Grayosh upset the heavily favored She Feels Pretty to provide trainer Chad Brown with a fourth straight victory in the GII Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga.
Backed at odds of 7-1, the rail-drawn Grayosh raced in an inside third behind a pair of longshot leaders through fractions of :24.22 and :49.67. The gray set her sights on the pacesetting Ori (Hard Spun) and was guided off the rail by Flavien Prat in the stretch. With Ori beginning to pack it in, Grayosh raced shoulder to shoulder with last year's aforementioned unlucky GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third-place finisher down the lane and wanted it a little bit more to deliver a neck victory.
Grayosh, a maiden winner at third asking over the Big A lawn Apr. 20, was fourth in the GII Wonder Again Stakes May 27. She just got nosed out in her most recent attempt in an optional claimer at the Spa July 18.
“The more I saw her train, I just treated it [her last race] as a win,” Brown said after recording a record-extending sixth win in the Lake Placid. “I was using it maybe as a prep for this race and I started to get past the fact that she got beat. She really was training super, and then I just entered to take a look. When she drew so well, I said, 'You know what, let's give it a go, I think she can at least be competitive and get a piece.' She showed a lot of heart there to find more and really out-finish a good horse.”
On a potential next start in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Oct. 12 at Keeneland, Brown said, “She could be an interesting horse for the Queen Elizabeth. I know it's a big step, but I've had luck in that race and she fits.”
Winning owner Flanagan Racing also campaigns 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), a visually impressive debut winner at the Spa July 27.
Pedigree Notes:
Grayosh, a shrewd $25,000 FTKOCT yearling purchase by Sean Flanagan, becomes the first graded and fourth stakes winner worldwide for former WinStar stallion Yoshida (Jpn), who now stands at Darley Japan. She is the first graded winner for Paddy O'Prado as a broodmare sire. Grayosh is the most recent produce listed for the stakes-placed Rosie O'Prado, who brought $15,000 from breeder Susan Bedwell at the 2019 FTKFEB sale.
What a battle to the finish! GRAYOSH dug deep to get the win in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes presented by @CaesarsSports with Flavien Prat aboard for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/F4R4bCLq85
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 17, 2024
Saturday, Saratoga
LAKE PLACID S. PRESENTED BY CAESARS SPORTSBOOK-GII, $200,000, Saratoga, 8-17, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.74, gd.
1–GRAYOSH, 118, f, 3, by Yoshida (Jpn)
1st Dam: Rosie O'Prado (SP), by Paddy O'Prado
2nd Dam: Nashwan Rose (GB), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Carillon Miss, by The Minstrel
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($25,000
Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Flanagan Racing; B-Susan E. Bedwell
(KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $110,000. Lifetime
Record: 6-2-1-1, $195,700. Werk Nick Rating: C.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–She Feels Pretty, 120, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Summer
Sweet, by More Than Ready. ($240,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP).
O-Lael Stables; B-Payson Stud Inc (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux.
$40,000.
3–Dynamic Pricing (Ire), 122, f, 3, Night of Thunder (Ire)–
Shemda (Ire), by Dutch Art (GB). (170,000gns Ylg '22
TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd
(IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $24,000.
Margins: NK, HF, 3/4. Odds: 7.80, 0.75, 4.30.
Also Ran: Spaliday, Ori, Beautiful Love (Ire), Gala Brand, De Regreso. Scratched: Camera, Deep Satin, Lemon Muffin, Les Reys (Fr), Manama Gold, Proctor Street.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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