Brightwork made short work of her rivals Sunday to remain undefeated in Saratoga's GIII Adirondack S. Sent off at 5-1 while stepping up to graded company for the first time, the filly broke running and thrust herself into the mix as 5-2 lukewarm favorite Here U Come Again and Streaming Now led through an opening quarter in a snappy :22.1. Swung out several paths turning for home, Brightwork swept to the front midstretch under strong encouragement by Irad Ortiz Jr. and drew clear to triumph by five emphatic lengths over the favorite with Streaming Now taking third.
“She broke so good. The outside horse, [Streaming Now], went and the horse inside, [Here U Come Again] had speed, too,” said the winning rider. “They went ahead of me and I sat right behind them and my filly relaxed. I waited for my time to go and tip her out in the stretch. No one was close to me. I tipped her out and she was ready. She responded. She deserves all the credit.”
Added the victorious trainer, “I told Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] that she's sharp out of the gate and to not take anything away from her..I think she has more gears going longer.”
A debut winner going 4 1/2 panels at Keeneland Apr. 23, the filly returned next time out to earn her black-type with a front-running score in Ellis Park's Debutante S. July 2.
“After she broke her maiden at Keeneland, we were very confident. We already targeted this race specifically. Working backwards from there, we knew the Debutante at Churchill Downs was going to be our second spot, so we gave her about 60 days in between races. Obviously, there's nothing else to run in during the meet after you break your maiden at Keeneland. So, we played the waiting game. Bill Simon [owner, WSS Racing] has been very patient. He's a big supporter of the barn and obviously it means a lot to come up here for him with his horses. The sky is the limit with this filly.”
On a potential start in the seven-furlong GI Spinaway S. on Sept. 3 at Saratoga, Ortiz offered, “Eventually, we're going to try her two turns, but we're going to head to the next spot here in Saratoga. I'm feeling confident for that race right now.”
“[The long term goal] is the [GI] Breeders' Cup [Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita]. We're looking for that purple saddle towel.”
Pedigree Notes:
Brightwork's Adirondack victory Sunday gave her sire Outwork his second career graded stakes winner. Her dam, Clarendon Fancy, is also responsible for SP Quiet Company (Temple City). The 11-year-old mare is a half-sister to Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon), dam of GI Haskell Invitational S. winner and $1.6-million earner Girvin (Tale of Ekati); GSW Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), runner-up in a trio of Grade Is including the GI Preakness S., in addition to GSWs Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John) and Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby). Clarendon Fancy foaled a filly by Volatile last season and followed up with a Yaupon filly this term. A half-sister to the Adirondack winner (by Volatile) will be offered as Hip 19 during Monday's opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.
#4 Brightwork stays perfect in the G3 Adirondak S. at Saratoga under @iradortiz for trainer @johnnyortiz24! 🌟
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/0PFSdvLV87
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 6, 2023
Sunday, Saratoga
ADIRONDACK S.-GIII, $200,000, Saratoga, 8-6, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.85, ft.
1–BRIGHTWORK, 122, f, 2, by Outwork
1st Dam: Clarendon Fancy, by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Catch My Fancy, by Yes It's True
3rd Dam: Walk Away Rene, by Gold Alert
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($95,000 Wlg '21 FTKNOV).
O-WSS Racing, LLC; B-Wynnstay Inc. & H. Allen Poindexter
(KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $110,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-3-0-0, $279,051. *1/2 to Quiet Company (Temple
City), SP, $196,835. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Here U Come Again, 120, f, 2, Liam's Map–Euro K Shotgun,
by Euroears. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($130,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). O/B-Clearsky Farms (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000.
3–Streaming Now, 120, f, 2, Into Mischief–One True Kiss, by
Warrior's Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O/B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Paulo H. Lobo. $24,000.
Margins: 5, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.10, 2.70, 8.90.
Also Ran: Magic Cross, Princess Indy, Princesa Celina, Becky's Joker, Copper Em. Scratched: Cara's Time, Saratoga Secret.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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