Surface switch triggers a change in strategy for Smart N Fancy winner Introduced

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A change of surface led to a change of tactics for Introduced Thursday at Saratoga. But the desired result was achieved as Introduced, after dueling inside of Peaceful for a half-mile, pulled away from that one in the stretch to win the $85,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths.

The Smart N Fancy was originally scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. But heavy rains Thursday morning and early afternoon prompted racing officials to transfer all six of Saratoga’s scheduled turf races to the main track.

On turf, trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. wanted jockey Manny Franco to get Introduced to relax, something she didn’t do when finishing fourth in the Caress Stakes on turf here on Aug. 1.

On dirt, it was a different story.

“She does have speed so that’s an advantage for sure,” Duarte said. “When it was off the turf the whole layout changed so we probably changed tactics.”

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The Smart N Fancy scratched down to a field of five from a field of eight with the surface change.

Under Manny Franco, Introduced broke running and quickly went down toward the rail. Peaceful, under Tyler Gaffalione, applied pressure through a quarter of 22.41 seconds and a half-mile in 44.84. Franco said his filly was moving comfortably over the sealed, muddy surface and when he asked her for run she began to pull away.

Franco said Duarte told him that if Peaceful wanted the lead to let her have it. Franco said Gaffalione didn’t break “with intention to clear me so I just decided to hold my position inside,” he said. “The filly did the rest.”

Introduced, a 4-year-old daughter of El Padrino owned by Colts Neck Stables, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.06 and returned $3.20 as the favorite.

Peaceful finished second by 1 3/4 lengths over Saratoga Treasure. Victory Kingdom was fourth followed by Miss Gossip.

Rose Flower, Getmotherarose, and A Great Time were all scratched.

Introduced is now 6 for 13 overall but 3 for 3 on dirt, including two stakes victories. Duarte, however, said he would look to run her back on turf next time.

“We’ll try to keep on turf, she’s been consistent, she has good numbers on both,” he said. “If something happens where it rains again, you’re golden too.”