'Reason' Looks Sweet as Frizette Favorite
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Sweet Reason, smashing winner of last month's Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, will break from the rail as the favorite Oct. 5 in the 1 1/16-mile Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The race for 2-year-old fillies worth $500,000 has drawn seven including exciting first-out winners Artemis Agrotera and Recepta.
Treadway Racing Stable's Sweet Reason, a $185,000 Keeneland September sale purchase by Street Sense , blitzed a pair of fields at the Spa. In a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 9 she sped to a 6 1/4-length score in 1:04.78. In her next start, she drew off in the seven-furlong Spinaway in 1:23.42, two seconds faster than Recepta ran earlier on the card.
For more on Sweet Reason and trainer Leah Gyarmati, click here.
The Frizette carries an automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) for the winning connections Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park as a "Win & You're In" challenge event.
Alex Solis has the mount on Sweet Reason, who is a half sister to 2009 Florida Oaks (gr. III) winner Don't Forget Gil. Out of the Mt. Livermore mare Livermore Leslie, Sweet Reason was bred in Kentucky by Brent Harris, Beth Harris, and Darley.
The runner-up in the Spinaway was Repole Stable's Stopchargingmaria, who was a $220,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. select purchase. Prior to catching the buzzsaw in Sweet Reason, she broke her maiden at the Spa by 5 1/2 lengths under jockey John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher. Velazquez and Pletcher won last year's Frizette with Dreaming of Julia. For Stopchargingmaria, however, Javier Castellano has the mount as Velazquez will be in Kentucky to ride 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan at Keeneland.
Stopchargingmaria was bred in Kentucky by Harvey Clarke and Brookdale Farm. Clarke is the breeder of last year's champion 3-year-old male I'll Have Another .
Chester and Mary Broman's New York-bred Artemis Agrotera crushed state-breds at Saratoga Aug. 16, winning a six-furlong maiden event by 11 3/4 lengths in 1:10.53 as the 2-5 favorite. The bay filly is by Roman Ruler out of stakes-winning (and grade II-placed) Indy Glory, by A.P. Indy. Indy Glory is a full sister to grade I winner and sire Stephen Got Even .
Joel Rosario was aboard for Artemis Agrotera's debut, but Jose Lezcano has the call for trainer Mike Hushion.
Phillips Racing Partnership and Pam Gartin's Recepta was a 4 1/2-length winner in the slop at Saratoga, getting seven furlongs in 1:25.41 over the sealed surface. By leading sire Speightstown , the dark bay or brown filly is a half sister to Maryland Sprint Stakes (gr. III) winner Taqarub (by Aldebaran). Their dam, Honor Bestowed, by Honor Grades, is out of the Phillips family's Wings of Grace and is a half sister to grade I winner Plenty of Grace and 1999 champion turf female Soaring Softly.
$500,000 Frizette Stakes (gr. I, Race 9, approx. post 5:19 p.m. EDT), 2YO fillies, 1 1/16 miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Sweet Reason (KY), A. Solis, L. Gyramati
2. Artemis Agrotera (NY), J. Lezcano, M. Hushion
3. Tea Time (KY), L. Saez, M. Matz
4. Stopchargingmaria (KY), J. Castellano, T. Pletcher
5. Ria Antonia (KY), S. Spieth, J. Englehart
6. Divided Attention (KY), I. Ortiz Jr., K. McLaughlin
7. Recepta (KY), J. Alvarado, J. Toner