Ginger delivers knockout Punch in Go for Wand

Stronach Stables' homebred GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) had never won around

two turns prior to Saturday's $250,000

Go for

Wand H. (G1), but she silenced doubters with a resounding six-length

decision at Saratoga. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, the Bobby Frankel-trained filly

tracked Teammate (A.P. Indy) in second through the opening six furlongs,

dismissed the pacesetter leaving the far turn, and cruised through the stretch

in dominant fashion, finishing nine furlongs over the fast oval in 1:49.

"I had a little bit (of concern about the distance)," Frankel said. "I

thought she'd be all right because she's such an easy filly to ride. She relaxes

behind any kind of pace."

"Mr. Frankel decided he wanted her in the race early," Bejarano explained. "I

had so much horse at the top of the stretch. I think she is the best horse in

the division."

A five-length winner of the seven-furlong First Flight H. (G2) in her

previous outing, Ginger Punch has now compiled an 11-5-5-0 record with $441,279

in earnings. She was favored at 6-5 on Saturday and returned $4.50, $3 and

$2.30. Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), the 7-1 fourth choice among six entrants,

closed late for runner-up honors and paid $5.70 and $4.10 while capping the

$26.60 exacta. Teammate, who set the early fractions in :24 2/5, :48 4/5 and

1:12 4/5, wound up another 2 1/4 lengths back in third at 6-1 and yielded $3.70.

The 5-2-4 trifecta was good for $93.50. Plaid (Deputy Commander), Soul Search (A.P.

Indy) and 8-5 second choice Ermine (Exchange Rate) rounded out the order of

finish.

Ginger Punch needed four starts to break her maiden last year and didn't make

her stakes debut until opening her four-year-old season with a runner-up finish

in the Madison S. (G2) in mid-April. She easily captured an allowance at

Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day next out and followed with an excellent second in

the Ogden Phipps

H. (G1) two starts back, nearly catching Take D' Tour (Tour d'Or) before falling

a neck short at the wire. The Florida-bred filly is out of Grade 2 winner Nappelon

(Bold Revenue), who is also the dam of an unraced juvenile filly named Gold

Revenue (Touch Gold) and an unnamed yearling filly by Red Bullet.

By winning the Breeders' Cup Challenge race, Ginger Punch is guaranteed a

starting spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park.

"The Breeders' Cup is a long way away," Frankel said. "You have to keep them

sound. Strawberries today, jam tomorrow. Hopefully, I can keep her the way she

is now and I'm sure she'll run in the Breeders' Cup."

The Hall of Fame conditioner added that Ginger Punch will probably run only

once before the Distaff, with the September 8 Ruffian H. (G1) at Belmont Park a

likely option.