Stopchargingmaria continues Pletcher's dominance in CCA Oaks

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On the same track over which she achieved her first victory, Stopchargingmaria recorded her most important win, dominating a modest field of 3-year-old fillies to win Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

The victory, Stopchargingmaria’s fifth from nine career starts, was worth $180,000, pushing the Mike Repole-owned filly’s lifetime earnings to $1,054,000. It was the sixth victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks for Todd Pletcher - third in the five years the race has been run at Saratoga - to which the 47-year-old trainer commented, “Getting old.”

Stopchargingmaria is getting a little older too, but still raced somewhat erratically through the lane, drifting out and then in, but still managed to win by a comfortable margin.

“She did the same thing she did when she broke her maiden here. She started looking at the signs,” said Pletcher, referring the placards below the rail. “She didn’t have anyone in front of her. She was a little bit green.”

Unbridled Forever, third in the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn - both Grade 1 races - finished second by four lengths over Miss Besilu. America, Taketheodds, and Courageous Julie completed the order of finish.

Courageous Julie raced for purse money only as she sprung a shoe when she reared up on the way from the paddock to the track. The paddock blacksmith could not re-attach a new shoe and Courageous Julie eventually ran without two hind shoes.

Stopchargingmaria was the most accomplished filly in the compact field having won three prior graded stakes. The rest of the field hadn’t won a single graded race.

The only concern was the CCA Oaks was a race that, on paper, lacked pace.

When the gates opened, however, several riders were intent on the lead as Miss Besilu, Courageous Julie, and Taketheodds were sent toward the lead.

That enabled jockey Javier Castellano to settle Stopchargingmaria in behind that pack and, more importantly, maneuver from the rail to the three-path for clear run. Stopchargingmaria tracked Taketheodds and Miss Besilu through a half-mile in 48.08 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.11.

Castellano made his move leaving the five-sixteenths pole and opened a clear advantage turning for home. Despite her somewhat erratic stretch run, Stopchargingmaria was never threatened in the final furlong.

Stopchargingmaria, a daughter of Take of the Cat, who was purchased for $220,000 as a 2-year-old, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.80 and returned $4.40.

“I had a beautiful dream trip, that’s where I wanted to be,” Castellano said. “My concern was [short field] and the one hole is sometimes is difficult to get away from. I’m glad it worked out perfect. The way she rated was phenomenal.”

Stopchargingmaria will likely come back in the Grade 1 Alabama here on Aug. 16.