Spa-loving Strong State goes for third local win
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When mapping out a schedule for Strong State this year, trainer Al Stall Jr. made certain to include Saratoga as part of the program.
A maiden winner here at 2 and an allowance winner at 3, the 4-year-old Strong State seeks another Spa success when she runs in a second-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming sprint that serves as the feature on a stakes-less Sunday card at Saratoga.
Strong State, a daughter of Yaupon, has raced just once this year, a fourth-place finish in this same condition at Churchill Downs on June 7.
“She’s been set up since way back when to be ready to run a good race at Saratoga,” Stall said Friday. “She ran really well at Churchill and absolutely needed the race. She’s hit all the marks since and she’s good to go.”
Strong State, who finished fourth in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Spinaway in 2024, typically comes from off the pace, but she was bumped and squeezed back at the start of her June 7 race – her first start in seven months – and was nearly 10 lengths out of it early on.
“She was going to be out the back anyway, but maybe it put her back a little bit farther,” Stall said. “But James [Graham] did a good job of letting her sit. He thought about going around. I’m glad he didn’t so she got a little experience and a little dirt and a little rust maybe knocked off coming down in between horses down the lane.”
Stall believes Strong State is a sturdier version than the one who has competed the previous two years.
“She’s actually come back this year better than her previous two years, got more size to her, more mass, more condition, so we’re happy with her,” Stall said. “She looks really good.”
Sunday, Strong State will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 4.
Trainer Chad Brown has the pair of Alyeska and Limes Don’t Lie entered in this 6 1/2-furlong race.
Alyeska has not raced since she won a first-level allowance at Aqueduct last September. In that race, Alyeska defeated Grammy Girl, who since then has four wins and two seconds from six starts, including Grade 3 stakes wins in the Vagrancy and Distaff.
“It’s been frustrating having her off so long but she seems like she’s doing well and ready to get back to the races,” Brown said. “She’s got a lot of ability.”
Last August at Saratoga, Lime’s Don’t Lie beat Alyeska in a first-level allowance race. In two starts this year, she has finished third behind Munnings Express and then was a well-beaten second to the multiple Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie here on June 7.
Jose Ortiz rides Alyeska from the outside draw in this seven-horse field while Dylan Davis rides Limes Don’t Lie from post 3.
She’s a Gamer is in from New Jersey for trainer Kelly Breen. She’s a Gamer has three wins and three seconds from six starts this year and will likely be part of the early pace under Joel Rosario.
Ultimate Authority takes a drop in class and distance. Sing a Little Song, who has Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride, and The Big Calhouna, going first off the Linda Rice claim, round out the field.
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