Sue's Fortune Finds Just Enough in Adirondack
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Sue's Fortune wins the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Over the past few weeks, trainer Jeremiah Englehart wasn't quite sure where to run New York-bred Sue's Fortune, but the talented juvenile filly kept making her case in the mornings.
He considered keeping her with state-breds, but those morning displays of readiness were enough to lead Englehart to enter the New York-bred daughter of Jump Start in the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (G2) Aug. 11 at Saratoga Race Course. That proved to be the right call as Sue's Fortune responded with a half-length victory, holding off a sustained run from Virginia Eloise.
"I wasn't sure if I wanted to run her here or in the (Aug. 24, Seeking the Ante Stakes for New York-breds). She worked good last week, and that's when I decided to go ahead and take a shot here," Englehart said. "A lot of times you have to get a horse who wants to do it, and she wants to do it."
Making her first start since an 8 1/2-length, gate-to-wire victory over state-breds July 5 at Belmont Park, Sue's Fortune rated in fourth early in Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong test as Lyrical Lady led through a quarter-mile in :21.72 while pursued by Mucho Amor. Lyrical Lady led through a half-mile in :45.53, but that advantage was down to a half-length and soon vanished as jockey Junior Alvarado had already asked for Sue's Fortune's best.
After moving to the lead, Sue's Fortune opened a three-length advantage in early stretch, with Guacamole giving chase. Virginia Eloise came with a final surge three wide, and Sue's Fortune appeared vulnerable but found just enough, completing the race in 1:19.83 on the track rated good.
"Deep stretch, I was a little worried," Englehart said. "Top of the stretch, I felt pretty good.
"I thought Junior made the right move. He looked behind him; he thought the leader was getting a little leg-weary. He wanted to take the race then and see if they could come and catch her, and we held on."
Alvarado said he planned to go to the lead—like Sue's Fortune's previous race—but when she didn't break as sharply, he adjusted.
"She broke good, but not as sharp as last time," Alvarado said. "We wanted to put a little pressure early, though. I was sitting in a perfect position, (and) by the three-eighths pole, she started pulling me. I saw horses struggling and I saw horses coming near, so I thought I had to take a shot at that point to let me filly go and hope she would hold. It worked out."
Englehart noted that in her first two starts, Sue's Fortune displayed versatility in running style.
"I think the biggest thing for her is her first race. She goes out, she takes the lead, and she runs away. This race, she stalked. She's a racehorse," Englehart said. "Now we just have to find out when she's right for her next race and try to find what the next spot is going to be. For her to settle off the pace this time and close, she wants to run. She's won on the lead, she's won off the lead. So, hopefully, now we can get her to relax even more and finish strong as well."
Sue's Fortune is a homebred for Richard Nicolai's Fortune Farm, and Englehart was thrilled to secure a graded stakes win for his longtime client.
"He's been one of my first clients. If you want to talk about someone putting their heart and soul into the game, it's this guy. No one deserves it more. It took me 12 years to win a stakes for him; I finally got there. That should tell you how patient he is. … This is the best feeling right now. I'm glad that he gets to enjoy this."
Sue's Fortune is named after Sue Carlson of Carlland Stables, where the filly was foaled.
Sue's Fortune paid $9.10, $4.60, and $3.30; Virginia Eloise returned $3.90 and $2.70; and Guacamole paid $3.90.
Englehart said Sue's Fortune will not run again at the current Saratoga meeting, but he has not yet decided on her next start.