By Mike Kane
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.–While it wasn't the scenario he expected at the beginning of the month, trainer John Ortiz will be busy late Saturday afternoon saddling the fillies Brightwork (Outwork) and 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) in consecutive stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
First up will be WSS Racing's Brightwork in the GIII $200,000 Prioress Stakes, scheduled for 5:04 p.m. ET. Immediately after the six-furlong Prioress, Ortiz will scoot back to the paddock to prepare Shortleaf Stable's Quietside in the $300,000 GI Spinaway Stakes, which Brightwork won last year.
When the Saratoga meet started July 11, Ortiz, 38, had Brightwork targeted for her 2024 debut in the GI Test Stakes Aug. 3. He was optimistic that the talent Quietside was showing him in the training would carry her through her maiden special weight race and lead to a start in the seven-furlong Spinaway.
That first weekend of August got off to a rough start for Ortiz when Brightwork flipped in the paddock and was scratched. Things improved the next day as Quietside turned in a sparkling 6 1/4-length maiden-breaking victory in the first race of the day.
Last summer, Brightwork continued her ascent in the 2-year-old filly division with wins in the GIII Adirondack Stakes and the Spinaway. The problem in the paddock prevented her from trying to improve to 3-0 at Saratoga.
“That day, she was just a little too excited,” Ortiz said. “She was feeling really well, and we knew this going into it, but I just didn't expect her to go up. When she did, she lost her footing and kind of just rolled on her side and got a little bit of a road rash right behind the ankle. It was very superficial, but still, the vets made the right decision of taking care of the horse and I appreciate that.
John Ortiz with Quietside after maiden win at the Spa | Sarah Andrew
“Moving forward, she didn't miss a day of training, and her works have been great.
She looked a little bored in one of the works, so I put her in a little bit of company with Boss Lady Bailey (Connect). She chased her down the stretch and they finished together. It was a very good workout with a really good time. You can still see that she's still enjoying what she's doing. All systems are go and I think the Prioress is definitely our second-best spot to start.”
After Saratoga, Brightwork finished off the board in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland, which was her first career loss, and she was sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The Ortiz trainee has not competed since.
“We had a little minor setback early in the winter,” Ortiz said. “I gave her some more time off, and she came back ready to go. We wanted to get her a start before Saratoga, but the Test was definitely the one race we were working backwards from. Obviously, that didn't happen. Hey, God had a different plan for us that day, and hopefully winning the Prioress is part of the bigger plan.”
Quietside, a homebred from John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, was never far from the early pace and drew away from the competition in the stretch, which cemented her 'Rising Star' status.
“I told [Anthony] that this filly actually reminded me a lot of Brightwork when she came in,” Ortiz said. “Same type of frame. Same kind of mentality, She's a little bit more feisty than Brightwork was, but I also like that about her, that she's just got a little bit more attitude. She's just as powerful-looking.
“Hopefully lightning strikes twice here for us, and we can get back-to-back Spinaway wins. It's asking a lot, for sure, for a 2-year-old, but I don't run my horses until I feel comfortable and confident in them to do so. She's one that I'm very, very, very confident in.”
The last trainer to win consecutive runnings of the Spinaway was Tony Dutrow with Grace Hall in 2011 and So Many Ways in 2012.
Impressive Ferocious Set for Hopeful Stakes Test
With a powerful performance in his maiden debut over a muddy track on Whitney Day, Aug. 3, newly minted 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter) more than lived up to the hype that surrounds a high-priced horse. From that 7 3/4-length success following a slow start, the $1.3-million OBS March grad trained by Gustavo Delgado moves on to the GI Hopeful Stakes, Monday's closing day showcase.
Ferocious Thursday morning | Sarah Andrew
Gentry Stable bred the colt and bloodstock agent Ramiro Restrepo and assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr. put together the partnership: JR Ranch, owned by Jose Aguirre; Restrepo's Marquee Bloodstock; High Step Racing and the Delgado's OGMA Investments. JR is the majority owner.
Delgado, Jr., who works with his father, said the maiden score made the Hopeful the logical second step.
“He did pretty good there,” Delgado, Jr. said, smiling. “When they win like that you always think to the next race. He got a 96 Beyer figure, and then the other numbers were pretty good as well. You always think what could be next. He came back in good form. There is nothing that we can say about finding a reason not to run in the Hopeful here in Saratoga. If you're lucky, you run twice in the meet. Everything has been good. So far, so good.”
Ferocious has breezed twice since the maiden win and his connections liked what they saw those mornings.
“We don't usually ask them much, in terms of time,” Delgado said. “He did what we want, a good gallop-out. Solid. Good energy.”
Ferocious drew the rail in his first race and did not get away well from the gate but under veteran Javier Castellano was able to recover and easily complete the assignment.
“He had to rush, catch them, then wait, and then re-break again,” Delgado, Jr. said.
“Maybe, if he gets a better post this time, he'll try to settle and relax a little at the beginning. That's kind of the plan.”
Thorpedo Anna in Recovery Mode After Travers
Trainer Kenny McPeek said Thursday that Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) is doing well following her big performance in the GI Travers Saturday, where the rallying filly finished a head behind Fierceness (City of Light). Both achieved 'Rising Star' status.
The 'Amazing Race' | Tod Marks
“It's been a couple of light days. Pretty basic stuff,” McPeek said. “Just easing her back into things before we gallop her tomorrow. She jogged a mile and galloped a mile today.”
McPeek opted to skip the GI Alabama Stakes and try his standout filly against males. Repole Stable's Fierceness trained by Todd Pletcher looked to be on his way to a solid victory, but Thorpedo Anna closed the gap in the final furlong and fell short of overtaking the 2023 champion 2-year-old colt.
“Amazing race,” McPeek said. “Tough beat, but that's the way it goes. Todd did a great job with his horse.”
McPeek said he has received a lot of positive feedback about the performance Thorpedo Anna turned in.
“Even the naysayers have come around and said, 'Oh, wow, she ran huge,'” he said. “I think she's probably gotten more accolades being as competitive as she was. She could have won the Alabama, but I think she enhanced her resume.”
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