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Georgie's Angel a popular winner of Schuylerville

Georgie's Angel will head to the Spinaway undefeated after taking the Schuylerville (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Trainer Todd Pletcher has another good-looking juvenile to have fun with at Saratoga this summer. The filly GEORGIE'S ANGEL (Bellamy Road) was a prompt 4-5 winner of the $100,000 Schuylerville S. (G3) at Saratoga on Friday, the opening day of the Spa's 40-day meet. In receipt of a perfect trip under John Velazquez, Georgie's Angel overtook the tiring pacesetters at the top of the stretch and held off a late charge by True Feelings (Latent Heat) to win by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths. She returned $3.90, $2.90 and $2.20. Vukovar (Forest Wildcat) dashed to a clear lead leaving the stalls, opening up 3 1/2 lengths after a quarter in a wicked :21 1/5. The longest shot on the board at 18-1, Vukovar noticeably shortened stride rounding the far turn and was down a half-length to Gypsy Robin (Daaher) when the half-mile was reached in :44 3/5. Tracking in third throughout this speedfest was Georgie's Angel, who easily moved past a tiring Gypsy Robin before the eighth pole and eventually past the finish line in 1:10 3/5 for six furlongs over the fast main track.

True Feelings, fifth early, finished 5 3/4 lengths clear of Force de La Nature (Scat Daddy) for second at 6-1. Second choice Gypsy Robin wilted to fourth, three parts of a length behind Force de La Nature, and was followed under the wire by first-time starter Alydarla (Henny Hughes) and Vukovar. Scratched from the Schuylerville were Dorothy's Aurora (Simon Pure), Five Star Momma (Five Star Day), and Flashy Lassie (Flashy Bull).

Georgie's Angel debuted at Churchill Downs on July 4, scoring easily by 6 1/4 lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs at odds of 9-2. She's now earned $95,820.

(The Spinaway S. [G1] on September 4) is the logical thing," Pletcher said. "We'll see how she bounces out of it, but it's good spacing. We ran her back a little quick off her win at Churchill, so now we have a little extra time."

Georgie's Angel is owned by a partnership that includes Sheffer Racing Stable, Ronald Stocks and Betsy Wells. Co-owner Ronnie Sheffer provided insight as to the origins of the filly's name.

"This is the first horse I've ever owned. A friend of mine from college has been urging me to buy a horse, and this opportunity came along. Because she was by Bellamy Road, who was George Steinbrenner's favorite horse, Kelly Wietsma (President/CEO of Equisponse) said I oughta name him Georgie's Baby. My wife is an ordained minister, and her father used to call her 'Angel' all the time, so we named him Georgie’s Angel as sort of a compromise. Then when she broke her maiden at Churchill Downs, it was July 4, which was George Steinbrenner's birthday. I'm the world's biggest Red Sox fan, too, and no one would ever have believed I would name a horse after George Steinbrenner."

Georgie's Angel was produced by Lalka (Dynaformer), a half-sister to stakes winners Buffalo Jump (Benny the Dip) and Gumboots (Storm Boot). All were produced by the multiple stakes winner Celmis (Bold Ruckus). The Schuylerville winner counts as a third dam the Canadian juvenile filly champion Ada Prospect (New Prospect).

Georgie's Angel was bred in Kentucky by Scott and Carol Ricker.

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