Competitive Edge Dominates Hopeful Stakes

Competitive Edge wins the 2014 Hopeful Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths. (Photos by NYRA/Coglianese Photo)
Competitive Edge ran his career record to two-for-two while drawing off to a dominant 5 ¾-length victory in the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes on closing day at Saratoga Race Course.
The Todd Pletcher trainee left the gate as the .65-to-1 favorite and his backers were rewarded when the colt turned in an impressive performance in Saratoga’s 2-year-old showcase event. Longshot Signature Cat set opening fractions of :22.64 and :44.81 while tracked closely by Competitive Edge and second-choice I Spent It.
Competitive Edge grabbed the lead when Signature Cat began to retreat at the quarter pole and there was little drama down the lane as the Super Saver colt increased his advantage with every stride.
COMPETITIVE EDGE DRAWS OFF IN HOPEFUL

I Spent It held clear for second to give freshman sire Super Saver a Grade 1 exacta. Sharm closed from sixth for the show, three lengths ahead of Requite. Dekabrist, Signature Cat and Maratik completed the order of finish in Saratoga’s traditional closing-day feature.
Piloted by John Velazquez, Competitive Edge increased his bankroll to $259,800 from two wins in two starts when completing the 7 furlongs in 1:24.11. The $750,000 Fasig-Tipton March purchase was a 10 ¼-length victor in his July 26 debut at Saratoga. Coolmore partner Michael Tabor purchased an interest in the colt after that unveiling, and Competitive Edge won the hopeful for a partnership of Nancy Favreau, Kathy Psoinos and Tabor.
Velazquez anticipated a stellar performance from the colt and spoke highly of his presence of mind.
"This one has a great talent ... Nothing bothers him," Velazquez said. "This colt, nothing tears his hair out, scares him or anything. He's so laid back, his future can be much better than the other ones. Like everything else, he has to stay sound. A great mind."
Pletcher echoed Velazquez’s praise. The fact that Competitive Edge is a son of Super Saver was especially gratifying to Pletcher and the team that campaigned the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner.
"The thing that's really cool for us is he's a son of Super Saver, and he's our Derby winner," Pletcher said. "To see [Super Saver] getting off to such a great start at stud, to have a Hopeful winner in his first crop, it's kind of extra special for us having a son of Super Saver do that."
Competitive Edge's connections are eyeing a start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the colt may next run in the Oct. 4 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.