SARATOGA SPRINGS – Hail to “The Chief”!
Hall-of-Fame horseman Allen Jerkens, who’s been winning stakes at the Old Spa for decades, struck again yesterday, sending out Society Selection to splash home first by 61/4 lengths in the Grade 1, $250,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
The daughter of Coronado’s Quest, ridden by Edgar Prado, ran the seven furlongs over a muddy track in 1:23.3 to pay $8.70 as the second choice in a field of 12.
Forest Music, breaking from the far outside post with jockey Shaun Bridmohan subbing for the injured Ramon Dominquez, shot out to an early daylight lead through blistering fractions of :21.2 and :44. As Forest Music began to shorten stride, Society Selection, after rallying wide on the turn, collared her down the stretch and drew off as she pleased.
Society Selection broke her maiden first out over this track last summer and followed that with a score in the Frizette. In six starts since then, she’d won only once, the Comely in April, and last out was a well-beaten sixth in the Mother Goose. She was racing on Lasix for the first time in the Test.
Longshot Bending Strings came on late to complete the $106.50 exacta. Forest Music held for third, with 2-1 favorite Friendly Michelle fourth.
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A number of questions are begging for answers in today’s Grade 1, $500,000 Go For Wand Handicap.
Did Sightseek’s 31/4-length romp last out in the Ogden Phipps ‘Cap at Belmont signal she’s back to the form that won four straight Grade 1’s last year, including the Go For Wand?
Can Storm Flag Flying recapture her championship form over the track where she broke her maiden two summers ago?
Is this the end of the line for 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri – who’s lost three straight and was off-the-board her last pair, the Met Mile and Phipps?
Trainer Bobby Frankel, whose Sightseek must give Azeri two pounds today after getting three pounds from her last out, thinks there’s still life left in the 6-year-old mare.
“I don’t think Azeri ran her race [in the Phipps],” he said. “Because of that, I don’t think many people are respecting her.”
