Catherinethegreat Just That in Schuylerville Win
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Catherinethegreat wins the Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga
The fractions Catherinethegreat put up during the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3) suggested she might have emptied the tank before the real running even began. When time came for her to call upon her reserves, however, the 2-year-old filly showed there was plenty more talent where those first hints of brilliance came from.
John Oxley's gray/roan filly wrested control of the Schuylerville from the start and kept going powerfully to the wire to earn a 4 1/4-length win over favorite Nonna Madeline in the 100th edition of the six-furlong test for juvenile fillies on the opening day of the Saratoga Race Course meet July 20.
Catherinethegreat was one of three entries in the 10-filly field for trainer Mark Casse, but she carried the highest regard among her young stablemates. She not only won her first stakes in the Schuylerville, she also represented the first black-type winner for her sire. The daughter of Uncaptured —who was also owned by Oxley and trained by Casse—finished second in her debut at Gulfstream Park May 26, but came back to freak over that track next time out in the form of a 10 1/4-length win going five furlongs June 23.
While she stalked in second during that maiden win, Catherinethegreat dictated all the terms in the Schuylerville. With Jose Ortiz at the reins, she set a hot opening quarter of :21.78 as Serengeti Empress tracked about a half-length behind. After breaking at the back of the field, 7-5 favorite Nonna Madeline came up the outside to take aim at the pacesetter as they reached the half-mile in :44.64, only to have Catherinethegreat dismiss that rally in the lane and finish the distance in 1:09.98 over a fast track.
"Really nice filly," Ortiz said of the 3-1 second choice. "She broke her maiden in very good fashion, and Mr. Casse had her ready today."
Nonna Madeline held for second, three-quarters of a length in front of Congrats Gal. Serengeti Empress and Lady Apple rounded out the top five.
Bred in Florida by Wendy Christ and Kathie Haines, Catherinethegreat's two wins from three starts earned her $136,300. She is out of the Carson City mare Classy City Lady and was purchased by Oxley for $170,000 out of the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearling Sale.
In 2018, Uncaptured stood at Ocala Stud in Florida for $6,000.