Technical Analysis Goes Gate-to-Wire in Ballston Spa

Technical Analysis  controlled the pace and had more to give when called upon Aug. 27 in the $388,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course. 

The 4-year-old Kingman  filly held off the late run of fellow Chad Brown trainee Fluffy Socks  to secure the second grade 2 of her career and her fourth graded score for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables. She returned to winning ways after settling for second July 16 to another Brown-trained runner, In Italian , in the Diana Stakes (G1T) at the Spa.

Jockey Jose Oritz rationed out the speed of Technical Analysis after breaking from post 5 in a field of as many racing 1 1/16 miles over a turf course rated good. The bay filly posted fractions of :24.47, :48.92, and 1:12.87 under little pressure.

"I knew she was the lone speed, so I just broke there and got a good jump out of the gate," Ortiz said. "She was very nervous prior to the race, so I tried to keep her quiet in the post parade. She broke good, put me there, and handled the soft going nicely."

Roused for the drive for home, she opened up a three-length advantage through a 1:36.76 mile and held sway over the late rally of Fluffy Socks and Irad Ortiz Jr. despite drifting out en route to the finish. The final time was 1:42.90, and the winning margin was half a length.

"Clearly, Technical Analysis was able to carve out fractions that were comfortable, and I knew she'd be pretty tough down the lane, but Fluffy Socks was really sitting on a good race. She's been so consistent," Brown said. "When she tipped out, and Irad was coming down the lane, I thought it'd be pretty close based on the way she was training. …It was a great horse race down to the wire."

The 1-5 favorite, Technical Analysis returned $2.70 on a $2 win ticket. High Opinion  completed the trifecta, and the order of finish was wrapped up by Lemista  and Our Flash Drive .

"She loves it here," Klarman said. "She ran well in the Diana, too. She really has two dimensions; she doesn't have to go right to the lead. So, we were happy she caught a pretty paceless field. She likes it a little bit soft. It was a good setup for her."

"…She's a small filly, maybe she handles the tight turns nicely, and she accelerates on them," Klarman added. "It's very hard for horses to accelerate on these kind of turns, and she's able to do it."

Technical Analysis, who improved her record to 6-3-1 from 11 starts with earnings of $828,200, was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited and was purchased by Klaravich for the equivalent of $258,109 from the New England Stud consignment at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She is the first of three foals and the lone winner from the Sea The Stars  mare Sealife , whose last reported foal is an unnamed 2-year-old Pivotal  filly.

Brown said cutting back to a mile for the Oct. 8 First Lady Stakes Presented by UK Healthcare (G1T) at Keeneland would be "an obvious spot for Technical Analysis," adding, "With Fluffy Socks, I'd like to venture out a little further if we can. We'll see what's available."