|
|
Deja vu for Wait a While In a scene eerily reminiscent of her 4 1/2-length demolition job in last month's American Oaks Invitational S. (G1), Arindel Farm's WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) bounded away from the field by 4 3/4 lengths in Friday's $147,000 Lake Placid S. (G2) over Saratoga's inner turf. Angled to the outside by rider Garrett Gomez while passing the stands for the first time, the Todd Pletcher-trained gray secured an ideal stalking trip in second as longshot Art Show (Out of Place) set steady splits of :24 2/5, :48 4/5 and 1:12 1/5. Then Wait a While was through with waiting and launched her bid turning for home. In a matter of strides, the even-money favorite opened up by 5 1/2 lengths, getting the mile in 1:35, and continued her relentless gallop to the wire. Her final time for the 1 1/8 miles on firm ground was a sharp 1:46 2/5, just one tick off the course record. "This is a beautiful filly," Gomez said. "I can put her anywhere I want. I could have taken the lead any time I wanted to, but I got her to the outside and sat in the garden spot and just waited. When I asked her, she just exploded for me. It is always a pleasure to ride horses like these." "It was a dominant performance," Pletcher said. "You don't see horses in turf races dominate as often as she has." Lady of Venice (Fr) (Loup Solitaire), also sent off at even money but ranking as the slight second choice in the wagering, rated off the pace, racing in tight quarters while last in the five-horse field. The chestnut swung wide for the stretch drive and got up for a clear second without menacing the winner. "There was no excuse today," Lady of Venice's trainer Patrick Biancone said. "She was in a perfect spot behind the horse to beat. We were beaten by the better horse today." Crossing the wire another 1 1/2 lengths back in third was Dancing Band (Dixieland Band), a stablemate of the winner, who ran evenly throughout. Art Show faded to fourth, trailed by Diamond Spirit (Holy Bull). The main-track only entrant, Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid), was withdrawn. Wait a While returned $4.10, $2.30 and $2.10 while spearheading the $6.10 exacta and $9.80 trifecta (3-2-1). Lady of Venice gave back $2.30 and $2.10, while the 7-1 Dancing Band paid $2.80 to show. With a bankroll now totaling $978,087, Wait a While has improved her mark to 11-6-1-3. After capturing the off-the-turf Miss Grillo S. as a juvenile, the gray was campaigned on the main track. She kicked off her sophomore season with a 14-length romp in the sloppy Davona Dale S. (G2), then placed in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2), Ashland S. (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), promoted to third via disqualification in the latter. Pletcher tried to switch her to the lawn for the Sands Point S. (G3) at Belmont Park, but that event was rained off the turf, and she once again showed her affinity for an off track with a facile 4 1/2-length score there prior to her smashing American Oaks win. "She is one of those special fillies that can do a little bit of everything," Pletcher said. "She's actually competitive on dirt, but this is her true calling: on the turf." Bred by W. S. Farish and W. Temple Webber Jr. in Kentucky, the winner 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 a 2006 colt by Pleasantly Perfect. 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). "Right now, the plan is the Queen Elizabeth (Invitational Challenge Cup S. [G1] on October 14 at Keeneland," Pletcher said, "and then either the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) or the Mile ([G1] on November 4 at Churchill Downs)."
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
