Gentle Ruler Aims to Extend Command in Waya

Gentle Ruler seeks her fifth straight win against a field of five other fillies and mares in the $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (G3T) on the inner turf Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.

It took Franz Morsches' Gentle Ruler a dozen starts to earn her maiden win, but once the daughter of Colonel John cleared that obstacle, she's thrived. Gentle Ruler followed her March 28 maiden win at Gulfstream Park with three consecutive wins on turf, including the Keertana Overnight Stakes May 25 at Churchill Downs and the Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (G3T) July 6 at Delaware Park.

"She's finally learned how to race with confidence and really matured throughout this year," said trainer Ian Wilkes. "We've seen her development over time, and she's really in good form at the moment. She's shipped here well and settled in well, so we're excited to run her Sunday."

Drawing the outermost post 6 in the 1 1/2-mile race, Gentle Ruler will be ridden by Chris Landeros.

For Gentle Ruler to extend her win streak Sunday, she'll have to defeat a pair of talented runners trained by meet-leading trainer Chad Brown: R Unicorn Stable's Santa Monica and Wise Racing's Fools Gold.

Santa Monica, the even-money favorite, enters off a pair of graded stakes wins: the Orchid (G3T) in March at Gulfstream and the Sheepshead Bay (G2T) May 4 at Belmont Park.

"She's been training exceptionally well and appreciates the distance, so we decided to enter her in this race," Brown said of Santa Monica, a daughter of Mastercraftsman. "Last year, she finished a game second in the Glens Falls (G2T), so she has experience over the turf course and she appreciates the longer distances. She's coming into this race in good form, so we just hope she runs her race."

Fools Gold, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  filly, finished second in the River Memories Stakes July 5 at Belmont at the Waya distance. She started her year with an allowance optional claiming victory in February at Gulfstream, then finished second in the Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream and third in the May 26 Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park.

"This is a filly that has been progressing in her training," said Brown. "I think she appreciated going a mile and a half in the River Memories. Although she didn't win, it was certainly good experience for her heading into the Waya now."

Fools Gold, Drawing post 2 will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Entries: Fasig-Tipton Waya S. (G3T)

Saratoga Race Course, Sunday, August 04, 2019, Race 5

• Grade III
• 1 1/2m
• Inner turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 3:21 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Get Explicit (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Barbara J. Minshall	12/1
2	2Fools Gold (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Chad C. Brown	7/2
3	3Theodora B. (KY)	Joe Bravo	118	Michael W. Dickinson	10/1
4	4Santa Monica (GB)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	1/1
5	5Sky Full of Stars (GER)	Joel Rosario	122	Christophe Clement	10/1
6	6Gentle Ruler (KY)	Chris Landeros	124	Ian R. Wilkes	5/2