Viadera tops Brown exacta in De La Rose Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - All three of trainer Chad Brown’s starters had the lead at some point in the stretch of Friday’s $85,000 De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga.

In the end, it was Viadera, at 6-1 the longest-price of the three Brown runners, who, under Joel Rosario, outfinished the Brown-trained Noor Sahara to win the De La Rose by a neck. It was three-quarters of a length back to Passing Shot in third.

Clara Peeters finished fourth followed by Catch a Bid - the Brown trained 8-5 favorite – Xenobia, and Hogans Holiday. Blowout, the 3-1 morning-line favorite also trained by Brown, scratched after developing a temperature earlier in the week.

Viadera, a Great Britain-bred daughter of Bated Breath, rebounded from a fourth-place finish in her U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6.

“She didn’t break well, she lost contact with the field, I don’t think she showed much interest til late,” Brown said of Viadera’s performance in the Intercontinental. “She made a little late run. Coming out of that race she trained a lot sharper, I expected her to break better today and she did. Joel was very confident in the paddock, [saying] ‘I got to know her first time out I’m expecting her to put me there early’ and she did.”

Play Saratoga with DRF! Visit our Saratoga shop for DRF PPs, Picks and Clocker Reports:

Viadera was fourth down the backside, but within 3 1/2 lengths of Xenobia, who set fractions of 24.95 seconds and 49.60 over a turf course labeled good following Thursday night rain.

Approaching the top of the lane, Catch a Bid, under Tyler Gaffalione, took over from Xenobia, but was overtaken in deep stretch by Noor Sahara, who was then outfooted by Viadera.

Viadera, owned by Juddmonte Farms, covered the mile in 1:38.17 and returned $14.40.

“I think the longer distance for her was probably the key,” Rosario said. “I was happy where she was, she put me in the right spot.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., the rider of Noor Sahara, said he tried to wait as long as he could to make the lead, noting that his filly hung in her previous start.

“When I thought it was time to go, I moved, she made the lead and got caught on the wire,” Ortiz said.

The only disappointment for Brown was Catch a Bid, who didn’t go on after making the lead.

“A little disappointed late that she didn’t punch, we’ll have to reevaluate her,” Brown said. “Also, this turf has some moisture in it today and it’s probably not for every horse; some horses moved up some horses moved down.”