Maiden Saratoga Vision Tackles Ontario Colleen Stakes

Saratoga Vision, a daughter of Court Vision , will look to record a couple of firsts in the Aug. 29 CA$125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine.

Owned and trained by Alexander Patykewich, the Kentucky-bred would notch her first stakes score with a victory in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies while also breaking her maiden in her 13th start.

"I think we can win this one," Patykewich said. "Right from the start, this filly has done everything I've asked of her. She's had some bad luck along the way, but she's coming into this race perfectly."

Bred by Charles Fipke, Saratoga Vision has a pair of seconds and a trio of thirds from 12 starts, including a strong runner-up showing in her latest effort, the July 25 Selene Stakes (G3) on Woodbine's all-weather track.

Dismissed at 84-1 in that 1 1/16-mile race, Saratoga Vision rallied impressively to finish three-quarters of a length behind fellow Ontario Colleen starter Two Sixty.

"That was the first time she had the chance to go long," Patykewich said. "She should have won it, but she got boxed in at the three-eighths pole. I really liked her that day. I thought she'd win it." 

That performance came after consecutive fifth-place finishes to start her 2020 campaign. Last year, in nine starts, she posted a second and three thirds.

In a seven-furlong turf dash Aug. 10, 2019, Saratoga Vision closed stoutly to miss by a nose. One race later, she was third in the 6 1/2-furlong Catch A Glimpse Stakes on a yielding E.P. Taylor turf course.

"She's been a nice filly right from the day I bought her," Patykewich said. "You know who she reminds me of? She reminds me of (graded stakes winner) Skylander Girl (a daughter of Stroll whom Patykewich also trained and owned). She does everything like 'Skylander' did. She does things so well, and you never have to tell her anything twice."

Completing the field are three-time winner and stakes-placed Avie's Samurai; two-time winner Chart; Diamond Sparkles, who was fourth in last year's Natalma Stakes (G1T); Fly So Pretty, who took last year's Stewart Manor Stakes; multiple stakes winner Two Sixty; and multiple graded-placed Walk In Marrakesh.

Chart, Diamond Sparkles, Fly So Pretty, and Two Sixty are all Mark Casse trainees.

"She couldn't be coming into the races any better," Patykewich said of Saratoga Vision. "I really believe she can win this race."

The Ontario Colleen is scheduled as the seventh race in a program that starts at 1 p.m. ET.

The Woodbine Turf Endurance Series continues Saturday with the $50,000 second round featuring nine starters stretching out to 1 1/2 miles in race 9. The field includes 4U Thoroughbred Racing Stable's 7-year-old Niigon gelding Artistico, the 2018 Turf Endurance champion and winner of this year's 1 3/8-mile opening leg Aug. 1 for trainer Sylvain Pion, who will also send out English Illusion.