Adaptable And One More Time Scores At Mushy Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Though the mission was to run her on grass, And One More Time (Omaha Beach) clearly relished the muddy sealed track she won over Thursday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course.

The eight 2-year-old fillies were on their way to the paddock with light rain falling when New York Racing Association officials moved the 5 1/2 furlong maiden special weight contest to the main track. The switch did not bother the Live Oak Plantation filly, who stalked the early pace and scooted away to a 4 3/4 lengths victory in the sixth race over Mean Eileen (Twirling Candy) under Jose Ortiz. They reached the wire in 1:05.11 and paid $5.20 as the favorite.

And One More Time broke her maiden one year and one day after Live Oak owner Charlotte Weber and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse purchased her for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Casse said the daughter of Complicated (Blame) was the prize he and Weber were after last summer.

“She has a tremendous pedigree,” Casse said. “She's a half to, like, three stakes winners. She's beautiful and she was our pick of the sale. We were bidding on her and (Weber) goes, 'is that it? What do you think?' I said, 'Ah, and one more time. Let's do it one more time.' And that's how she got her name.”

And One More Time was bred in Kentucky by Bill Harrigan, who grew up in nearby Schenectady, and Mike Pietrangelo. Casse said that in addition to her pedigree, her appearance was impressive and made her a strong package.

“As an individual, she's probably a nine and three quarters out of 10,” he said.

With that impression, the Live Oak team stayed in the bidding to the end.

“We're always looking to help Mrs. Weber's broodmare band,” he said. We go out every year, usually here at Saratoga, and buy two or three well-bred fillies that we hope to have as broodmares down the road.”

And One More Time debuted on dirt at Churchill Downs on June 26. Casse had her pointed to the turf at Saratoga but said he wasn't concerned when he heard that the race was being moved.

“It was a little disappointing, because we wanted to try her on the grass,” he said. “I said to Jose before the race, 'disappointing, but I don't think it's going to matter.' And he said, the same thing.”

Casse said the 4 1/2 furlong race at Churchill Downs, where And One More Time was never in contention and ended up seventh, gave her an education that helped her graduate on Thursday. He said that is a typical scenario for this young horses.

“I always tell my riders I'd rather be a closing fourth than a dying third,” he said. “I like them to learn to rate and run by horses. Sometimes some horses don't react as well to others, and that's probably what you saw with her first time. She took all this kickback, but she learned a lot and we're doing this for a long career. We're not doing it for one race. I never put emphasis on first-time starters.”

The emphatic victory has added versatility to her resume.

“I'm anxious now,” he said. “She won on the dirt, which she can handle the dirt as well, I do want to see her on the grass someday.”

#8 And One More Time gets the job done in R6 at Saratoga under @jose93_ortiz for trainer Mark Casse! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/w7iNwD40Il

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 8, 2024

6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-8, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.11, my, 4 3/4 lengths.
AND ONE MORE TIME (f, 2, Omaha Beach–Complicated, by Blame) served as the 8-5 favorite here after finishing a well-beaten seventh in her first race at Churchill Downs June 26. The dark bay tracked just off of Moonlight Promises (Promises Fulfilled) up the backstretch. Driving to the outside of the pacesetter around the far turn, the 2-year-old proved she liked the wet track and past the sixteenth marker the race was hers. Finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind her was Mean Eileen (Twirling Candy). The winner is a half-sister to Honor D Lady (Honor Code), MGSW-USA, MGSP-Can, $708,167, Churchtown (Air Force Blue), SW-USA, SP-Can, $373,259 and Simply in Front (Summer Front), GISP, $236,188. Complicated produced a filly by War Front last year, who went to Claiborne Farm for $300,000 this week at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, and she foaled a colt by Golden Pal May 5. She was bred to Not This Time for next season. And One More Time's third dam, MGISW Educated Risk (Mr. Prospector), is a half-sister to champion older mare Inside Information (Private Account). Sales History: $750,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $56,278. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-William Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo (KY); T-Mark E. Casse.