Irad Ortiz Jr., top racer at Racecourse SaratogaThe meet-up ends Labor Day, continuing his hot hand by winning five races on September 6 at Colony Downsincluding the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T) and the Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks.
Ortiz in partnership with Capensis for his richest score Tuesday in the $305,000 Virginia Derby, a 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds that the foal won in a 1:48.15 match.
Friday is outside as early as Royal patronage placing fractions of: 23.24 and: 47.62, Capensis rushes into action on the second turn, moving into fourth place shortly after the Royal Patronage’s six metalwork in 1:11.42. In wide range, gray Tapit knocks out the leader early and squeezes in speed Catnip in the middle and draw two lengths.
“In the third column of the eighth, I asked him a little bit. He put me right there. He jumped a little bit,” Ortiz said. “I knew I had a good chance of taking them down, and in the fourth column I asked him, and he was there for me.”
Late performers completed the trilogy, with California Frolic rim Limited by an antique for the place. Then the third through the neck Agreed .
Late bet for bias, Capensis paid $5.20 to win.
The Virginia Derby marked the second win in three games starting with Capensis, who won the first in five lengths at Belmont Park July 2 before finishing sixth in the first start against the winners of the Saratoga grant for coach Todd Pletcher of the Walk of Fame. 3-year-olds race for Eclipse Purebred Partners, Bob LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables.
Stonestreet Stables bred the Kentucky foal from the unbridled first prize mare Unbridled’s Song Tara’s Tango a two-man maker starts with four ponies, with the other starting a 4-year-old Alexander Valley (Medaglia d’Oro ). She also has an unnamed name Curlin 2 year old pony and a childhood pony of Quality Sugar .
Video: New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T)
Spirit and Glory picks first winnings in Virginia Oaks
Spirit and Glory burned in the final moments to take down the Virginia Oaks, just before the Virginia Derby.
Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. moved among the herd of 14 horses through the ratios: 23, :47.43 and 1:11.66 in a solid course. Around the last turn, leader Thisnameisokay encounter traffic, bump into Lady Puchi while Omixochitl and Sparkling blue keep moving outside of those two. Spirit and Glory, led by Ortiz, sails in from the outside and takes a late challenge from Sparkle Blue to win the 1 1/4 in Billion 1/8 race for 3-year-olds. ratio 1: 48.25.
Spirit and Glory capture Virginia Oaks
Sparkle Blue holds on to second place Light candy rose to third place.
Spirit and Glory paid out $19.20, increasing her earnings to $185,770 and improving to 3-1-1 from seven starts.
Owned by Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing, John Rochfort and Falcone, daughter of Cotai Glory bred in Ireland by Dr Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams.
Spirit and Glory are beyond Invincible spirit mare Supreme Spirit , who has four winners from five ponies to race. The dam’s last pony is a 2-year-old daughter of Kuroshio .
Video: Woodford Virginia Oaks Reserve (BT)
