Lee Pokoik's Sippican Harbor (Orb) became the first Grade I winner for her second-crop sire and secured a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with a 16-1 upset in Saratoga's GI Spinaway S. Saturday. Even-money favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Chasing Yesterday (Tapit), a half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) finished a non-factor seventh after being bumped at the start and enduring a wide trip.
Pinched back just a few strides out of the gate, Sippican Harbor ran in second last as 62-1 shot Guacamole (Flat Out)was hounded by stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Nonna Madeline (Candy Ride {Arg}) and GII Schuylerville S. heroine Catherinethegreat (Uncaptured) through a sharp first quarter in :22.68. Those three continued to battle it out on the front end with Sippican Harbor now relegated to last through a half-mile in :45.97. Swung way out to the center of the track turning for home, the 16-1 shot unleashed a powerful late turn of foot, flying by her rivals and charging clear to a decisive victory. 'TDN Rising Star' Restless Rider (Distorted Humor) rallied for second and 68-1 shot Cassies Dreamer (Flatter) completed the trifecta. Winning rider Joel Rosario also piloted GI Woodward S. victor Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).
“She beat up nobody in her last race and this time she had to beat up a lot of somebodies and she delivered,” winning trainer Gary Contessa said. “She's a good filly. She's as good as we thought she was. I really thought she was a turf horse, shows you what I know. A blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.”
He continued, “Today's effort was unbelievable because this field was loaded with good horses today. She ate dirt, I mean she's covered with dirt, she made that big move on the outside, a very impressive race. She is just the coolest horse in the world. She makes my job easy. She's legit, so were looking forward to the Breeders' Cup. These are real horses, these are the best of the best.”
As for beaten favorite Chasing Yesterday, Hall of Famer Mike Smith said, “We took a whole lot of dirt and as you can see, she just isn't used to it. You hate to come all the way here to school, but it certainly was a really good schooling race. But, she jumped, and jumped, and jumped so much until she wore herself out. I think this race will actually do her a whole lot of good and we'll see the real her the next time.”
Fifth behind next-out P.G. Johnson S. third-place finisher Chocolate Kisses (Candy Ride {Arg}) in her two-turn turf debut at Saratoga July 22, Sippican Harbor showed the dirt was much more to her liking with a 17-length tour de force in a seven-panel off-the-turfer over this strip Aug. 12.
Pedigree Notes:
Sippican Harbor is not only her sophomore sire Orb's first Grade I winner, but she is his first graded winner, as well, and third black-type scorer. She is a half-sister to GSP Bodacious Babe, who is currently in foal to Arrogate. The winner's dam Blossomed produced a Bodemeister colt in 2017 and a Malibu Moon colt on this past Valentine's Day. She was bred back to Honor Code. This is the extended family of Group 1 winner Peter Davies (Bering {GB}).
Saturday, Saratoga
SPINAWAY S.-GI, $350,000, Saratoga, 9-1, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.72, ft.
1–SIPPICAN HARBOR, 118, f, 2, by Orb
1st Dam: Blossomed, by Deputy Minister
2nd Dam: Texas Cinema, by Mt. Livermore
3rd Dam: French Flick, by Silent Screen
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ($260,000 Ylg '17 FTSAUG; $110,000 RNA 2yo '18
OBSMAR). O-Lee Pokoik; B-Justin & Kalvert Spaeth &
Equine Equity Partners, LLC (KY); T-Gary C. Contessa; J-Joel
Rosario. $192,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $242,650. *1/2 to
Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft), GSP, $154,259. **3rd Black-Type/1st Grade I
winner for sophomore sire (by Malibu Moon). Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”dromoland-bredbornraised”][bullet ad=”nick-de-meric-consigned-by-de-meric-sales”]2–Restless Rider, 122, f, 2, by Distorted Humor
1st Dam: Silky Serenade, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Smooth as Silk, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Sacque (GB), by Elegant Air (GB)
($150,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Fern Circle Stables & Three
Chimneys Farm; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $70,000.[bullet ad=”stonestreet-bredraised”][bullet ad=”denali-sold”][bullet ad=”machmer-hall-drefong”]3–Cassies Dreamer, 118, f, 2, by Flatter
1st Dam: Chilbolton, by War Front
2nd Dam: Miss Lavinia, by Speightstown
3rd Dam: Miss Seffens, by Dehere
($90,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP; $85,000 2yo '18 OBSOPN). O-Turf
Stable Racing (Rusty Jones) & Hayward R. Pressman;
B-Santucket Stables & Indian Creek (KY); T-Barclay Tagg.
$42,000.[bullet ad=”indian-creek-bred-raised-and-sold-2″][bullet ad=”buckland-purchase-with-bs”][bullet ad=”mckathan-brothers”]Margins: 2, NK, 1. Odds: 16.00, 2.85, 68.00.
Also Ran: Bella Ciao, Nonna Madeline, Reflect, Chasing Yesterday, Virginia Eloise, Catherinethegreat, Baby Nina, Guacamole. Scratched: Love My Honey.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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