Turf no problem for Simple Surprise in Bolton Landing
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Simple Surprise took to the turf as readily as she did a wet track in her career debut, rallying from just off the pace to register a one-length decision over Celestial Sighting in Wednesday’s $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga.
The 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing, which scratched down to only four starters, did not become official until the stewards denied claims of foul by Celestial Sighting's rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., and trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, who alleged their horse had been interfered with by the winner in late stretch.
Simple Surprise, a 2-year-old daughter of Cowboy Cal trained by Steve Asmussen, won her only previous start, leading throughout over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs on June 18. In the Bolton Landing, jockey Javier Castellano was content to let her rate off the early pace of the speedy Laxfield Road. Simple Surprise overtook the tiring leader in early stretch, edged clear, then withstood Celestial Sighting's bid despite drifting some inside the sixteenth pole.
Celestial Sighting, never far back, angled wide with her bid into the stretch, and lugged in a bit on her left lead when altering course to the inside of the winner leaving the sixteenth pole. Laxfield Road, the 6-5 favorite, and Little Miss Miss completed the order of finish. Bruised Orange, Office Drama and the main-track-only entrant Island Saint all scratched.
Simple Surprise is owned by her breeder, Ron Winchell. She paid $7.20.
“She was impressive the way she won first time at Churchill Downs,” said Castellano. “She worked a couple of times on the grass and she worked really good, and I think [Asmussen] had high expectations today."
Castellano said he and Simple Surprise were clear of Celestial Sighting when they drifted.
"Unfortunately, when she got to the lead she got distracted a little bit," Castellano said. "But a lot of young horses, especially at this meet with so much going on around here, they look around a little bit."