Miss Interpret Wins Off-Turf P.G. Johnson
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Miss Interpret wins the P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
StarLadies Racing and Glen Hill Farm's Miss Interpret overtook Sail By and Let's Be Clear from the outside in the final furlong to post a 1 1/2-length victory Sept. 2 in the $120,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The 17th edition of the P.G. Johnson, moved off the inner turf to the main track and from its original distance of 1 1/16 miles to seven furlongs, saw Sail By lead the pared-down four-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :24.43 and a half in :47.68 on a fast track. Sail By kept to the inside out of the turn and maintained her slight edge on Let's Be Clear while Miss Interpret sat in third when entering the final eighth of a mile under Jose Ortiz.
The Street Sense filly, a main-track only entrant sent off as the 3-5 favorite, thrived with a clear path in front, running down Let's Be Clear to her immediate inside before collaring Sail By in the final sixteenth. The final time was 1:24.80.
"She takes a little bit of riding," Ortiz said. "I knew entering the stretch that she would keep me in touch with them and I could beat them turning for home. She can stretch out in distance just fine. I think the longer they go, the better it will be for her."
Miss Interpret, who broke her maiden at third asking last out July 25 at the Spa, improved to 2-1-0 in four starts.
"It's a good win for her," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We needed to stay close. We anticipated (Let's Be Clear) would be on the lead, but I think she stumbled leaving there and that changed the complexion of the first eighth (of a mile) a little bit. Jose was able to get her in the position we wanted and she was able to keep wearing them down."
Let's Be Clear rallied for second by a nose over Sail By. Runaway Breeze completed the order of finish. Expand the Map , Philly Eagles , Silvery Rill , Take the Backroads , and Mystic Eyes scratched.
A $100,000 purchase by agent Frank Brothers from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment to the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Miss Interpret returned $3.50 on a $2 win wager and improved her career earnings to $141,375. She was bred in Kentucky by Michael Banahan, Ralph Gray, and Dr. Dickson Varner out of the Touch Gold mare All Mettle. The mare has a Hard Spun yearling colt and dropped a Mendelssohn filly April 30. She was bred to Practical Joke for 2022.