Luminous Beauty May Shine in Spa's Schuylerville

You can spend a million dollars on a young Thoroughbred at a sale and wind up with a handful of fruitless starts.

Meanwhile, Napoleon Solo  was bought for $40,000 and won the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) for his original owner.

Another $40,000 buy could become a black-type earner July 3 on opening day of the 46-day Saratoga Race Course meet as Luminous Beauty  tries to follow up an impressive maiden win at the Spa in the $200,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Provided, of course, that Mother Nature and the expected brutally hot temperatures cooperate.

Trained by 2023 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Jena Antonucci, the daughter of Flameaway   was bought for a bargain price last year at Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale from the Gainesway consignment by the HorseOlogy partnership formed by Antonucci and Katie Miranda.

Owned by HorseOlogy, Fred Rosen, Steve Dervenis, and Cliff Racing, she was a good second in her debut at Churchill Downs to the Mark Casse-trained Pierette , who won the Debutante Stakes in her next start.

Bred by Debby Oxley out of the Into Mischief   mare Sly Beauty , Luminous Beauty took a big step forward June 4 when she registered a dominant 6 1/4-length maiden win, leading through a half-mile in :44.88 and covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.34.

She faces seven Schuylerville rivals, none of whom have stakes experience on the dirt.

"I hope she keeps making us look smart," Antonucci said.

She worked 5 furlongs in :59.46 June 24 over the Spa's main track, and Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat will return in the saddle.

"It was good to see her come out of the race well, so we don't have to worry about the 'B' word," Antonucci said, referring to the dreaded "bounce" after a big effort. 

Among the threats are Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia's Washton , a Mitole   filly who won her debut for trainer Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs, and D. J. Stable's Voyager , a Justify   filly who closed for second in her 5 1/2-furlong debut for Casse and may benefit from the added distance in the 6-furlong Schuylerville.

Supporting Stakes Action

The 11-race opening-day card also features two ungraded turf stakes for 3-year-old non-stakes winners, the Wild Applause Stakes and Saranac Stakes.

The $150,000 Saranac at 1 1/16 miles attracted a field of 12 entrants, including West Paces Racing, Rainbow's End Racing Stable, and Michael Lyden's Glavine , fourth in the June 4 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) for trainer Tom Morley.

The restricted stakes field also includes Steven Duncker, St. Elias Stable, Susan Karches, and Vicarage Stable's Teddy's Rocket , a Liam's Map   colt who was fourth in the Summer Stakes (G1T) last year for trainer Miguel Clement, and Newtown Anner Stud Farm and LNJ Foxwoods' Siyouincanada , a Siyouni  colt who was a sharp debut winner at Churchill Downs for trainer Joe Sharp.

The mile $150,000 Wild Applause wound up with 11 3-year-old fillies, topped by Marc Dobbin's Smexy . Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Mehmas  filly was third in the May 29 Penn Oaks.

Also on hand will be Spa allowance winner Pillar of Beauty , a Caracaro   filly stretching out for trainer Bill Mott and owners West Point Thoroughbreds and William Sandbrook; Gold Square's Charlatan   filly I Love Giraffes , who won a Laurel Park allowance test for trainer Chad Summers; and Go Go Greys Stable's Lovely Grey , who returns to turf after finishing 12th in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).