From the Spa: August 15 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes

by | Aug 14, 2018 | Breaking, Racing, Regionwide

I Spent It wins the 2014 Saratoga Special. Photo by NYRA/Adam Coglianese.

by Joseph Aiello

“From the Spa” returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes.

2015fromthespalogo

August 15th, 2018 features one stakes race on the Saratoga card in the ninth, the $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes fun at five and one half furlongs on the turf for two year old fillies. With a well stocked field of eight, all of whom have flashed potential in their short careers, young jockey Jose Ortiz, who has also shown his potential as a top rider over the past few years, takes the mount of our Mid-Atlantic bred. Ortiz, while not having his best meet this summer, has already established himself, along with his brother Irad, as a top rider in North America over the past few years. He should be a great asset for trainer Michael Trombetta aboard Questionoftheday, who is also looking to establish herself as one of the nation’s top young contenders. With morning line odds of 12/1 and many others also looking to do the same, winning her first stakes will be a challenge, but along with her connections she has as good a chance as any. Here’s a look at our entry.

Breaking from the seven post, Questionoftheday was bred in Maryland by R. Larry Johnson, who is also the owner. She is by The Factor – Kelly’s Question, by Mr. Greeley, and has currently won two races in three tries, with her most recent win being and Allowance Optional Claiming at Laurel Park earlier this month. After starting fifth, she rallied to second by two after a quarter, and took over at the top of the stretch, eventually winning by a length and a half. Even more impressive than her recent win, however, was a bullet workout at four furlongs over the Fair Hill all weather training track in forty-eight seconds flat in late July. With strong workouts and seemingly in good form, this grey filly has a great opportunity to establish herself, much like Jose Ortiz, as one of the premier racers in the country.