Sense of Style impressive
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Sense of Style was so impressive in her debut that trainer Patrick Biancone flirted with the idea of running her in the Grade 1 Hopeful against the colts rather than Friday's Grade 2 against the girls.
"It was a thought," Biancone said after Sense of Style romped to a 6 3/4-length victory in the $250,000 Spinaway at Saratoga. "But we thought this race was more comfortable to run in because it would be easier than the Hopeful."
Sense of Style certainly made things look easy in the Spinaway, stalking a moderate pace under Edgar Prado, moving to the front approaching the eighth pole, and drawing away to a lengthy score. She covered seven furlongs in 1:23.83 over a fast track and returned $3.90.
Miss Matched, under Robby Albarado, got up for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Play With Fire. The top three finishers all came out of debut wins. Broadway Gold finished fourth, followed by Punch Appeal, Portsea, and Schuylerville winner Classic Elegance.
Sense of Style was made the heavy favorite based on her strong maiden win over this track on Aug. 1. Both Biancone and Prado said she improved on that debut effort.
"She's a star on the rise," said Prado. "She's a very nice filly. As soon as she made the lead she started loafing around a little bit and playing. I think she'll be better with a target in front of her."
Biancone also believes Sense of Style will be better when she gets to stretch out farther in distance. She may get that chance in the Grade 1 Matron, a one-mile race at Belmont Park on Sept. 18.
Miss Matched, who was making her first start for trainer John Ward since being purchased privately after her maiden win, overcame a stumble at the start to run second. "We got in a tangle leaving there," Ward said. "She was a little anxious in the gate. We're as happy as we could be. It plays right into what we want to do, which is to go around two turns."
Ward said he would point Miss Matched to the Grade 2, $400,000 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 8.