry Bramlage told Calhoun that the screws could be removed in 60 days. Two weeks after the screws are removed, Fiftyshadesofgold can return to training, said Calhoun, who will have the filly based at Fair Grounds later this year.

“You hope everything turns out and she’s better as a 3-year-old than she was at 2, but you hate to have missed out on some opportunities,” Calhoun said.