Uncashed takes fourth straight win with off-turf Quick Call
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The turf can wait for Uncashed. He’s doing just fine on dirt.
When Sunday’s $175,000 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga came off the turf to run over a sloppy main track, it turned the race from a seemingly wide-open affair to one that was relatively easy to handicap.
Uncashed, who had never before raced on turf, flaunted his terrific speed and made it four straight wins and five of six overall on dirt with a 5 3/4-length victory over Joey Freshwater.
It was three lengths back to Two of a Kind in third.
Acoustic Ave, Briterdayzahead and Kigali completed the order of finish. The race was scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, but fell victim to heavy rain showers from earlier in the day. Scratching out of the race were No Nay Hudson, Eye Witness, Charging, Son of a Birch and Gaslight Dancer.
Trainer Larry Rivelli said he chose to run Uncashed in the Quick Call even though it was on turf, because of the timing more so than the surface. Uncashed hadn’t run in two months, since he won the Golden Circle at Prairie Meadows on May 20.
Uncashed, under Irad Ortiz Jr., broke running, and opened up a one-length advantage through an opening quarter in 22.57 seconds. Acoustic Ave got within a half-length nearing the top of the stretch, but when Ortiz asked him to run, Uncashed opened up and drew clear.
“He made the lead on his own, I didn’t have to help him or use him too much, that was the key,” Ortiz said. “Try to make the lead and go as slow as I can, but I don’t think he knows how to slow down. … He was going quick, but he was relaxed and waiting for me.”
Now, as long as Rivellli can find a suitable sprint for 3-year-olds, Uncashed will remain on dirt.
“After this race, I’d prefer to keep him on dirt,” Rivelli told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “We don’t need to experiment as much now with a win like this.”
Uncashed, a gelding by Uncaptured owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.44 over a sloppy and sealed track and returned $4.40 as the favorite.
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