Azar Breaks Maiden in With Anticipation

Azar broke his maiden with style on Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course, angling out in mid-stretch and going on to a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation for 2-year-olds on the turf.

 

Enjoying a ground-saving trip under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Azar was content to settle just behind Next Shares as he led through opening splits of 23.19 seconds for the quarter-mile and 47.16 for the half. The dark bay son of Scat Daddy continued to hug the hedge rounding the turn and into the stretch, taking off when asked with a furlong left and going on to complete the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.68.

 

"The last time he ended up being on the lead and getting out and looking around and not really focused on what he needed to do," said Velazquez of Azar, who finished seventh in his debut going six furlongs and second last time out at the With Anticipation distance on August 5 at the Spa. "Today he was following somebody and when I pulled him out, he responded right away. Coming to the last turn I had to squeeze him pretty good, and once I got him going and I put him to the outside and he saw the light, that's when he started running."

 

Sent off at 11-1, Azar returned $24.40 for a $2 win bet as he increased his earnings to $136,850 for Alto Racing.

 

"I thought he ran a much-improved race last time," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. "He was on the lead most of the way, and came back and worked really well. We were thinking of maybe running back in a maiden race when this came up a short field. [Running a maiden in a stakes race] is not something we do often, but we felt like with two-race experience, and that he did everything except win last time [it was worth a shot]. He sold us on the last breeze; he acted like he was doing well and improved since the race."