In an impressive display of determination, Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s homebred Saturday Flirt, trained by Wesley Ward, overcame a wide trip to capture the $175,000 Soaring Softly Stakes at Saratoga on Sunday. The race, originally scheduled for the turf, was moved to the main track and contested at five and a half furlongs on a fast dirt surface.
Under jockey Junior Alvarado, Saturday Flirt broke outwards at the start but quickly settled into a stalking position. As the field blazed through an opening quarter-mile in 22.36 seconds and a half-mile in 45.65 seconds, Cloe, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, pressed the pace and took command with five-sixteenths of a mile remaining.
Alvarado asked Saturday Flirt for her run at the five-sixteenths pole, swinging five wide into the upper stretch to launch a bid. Cloe dug in gamely, but Saturday Flirt’s relentless rally proved too much. The daughter of Mendelssohn surged to the lead near the sixteenth pole and edged clear, hitting the wire in a final time of 1:04.00 to win by 3 ¾ lengths.
“She broke out at the start… chased three then two wide coming under a ride at the five-sixteenths, swung five wide into upper stretch, rallied to take command nearing the sixteenth pole, edged clear to the finish to prevail,” the official chart notes stated.
Cloe, who bobbled at the start, ran on tenaciously to secure second place honors. Spirited Boss, who lost her footing and broke awkwardly at the start, recovered to offer a mild kick and finish third.
The victory marked a significant stakes win for Saturday Flirt, a Kentucky-foaled bay filly bred by her trainer, Wesley Ward.
Scratched Horse(s): Abientot (Off-Turf), Brindi (IRE) (Off-Turf), Love Cervere (Off-Turf), Make Haste (GB) (Off-Turf), Rojo Rita (Stakes Scratch)
Fractional Times: 22.36 45.65 57.72
Final Time: 1:04.00
Winning Connections
Winner: Saturday Flirt
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Owner: Mrs. Fitriani Hay
Breeder: Wesley Ward
Bloodline: Bay Filly, by Mendelssohn out of Dragic, by Broken Vow. Foaled Apr 15, 2022 in Kentucky.
Stallion Info: Mendelssohn is standing at Ashford Stud, Versailles, KY, $15,000, $15,000 Live Foal / Stands & Nurses
Payouts
1st – (3) Saturday Flirt – Win: $10.60, Place: $5.30, Show: $3.60
2nd – (8) Cloe – Place: $4.50, Show: $2.80
3rd – (9) Spirited Boss – Show: $3.60
Exotics: $1.00 Exacta (3-8) Paid: $22.40 , $0.50 Trifecta (3-8-9) Paid: $42.50 , $0.10 Superfecta (3-8-9-2) Paid: $25.20
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