Ship Cadet motors through the mud in off-the-turf Skidmore Stakes
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When rain forced Friday’s five scheduled turf races at Saratoga to the main track, there was some debate among the principles of Ship Cadet whether to scratch or run in the $150,000 Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga.
From his perspective, trainer Mike Maker was all for running - though it’s not clear how strongly he made his case to owners Peter Proscia and David Staudacher.
“The way I looked at it you might as well run,” Maker said. “The horse was doing well; wait another month or so something might happen. That was my thought, I didn’t share it with anybody but that was it.”
As usual, Maker let his horse do the talking and Ship Cadet was loud and clear that he could handle the mud with a front-running, 1 1/4-length victory in the Skidmore for 2-year-old males.
Sent to the front out of the gate by Manny Franco, Ship Cadet ran an opening quarter in 21.77 seconds, pressed by Five o’ Somewhere. He put that one away after a half-mile in 45.47 seconds and was never really threatened thereafter.
El Grande O, in off the also-eligible list, had a bit of troubled trip at the head of the lane, but rallied for second 1 1/2 lengths clear of Seize the Grey, the 9-5 favorite who rallied from last.
Billy the Greek was fourth, followed by Go Otto Go, Antonio of Venice, Untroubled, Sebastian Run, and Five o’ Somewhere.
Factor U and Me In, Fandom, Jimmythetooth, and No Nay Mets all scratched due to the surface switch.
Franco was riding Ship Cadet for the first time and said his plan was to put his horse on the lead.
“I saw when he run on the dirt he showed speed and the way the track is, speed’s holding today,” Franco said. “That was my plan, go forward and he was there for me the entire way.”
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Ship Cadet, a California-bred son of Midshipman, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs over a sealed/muddy surface in 1:05.30 and returned $6.90 as the second choice
Ship Cadet is still considered a turf horse by his connections and will aim toward either the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on Sept. 10 or the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint going 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 13.
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