Union Lake, Hot Peppers square off in Prioress Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A seemingly wide-open renewal of Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga became even more so with the news Wednesday that Smash Ticket, the co-second choice at 4-1 on David Aragona’s morning line, will scratch due to a foot abscess, according to her trainer, Rob Atras.
That unfortunate occurrence leaves the six-furlong Prioress for 3-year-old fillies with a field of nine, with Union Lake looking to continue her winning ways and Hot Peppers trying to end her trainer’s cold spell.
Union Lake, trained by John Terranova, has won two straight following a three-length loss last October, her only start as a 2-year-old. Terranova explained that Union Lake was “a little off behind” out of her debut and was given time. This year, Union Lake has won a maiden race at Belmont Park in June and a first-level allowance here by 3 1/4 lengths on July 23. That race produced two next-out winners, including Bank On Anna, who is back in this spot.
“This filly’s very good,” Terranova said. “We think she’s got a world of talent and she’s doing really well. She stepped up like we were hoping each time. Everything’s gone smooth. She’s developing and maturing and strengthening up.”
Union Lake will break from the outside post under John Velazquez.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who is just 2 for 78 at the meet entering closing week, sends out probable Prioress favorite Hot Peppers. Rodriguez has had nine second-place finishes at Saratoga, including Hot Peppers’s second-place finish to Chi Town Lady in the Grade 1 Test.
Hot Peppers was the controlling speed in the seven-furlong Test, held off a challenge from race favorite Matareya, but yielded late to Chi Town Lady, a 14-1 upset winner.
“She ran a brilliant race,” Rodriguez said. “She never stopped running. [Matareya] came to us a little earlier than I thought she would, but it was a Grade 1. You got to put pressure on the horse. The other horse looked like she was going to go by us easy, but she fought back, so that was encouraging to see.”
In her first two starts for Rodriguez, Hot Peppers won the Jersey Girl and the Grade 3 Victory Ride, both at Belmont. Hot Peppers will break from post 2 on Friday under Luis Saez.
“I think three-quarters is her best distance,” Rodriguez said. “We got an inside post. We got no choice but to go.”
Lady Scarlet and Mischievous Diane, drawn in posts 3 and 4, look like they could be forward early.
Wicked Halo, trained by Steve Asmussen, returns from a two-month freshening, following victories in the seven-furlong Leslie’s Lady Stakes and the Tepin Stakes at Churchill. Wicked Halo won the Grade 2 Adirondack here last summer.
Angitude set the pace and was beaten three-quarters of a length by Tarabi in the Wilton Stakes going a mile here on opening day.
Half Is Enough and Sterling Silver, second and third in the Victory Ride, are back in this spot.