Thoughtfully Easily Topples Adirondack Field
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Thoughtfully cruises to a five-length score in the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Heider Family Stables' Thoughtfully brought her record to 2-for-2 in the $145,500 Adirondack Stakes (G2) Aug. 12 at Saratoga Race Course. The 2-year-old Tapit filly defeated a promising field of four other fillies in the 6 1/2-furlong test while pulling away to win by five lengths.
Bred by Gainseway Thoroughbreds in Kentucky out of the Seeking the Gold mare Pension, Thoughtfully is a half sister to grade 2 winner Annual Report and was purchased by her owners for $950,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York. The filly is bred to excel at longer distances in the future and a start in the Breeders' Cup could be in the cards.
"She's a super nice, classy filly. Today, going 6 1/2 (furlongs), I thought to take my time with her," jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. said. "It's her second time out, and we wanted to teach her something. She responded really well. She has a lot of class."
Thoughtfully settled in fourth after the gate sprang open, content to let Ava's Grace, pressed by Make Mischief, have the lead. Ava's Grace posted a quarter-mile in :22.33 and a half-mile in :46.12 with Make Mischief breathing down her neck.
Blocked in traffic for much of the turn, entering the stretch Santana angled his mount to the four path and came off the turn full of run. Once the pair straightened out, Thoughtfully kicked into high gear and sped past the leaders to cross the wire with a time of 1:17.20, her final sixteenth in :06.39.
The winner returned $4, $2.60, and $2.10 across the board as the even-money favorite.
"It's her second time out and I didn't want to put her on the lead," said Santana, who also rode her in her June 11 debut. "We were sitting behind the speed and she was feeling happy and comfortable where she was. I was really happy with her, too, and I was just waiting for the hole to open, and she gave me a really good kick."
In her unveiling at Churchill Downs, Thoughtfully demolished a field of eight other fillies, drawing off by 8 3/4 lengths to win for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
"She does the same thing in the morning. She's so special," Ricardo added. "When you work horses like her in the morning, you know what you have in the race. I was really happy and comfortable with where she was. This was the first time behind horses; last time (at Churchill Downs), she was in the clear. Steve did a great job with her, and (assistant trainer) Scott Blasi and everyone did well with her. We're really happy with her."
The Mark Casse-trained Make Mischief was able to move up for second in the Adirondack, finishing a length in front of Ava's Grace. Make Mischief won her debut June 18 at Belmont Park and has now finished second in two consecutive graded stakes. Four weeks ago she set the pace in the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) but was outrun by Dayoutoftheoffice.
"She broke well," rider John Velazquez said. "She was on the lead last time, so I wasn't going to fight her. The other ones decided to go, so I sat off them on the outside and waited for the others to come to me. I asked her and she responded, but the winner was very good."