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Wait a While defends Ballston Spa crown Arindel Farm's WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) did not run up to her usual standard last time out in the Diana S. (G1), when she returned from a six-month layoff and checked in a disappointing seventh, but the gray rebounded as the defending champion in Thursday's $196,000 Ballston Spa H. (G2) at Saratoga. The Todd Pletcher mare tracked in second while Sharp Susan (Touch Gold) carved out splits of :23 4/5, :47 and 1:10 1/5, took command at the head of the lane, and safely held off Carriage Trail (Giant's Causeway) by one length. Under a picture-perfect Johnny Velazquez ride, Wait a While completed 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf in 1:39 3/5 to pay $3.70, $3 and $2.20 as the 4-5 favorite. "I think firm turf is the biggest key," Pletcher said, noting that the turf was "just a touch soft" in the July 26 Diana. "We kind of had everything working against us last time. I think that having that race under her belt set her up well for today. "She's a special filly," he added. "She was a champion at three, and she's won some tremendous races. Two Ballston Spas and her Lake Placid (S. [G2]) as a three-year-old were awesome races. This is her fourth year at Saratoga, when you have one that long, it gets a little extra special." Carriage Trail's rally carried her past the early leader at the top of the stretch, but she could not put a serious scare into Wait a While en route to filling the runner-up spot. The 10-1 shot gave back $5.90 and $2.80. Rutherienne (Pulpit) closed for third, another 1 1/2 lengths back, and returned $2.60 as the 3-1 second choice. The exacta was worth $26, and the 1-5-4 trifecta totaled $73. Sharp Susan faded to fourth, while Valbenny (Ire) (Val Royal [Ire]) trailed home last of five. With this 10th career stakes score to her credit, Wait a While now sports a mark of 22-11-3-4 and a bankroll totaling $1,941,917. The five-year-old mare was an authoritative winner of the San Gorgonio H. (G2) at Santa Anita in her 2008 bow. Last season, she captured the Ballston Spa and Honey Fox H. (G3), and placed in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1), Matriarch S. (G1) and Just a Game S. (G2). During her 2006 campaign, the gray landed the American Oaks Invitational S. (G1), Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), Lake Placid, Davona Dale S. (G2) and Sands Point S. (G3), a record which earned her the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old filly. Her resume also lists a victory in the 2005 Miss Grillo S. and four other stakes placings, including the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Ashland S. (G1). Bred by W.S. Farish and W. Temple Webber Jr. in Kentucky, Wait a While was sold for $260,000 at the 2005 OBS February sale as a two-year-old in training. She is the first registered foal from the winning A.P. Indy mare Flirtatious, who has also produced an unraced juvenile colt named Class Flirt (Pleasantly Perfect) and a yearling full sister to the winner. Wait a While's granddam is Grand Charmer (Lord Avie), a Grade 3 winner on the grass. The family traces to the Northern Dancer mare Sleek Dancer, whose notable descendants include 1987 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) hero Sir Harry Lewis, 1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (Jpn-G1) winner Chokai Carol, multiple stakes victor and sire Northern Prospect and 2000 Ramona H. (G1) queen Caffe Latte (Ire). Wait a While will now head west for the September 27 Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita, her final prep for the October 24 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
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