Stradale Outlasts Oscar's Hope to Take Mahony
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Stradale (inside) outlasts Oscar's Hope to win the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
The two horses with the least experience on the grass were the two stars of the show Aug. 16 in the Mahony Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course, with Stradale🔥 outlasting a late bid by Oscar's Hope to secure the winner's share of the $225,000 purse.
Twice stakes-placed on dirt, Kaleem Shah's Stradale was entering the 5 1/2-furlong contest off a fourth-place finish in his turf debut, the July 19 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) at the same course and distance. Typically one who prefers to sit close to the pace, the 3-year-old son of Yaupon  found himself in the back half of the field that day, but closed well enough to be beaten just 3 lengths and justify another opportunity on the lawn.
"The Yaupons seem to be doing it all; winning all over at every level," Scott Blasi, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, said about the choice to switch to grass. "I thought we saw enough in his last race that we thought we'd give him another shot today, and we're glad we did."
A light rain that began falling during the Saratoga Corgi Cup's championship a race and a half earlier dampened an otherwise firm turf course Sunday afternoon, but the course had also taken some rain throughout the weekend. Jockey Jose Ortiz, who was aboard Stradale for the first time since his debut, felt the ground was on the softer side and was unsure how the colt would take to the new ground. It's safe to say his concerns weren't needed.
Breaking well from the far outside gate in the field of seven, Ortiz worked Stradale into the second position stalking Intricate Spirit through fractions of :21.77 and :45.18. Intricate Spirit relinquished the lead approaching the quarter-pole, which Ortiz said gave him the opportunity to wait a bit longer before fully unleashing Stradale.
That opportunity to wait proved profitable as it gave him a more dynamic kick in the stretch to separate from the field and withstand a late rally by Oscar's Hope, who was closing strongly from last in his turf debut, by a neck. Rebel With a Cause was third while favored Outfielder🔥 , returning from a run at Royal Ascot in June, was fourth.
"He was traveling very good every step of the way," Ortiz said. "You worry if they're going to like the soft ground. He was traveling well at the 3/8th pole, but you don't know until you turn him loose. When I turn him loose and he gave me another kick, I was very happy with him."
Stradale was bred in Kentucky by Richard Bremer and Cheryl Sprick. Originally sold to De Meric Sales for $285,000 out of the Ballysax Bloodstock consignment at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale, the colt then brought $1.3 million at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He has now earned $388,300 with a record of 3-2-2 from 10 starts.
Stradale is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Twitterpated , a full sister to 2015 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) winner Stormy Lucy. He is the fifth graded winner this season for Yaupon, who stood the 2026 season for $60,000 at Spendthrift Farm.