Side Quest steps up in Bolton Landing after emphatic maiden win
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A change of surface and a change of equipment led to a major change in form for Side Quest. Wednesday, the 2-year-old daughter of Charlatan will look to build off an impressive maiden victory when she runs in the $200,000 Bolton Landing Stakes scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf course.
Side Quest, trained by Will Walden, debuted on dirt at Churchill Downs in June, finishing fourth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Manuka Honey, a filly who came back to win the Ellis Park Debutante. In that June race, Side Quest broke on top, found herself seventh entering the far turn, and showed interest in the stretch, getting beat a nose for third.
Walden brought Side Quest to Saratoga, put blinkers on her, switched her to the turf, and she romped to a 5 3/4-length victory. The race has produced a next-out winner in Saint Dymphna.
Side Quest is out of the dam Factorofwon, who was a three-time winner on turf and produced one turf stakes-winning horse in Light Won Up. Thus, the transfer to turf was a logical one, Walden said.
“She’s meant, she’s bred, she’s built, everything was leaning towards [turf],” Walden said. “I didn’t think she was without a chance in her first start even though it turns out the filly that won is a pretty nice filly – she won the Ellis Park Debutante a few weeks ago. I thought when she got to turf sprinting, she would move up considerably.”
Walden said that he added the blinkers because of the way Side Quest “sucked out of there” when horses passed her early in that dirt debut.
“The blinkers added focus,” Walden said.
Irad Ortiz Jr. was named to ride, but he remains sidelined due to a lingering foot injury. Axel Concepcion, aboard for the first race, will be in from Kentucky to ride.
More Champagne and Shining Moment will meet for a third time in their young careers. More Champagne, trained by Tom Morley, took advantage of a contested pace to win a maiden race at Keeneland by 6 1/2 lengths over Shining Moment.
Shining Moment, trained by Wesley Ward, came back to win her next start and then both fillies traveled to Royal Ascot for the Group 2 Queen Mary in June. More Champagne finished 19th while Shining Moment was 24th in a 27-horse field.
Morley, in a text, said he’s not sure what went awry in England, but believes his filly is better than that.
“Excited to see her back on a flat, left-handed track,” he wrote. “Had a freshening after Ascot and looks very well.”
Ward said Shining Moment just got too speed crazy in the Queen Mary and “that took its toll on us late,” Ward said.
Ward has named Luis Saez to ride and he is taking blinkers off Shining Moment hoping to get her to relax some even if she is forwardly placed.
In discussing Shining Moment’s debut race, Ward said with the run-up, the race was closer to six furlongs than 5 1/2, “which is way too much for a 2-year-old filly in April. She sill ran a good race and came back and vindicated it.”
Extravaganzoo, trained by George Weaver, finished last in the same April race at Keeneland in which More Champagne and Shining Moment finished first and second. Extravaganzoo came back to win her maiden from off the pace when facing New York-bred maidens in her second start.
“We were anticipating a better race but we didn’t know for sure,” Weaver said. “Whenever they stop as bad as she did first time out, it makes you wonder. But she got the ship turned around, very happy with that performance. She’s done well since and I expect her to perform well.”
Go for Launch, in off a debut win at Woodbine; Allura, a debut winner at Saratoga on opening day; Luminous Beauty, second in the Grade 3 Adirondack on dirt; Army Salute, a debut winner over Gulfstream Park’s synthetic; and Lexi’s Charm are in the body of the race. Lexi’s Charm is expected to scratch which could open a spot for Legacy Lady.
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