By Christina Bossinakis
Accelerating, looking to pick up where she left off in her statebred debut win at the Spa July 26, followed up with another winning effort, taking Sunday's Seeking The Ante Stakes at Saratoga. Bobbling out of the gate, Accelerating was hustled to the front, carving out an opening quarter in :22.69. Passing the quarter pole with Central to Success stuck on her outside hip, Accelerating was urged along and the New York-bred filly responded by drawing clear to a four-length victory over Carmen's Candy Jar.
“We bobbled a little bit out of the gate. That was pretty much the only thing that went wrong,” said Ortiz. “Other than that, she recovered well, put us on the lead, and I was able to nurse her along the turn and when I asked her to go she was much-the-best today.”
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen added, “She took a little bobble away from there [the gate]. He [Jose Ortiz] said she got on her feet after that. A little concerned today– I thought she was a lot more anxious pre-race today, paddock and in the post parade, than she was first time. We'll try to give her a little more time and settle down, but she's obviously a very nice filly that just happens to be a New York-bred.”
When asked if the filly might venture outside of Empire-bred company in the future, Asmussen responded, “We'll see how she does. She's trained really well against everybody in the morning. We obviously have enough tools in other horses to know that she's got good ability for open company as well.”
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ACCELERATING, the 2YO daughter of @spendthriftfarm stallion Mitole, wins the Seeking the Ante Stakes with @jose93_ortiz up for trainer Steve Asmussen. #NYBred pic.twitter.com/fZ2oyeUEj6
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 25, 2024
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