Maiden Races With Sale Conditions Set at Saratoga

New maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds that went through the public auction ring and were either sold or bought back at a price of $45,000 or less will be unveiled on the July 17-18 race cards at Saratoga Race Course.

Wednesday's fifth race, a 5 1/2-furlong test with a purse of $75,000, drew a field of 10 juvenile fillies fitting the conditions of being "for horses that sold or RNA for $45,000 or less in their most recent sale." Thursday's second race for males fitting the same sale criteria has a field of seven entered at the same purse and race distance.

Martin Panza, senior vice president of racing operations for the New York Racing Association, told BloodHorse it is hoped the new races will offer a Saratoga racing option for smaller stables.

"It lets them have a good experience at Saratoga, which is very special," Panza said. "I hope these races are embraced and it works. It's a sound program that can help the sale companies, too, because the bottom end of the market has been difficult the last few years."

Of the 17 total entered in the two races, trainers Gary Contessa and Rudy Rodriguez have two each entered in the fillies division and McPeek is scheduled to send out a pair in the maiden event for males.

Wednesday's race will mark the career debuts for all fillies except Just Fly, Double Down Dare, and Ain't None Lucky.

Second in her five-furlong career debut May 31 at Churchill Downs, Just Fly later finished 12th at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass June 20 at the Louisville oval. A daughter of Justin Phillip , Just Fly was bought by her trainer Joe Sharp on behalf of Carl R. Moore Management for $40,000 from Stephens Thoroughbreds at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. As a weanling, the filly was bought by Jay McKee for $8,000 from St George Sales at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Second in her only start June 24 at Parx Racing for trainer Steve Klesaris, Double Down Dare races for Joseph Imbesi, who purchased the Cross Traffic  filly for $25,000 from Bobby Jones Equine, agent for Fools On A Hill Farm, at the 2018 OBS October Yearling Sale.

Ain't None Lucky is a Candy Ride  filly with a third-place finish to her credit in her debut at Laurel Park June 14 for trainer Lacey Gaudet. The filly went through the sales ring twice, initially failing to attain her reserve and bought back on a final price of $37,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Wheeled back into the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale the following month, the filly was bought in the name Five Hellions Farm for $27,000 from consignor Stuart Morris.

Three fillies just met the $45,000 cutoff threshold for entry in the race, as morning-line favorite Myawaya and Devils Rendezvous were each bought for that price, and Raggedy Annie was RNA'd at that level at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearlings Sale.

In Thursday's maiden special weight for males, Contessa-trained Justintimeforwine is the only entrant with experience to date, having run seventh at five furlongs June 23 in maiden special company at Belmont Park. Owned by John L. Moirano, Monty Foss, Yellow Moon Stable, Pine Stables, and Bob Chimienti, the Justin Phillip colt was purchased by Contessa for $45,000 from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at this year's OBS March sale.

Initially acquired by Nancy Ross for $15,000 from McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, the colt went unsold on a final bid of $39,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York Bred Yearlings Sale.

Along with Justintimeforwine, Harold Lerner's January Won is the other colt entered Thursday bought for $45,000. He was purchased by McPeek for that price from Paramount Sales at The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Kentucky. As a weanling consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency to the Keeneland November sale, the New Year's Day colt was purchased for $9,000 by John Ennis.