Just Cindy Pulls Away in Schuylerville Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Just Cindy wins the Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
As distances stretch out in 2-year-old races, there's often some cause for concern.
Will a horse who looked dynamic at 5 1/2 furlongs perform just as well with the addition of more ground?
In the case of Clarkland Farm's homebred Just Cindy , an extra half-furlong proved to be no obstacle at all as she followed up an impressive maiden win at 5 1/2 furlongs by taking a step forward and rolling to a 2 1/4-length victory in the six-furlong $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies on the July 14 opening day card at Saratoga Race Course.
"She's a total pro. A quality filly. She's going to get better with distance," said trainer Eddie Kenneally who had assistant Kelly Wheeler saddle Just Cindy in his absence. "If she continues to do well, the more distance she can have, the better it would be for her. Hopefully we can keep her together and watch her improve."
A daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify out of the Proud Citizen mare Jenda's Agenda, Just Cindy moved up from fourth to capture her June 17 debut at Churchill Downs by a convincing 2 1/4-length margin as a strong 6-5 favorite. That stretch kick was also on display in the Schuylerville as she rated in third after breaking from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr., and then swung out on the turn to power past 6-5 favorite Summer Promise in mid-stretch and cover the six furlongs in 1:11.95 to give her sire his first United States graded stakes winner.
"She relaxed in the pocket from the inside, which was not ideal, and had enough gears to get out of there when the gap opened up," Kenneally said about the 2-1 second choice who paid $6.20 to win. "She got a brilliant ride from Irad. It was a confident ride. He rode her like she was the best horse in the race, which she was."
The connections of Just Cindy in the trophy presentation after the Schuylerville Stakes
Aside from having a Triple Crown winner as her sire, Just Cindy has some distance pedigree on her female side through Jenda's Agenda, a stakes winner at a mile whose dam, Just Jenda, was a multiple graded stakes winner of $750,680 who won the 2010 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) around two turns.
"I don't think distance will be an issue at all with her," said Wheeler, who grew up in North Adams, Mass., and considers Saratoga her home track.
Just Cindy will be heading back to Kentucky in short order, but will likely return to Saratoga for the Sept. 4 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs.
Just Cindy is the first foal from Jenda's Agenda, who also has an American Pharoah yearling filly and a filly by Mendelssohn born earlier this year.
BC Stables' Summer Promise, an Uncle Mo filly trained by D. Wayne Lukas, was favored in the Schuylerville off a dominant five-length victory in her June 25 debut at Churchill Downs. After winning at five furlongs first time out, she chased in second before taking the lead after a half-mile in :45.90 over a fast track, but could not turn back Just Cindy's closing kick.
"She tried. She sat second in good position," jockey Luis Saez said. "She came to the top of the stretch and kind of waited a little for the other one. But she did good. She is going to be better next time."
Gary Barber's Janis Joplin turned in a promising effort after finishing third in her debut. The California Chrome filly was sixth in the field of seven after breaking in at the start but rallied to grab third for trainer Mark Casse, 4 1/4 lengths behind the winner.
The Schuylerville was the second of two stakes on the opening day card that attracted a turnout of 28,466 and generated an all-sources handle of $21,764,922. Those figures reflected a slight gain in attendance (27,760 last year), and virtually identical wagering ($21,935,534) from 2021 totals.