August Dawn Farm Maple leaf Mel remained flawless through five starts with a strong gate-to-rope effort to give the coach she’s named, Melanie Giddings, her career’s first bet win at Victory Ride Stakes (G3) $175,000 on July 8, odds 6 1/2 sprint for sophomores, at Belmont Park.
Canada-born Giddings was an assistant to former Maple Leaf Mel coach Jeremiah Englehart before leaving in January and is closely related to his New York-born daughter. cross traffic throughout his brilliant career. Giddings took on the training duties for this race and is preparing for the famous gray team at Racecourse Saratoga.
“I haven’t eaten all day. I’m a little nervous,” said Giddings. “I really have to drive back to Saratoga tonight, I have some workers in the morning. This will make driving much easier. I was more worried about the dirty girl than myself. I don’t even feel like it’s about me.” . I just feel like she’s 4 to 4 and I just hate that she’s having anything bad in her life. She’s been very good to me.”
Maple Leaf Mel has won all five of her starts in the lead under Joel Rosario, receiving a state-bred stake in Seeking the Ante in August at Racecourse Saratoga and East View in March at Aqueduct race track before the final grading in Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) May 19 at Racecourse Pimlico.
Jockey Joel Rosario rushed past Maple Leaf Mel from post 5 to establish splits of: 22.54 and: 45.52 on the fast main track with a double classified bet winner The red carpet is ready follow her outside in second place and Flavien Prat-drive Brilliant blue save land in third place.
Maple Leaf Mel put away The red carpet is ready EQUAL Brilliant blue It was his turn to get off the rails late to aim for the lead, but there was no spin for the winner, who scored 2 1/2 in a final time of 1:15.74.
“She’s very nice. She goes out there and just does her job,” Rosario said. “She’s very laid back and never worries about someone challenging her because she moves really well. She’s always in the lead. She goes out, shows her pace and says, ‘come and defeat me’.”
Dazzling Blue has held the honorary spot 1 1/2 lengths from the late run Vahva .
Giddings says Maple Leaf Mel will now target the August 5 (G1) Test Stake, a seven-stage sprint in Saratoga that could yield the retired Super Bowl-winning head coach retired Bill Parcells (August Dawn Farm) an elusive 1st place win.
“That would be the goal. I hope the whole team is there,” Giddings said. “In a way, we’re all part of the team. I’ve been texting Jeremiah all day about the kid and he wishes me the best of luck. I wish he could be here with me. I.”
Bred by Joe Fafone in the Empire State, Maple Leaf Mel is off the list City mare City gifts. , and half-sister to Eddie’s Gift deposited in New York. She made $96,250 on the win and returned $7.50 on the $2 winning bet.
Videotapes: Victory Ride S. (G3)
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse Staff.
