Saratoga: Montana Native wins Broom Dance Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Montana Native may have earned herself a spot in the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 17 with a front-running, 3 1/2-length victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Broom Dance Stakes.

Under Joel Rosario, Montana Native dueled outside of Parc Monceau through comfortable fractions of 24.51, 48.50, and 1:12.41. She began to pull away approaching the quarter pole, and despite drifting out in the stretch, she won handily.

Montana Native, a daughter of Yes It’s True, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.76 and returned $5.50.

“She had trained super since she’s been here,” winning trainer Ken McPeek said. “She’s extremely confident right now. She did everything she was asked to do.”

McPeek, who trains Montana Native for Ghostzapper Racing, said he definitely would consider the Alabama.

“It sets her up good for it,” McPeek said. “Can she go that far [being] by Yes It’s True? I don’t know.”