Simply Ravishing Romps in P. G. Johnson Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Simply Ravishing wins the off-the-turf P. G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
After defeating open company in her debut, New York-bred Simply Ravishing scored against stakes company next out Sept. 3 in an off-the-turf edition of the $93,000 P. G. Johnson Stakes for juvenile fillies on the fast main track at Saratoga Race Course.
Heavy rain showers Wednesday forced the event off the inner turf and back to seven furlongs from its initial 1 1/16-mile distance. Simply Ravishing cut back in distance and changed surfaces from her 1 1/16-mile maiden victory Aug. 2 on the Spa's Mellon turf course, but the daughter of Laoban had no problems with the altered conditions.
Piloted by Luis Saez, Simply Ravishing broke from the outside post in the four-horse field just to the outside of Con Lima, who commanded the compact field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.82 and a half in :45.67.
Around the far turn, Simply Ravishing began inching her way to even terms with the pacesetter and was in command by the quarter pole. At the top of the stretch, Saez asked for more from his charge, and she opened on the field, drawing off to a 6 1/2-length win in 1:21.85.
Con Lima finished second as the favorite, and fellow Todd Pletcher trainee Union Gables was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Thursday finished last. Invincible Gal, Plum Ali, and Mischievous Dream were scratched.
"I knew (Con Lima) was pretty tough," said Saez, who won his fourth stakes race of the meet. "She came up from Florida where she won pretty nicely. We tried to break good and put pressure on her. I knew my filly was good, too. Last time, she ran on the turf and showed she had a lot of ability. Today, she proved it. She can run on anything. I had a lot of horse, so when I came close to the wire, I was saving some for next time."
Simply Ravishing gave trainer Kenny McPeek a second stakes win of the meet after sending out Swiss Skydiver to an impressive victory in the Aug. 15 Alabama Stakes (G1).
Harold Lerner, who owns Simply Ravishing with Nehoc Stables and Magdalena Racing, said he was not the least bit concerned with the surface change.
"We've been very happy with this horse and felt she could run on any surface," Lerner said. "What I saw today was very impressive. You just love to see them draw off and win in the right way. Hopefully, she'll have a big future in front of her. She's a New York-bred and twice a winner against open company. Now, we know she can (run on) turf and dirt. She's gone two turns and she's gone seven furlongs, so I think we have a really nice filly on our hands and we're extremely happy with her."
Lerner said Simply Ravishing could stay on dirt for her next start, which could take place in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) Oct. 2 at Keeneland, a race that McPeek has won four times.
"Ken and I talked about it, and we're going to send her down to Kentucky to him and we're going to take a look at the Alcibiades at Keeneland," Lerner said. "We're hopeful she'd be up for the next step. She's nominated now to the Breeders' Cup, and after what I saw today, I think we're going to roll the dice and just keep going with her."
Simply Ravishing returned $7.30 for a $2 win bet and banked $55,000 to increase her earnings to $94,600.
Bred by Meg Levy, Simply Ravishing gave her first-crop sire his first stakes score as a stallion. She is out of the More Than Ready mare Four Wishes and was bought for $50,000 from last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale in Lexington, where she was consigned by Bluewater Sales.