Smart N Fancy matches Lady Shipman, Free as a Bird
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The $100,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga on Sunday matches two of the top female turf sprinters in the East, Lady Shipman and Free as a Bird.
The up-and-coming 3-year-old Lady Shipman has won seven of her last eight starts, including the Coronation Cup over her own age group at Saratoga last out. A daughter of Midshipman trained by Kathleen O’Connell, Lady Shipman has been brilliant in her most recent starts.
“The thing that has always impressed me about her is that she has such a brain,” O’Connell said. “She is so smart. She has so much confidence. She has just always acted like an old horse.”
With few 3-year-old filly turf sprints remaining on the calendar, Lady Shipman will have to face older company the rest of the year. To take that one step further, O’Connell has the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in the back of her mind for Lady Shipman.
“The Breeders’ Cup is in play if she keeps winning and is doing well,” she said. “Of course, it will be a big step up, and it will be older boys.”
Free as a Bird, 6, had a wonderful campaign in 2014, winning six of eight starts and not finishing worse than second. Free as a Bird began this season with a win in the Captiva Island at Gulfstream Park in March but is winless in her three starts since.
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Trainer Ian Wilkes makes no excuses and said he is very pleased with how Free as a Bird is training.
“She’s big, strong, and consistent,” he said. “She’s running faster this year than she did last year; she just hasn’t won.”
Free as a Bird was fourth in the Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland and second in the Unbridled Sidney at Churchill Downs. Both races were won by Katie’s Eyes, who came back to finish second, beaten a neck, against males in the Grade 2 Highlander at Woodbine in early July.
Last time out, Free as a Bird was second here in the Caress, a race she won last year. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
The front-running Lady Shipman has a big pace advantage in the six-horse Smart N Fancy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf race. While Tahnee and Sugar Shock have speed, it remains to be seen how long they can keep Lady Shipman occupied up front.
Smart N Fancy, race 5
Key contenders
Lady Shipman (Last 3 Beyers: 102-104-87)
◗ Florida-based rider Eduardo Nunez, who has been aboard for all nine of Lady Shipman’s races, will be in for the mount.
Free as a Bird (Last 3 Beyers: 97-91-83)
◗ Has a big experience edge on Lady Shipman and won the Smart N Fancy last year.
Tahnee (Last 3 Beyers: 78-84-79)
◗ Has scored front-running wins in three of her last four starts but will be facing tougher here.