Suzie O'Cain distance favors All of It; pick six has $99K carryover
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Something will have to give when All of It and Celtic Dawn put their perfect records on the line against six other New York-bred 3-year-old fillies Thursday at Saratoga in the $200,000 Suzie O’Cain Stakes.
The Suzie O’Cain is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf and is the fourth leg in a pick six sequence that begins with a carryover of $99,020.
All of It has won her first two starts by a combined margin of 7 1/2 lengths for trainer Miguel Clement, with both of her victories coming around two turns. Celtic Dawn has proven to be the more versatile of the pair, having won twice on dirt and once on grass, including the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Series, but is somewhat of a question mark at the distance as she is yet to race beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.
All of It has shown to be quite tractable in her first two starts, rating within easy striking distance of the leaders before showing a good turn of foot to win going away. Her most recent victory came over the local course under entry-level allowance conditions at 1 1/16 miles on June 7.
“She’s doing great, had a great work the other day on the turf, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she takes another step forward in her third start,” Clement said. “I’m not too concerned about the pace situation. I’ll leave the trip up to Mr. Manny Franco to figure out. My job is to train them, his is to guide them into the winner’s circle.”
Celtic Dawn won her career debut here a year ago, rallying to a three-length triumph in a race switched from turf to a sloppy main track. But the elation of that victory did not last very long.
“She came out of the winner’s circle limping and ultimately wound up at Rood and Riddle, where they had to put a screw in her pastern,” trainer Carlos Martin explained. “It was a long process getting her back [to the races], but so far so good. We always thought with her pedigree she’d be better on grass, and she proved that winning the stakes last time.”
Whether Celtic Dawn can extend her winning streak on Thursday likely hinges on her ability to handle the added distance.
“With her breeding, I don’t feel stretching out should be an issue, although it’s important that she can secure good position and get in good rhythm during the early part of the race,” Martin said.
Irad Ortiz Jr. will be aboard Celtic Dawn for the first time in the Suzie O’Cain, replacing regular rider Javier Castellano who is still recuperating from injuries suffered in a frightening spill in the Wild Applause Stakes on July 3.
New York Special also is expected to attract considerable support in her third career start for trainer Mark Casse. She exits a game maiden win over the local course when making her two-turn debut here June 7. New York Special is a half-sister to four-time Grade 1 winner and $2.6 million earner Casa Creed.
Other key contenders in the Suzie O’Cain include Encantar, second best behind Celtic Dawn in the Cupecoy’s Joy; the much improved Considerate City; last-out maiden winner Coach of the Year; Neshika; and Cosmic Candy Girl. Lady Rose has been entered for the main track only.
A healthy pick six sequence
Thursday’s pick six will kick off with a high-priced optional-claiming and conditioned allowance test scheduled at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The race attracted a very strong field, topped by Grade 1 winners Spirit of St Louis and Salamis, both from the potent Chad Brown stable.
Spirit of St Louis is looking to get back to the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs during the spring of 2025. His six-race winless streak includes a second-place finish as the odds-on favorite under optional-claiming and allowance conditions April 24 at Aqueduct.
Salamis closed his 3-year-old campaign last fall with a come-from-behind head victory over Tom’s Magic in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. He has started just once since, finishing an even-running fourth in the Grade 3 Poker here June 7.
The lineup also features Grade 2 winner Capture the Flag, who will be returning to the races for the first time since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Man o’ War 14 months ago, and the multiple stakes-placed Sand Pipes, who ships over from his Monmouth Park base for Haskell-winning trainer Lindsay Schultz.
The penultimate leg of the pick six also is a good one. The $130,000 conditioned allowance for fillies and mares carded at seven furlongs on the main track has lured a graded stakes-caliber field, led by Brown’s Senza Parole, plus Autumn Evening, Dazzling Move, Queen’s Martini, and Reputation.
Senza Parole will return to the allowance ranks off a third-place finish when turning back to seven furlongs for the first time in the Grade 2 Bed o’ Roses here June 5.
Autumn Evening also will be getting some significant class relief after launching her 2026 campaign by finishing a tiring fifth in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
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