Therideofalifetime Pointed to Saratoga Special Aug. 7

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Therideofalifetime Pointed to Saratoga Special Aug. 7
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photogrpahy
Therideofalifetime wins a maiden race at Keeneland July 11

Promising 2-year-old Therideofalifetime, a frontrunning 8 1/4-length second-out maiden winner at Keeneland July 11, is slated to return in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 7, trainer Ignacio Correas said July 24. The Saratoga Special is a $150,000 race at six furlongs.

The Candy Ride  colt, owned and bred by Stephen Fidel, is set to work next week, his first breeze since his maiden victory. Friday, he galloped over the main track at Keeneland, where he is based.

In his July 11 score under Jose Ortiz, Therideofalifetime sped six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.81, the third-fastest time by a 2-year-old at that distance since Keeneland replaced its Polytrack surface with a dirt track prior to its fall meet in 2014. He earned a 94 Equibase Speed Figure, an improvement of 11 points over his figure when he rallied for second in his debut at Churchill Downs June 19.

"He's very mannered. He has a great mind and has everything you need to be a good racehorse," Correas said. "So I think that, for now, he can allow you to dream and we'll keep doing it until proved contrary, I guess."

Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride him again in the Saratoga Special, Correas said.

Bred in Kentucky, Therideofalifetime is the lone foal to race from the Proud Citizen mare Cosmic Evolution, who won the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2015 for Fidel and trainer Lon Wiggins. A skilled sprinter, she tired when stretched out to routes as a 3-year-old in 2016, running third in the Honeybee Stakes (G3) and fourth in the Fantasy Stakes (G3) that year at Oaklawn Park.

Therideofalifetime's entrance into the Correas stable comes following the success of Blue Prize, who won the 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) for owner Merriebelle Stables and the trainer last fall at Santa Anita Park. Days later, Larry Best's OXO Equine purchased her for $5 million at The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton from the Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consignment. Best retired her from racing to begin her second career as a broodmare.

Correas' stable has a different composition this year and along with altered racing schedules amid COVID-19, his win total stands at 12 wins from 121 starts in 2020, off his pace from his career-best year in 2019 when his horses went 33-for-281. 

"We have a few prospects and this is one of the nicest ones," Correas said of Therideofalifetime. "He lets us dream and look forward to going back to the barn."