Goldy Espony Heads Competitive Field in Glens Falls

The Glens Falls, run at 1 3/8 miles on the Spa's inner turf course for fillies and mares, is part of an 11-race program that is highlighted by the Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward and is one of two turf stakes on the Woodward Day card, which also includes the Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac.

Chad Brown, who going into the last week of racing held a slim lead over Todd Pletcher in the race for the Spa training title, will saddle Goldy Espony. The 4-year-old filly  is a perfect 3-for-3 this year with her most recent win coming in the Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya on August 8. Breaking from the rail, the gray daughter of Vespone set moderate fractions while closely stalked by stablemate and post-time favorite Danza Cavallo. Turning for home, Goldy Espony shook clear and extended her lead in the stretch to win by 3 ¼ lengths.

"She is training very well right now, very on the muscle," said Brown of Goldy Espony, who earlier this year took the River Memories and an allowance race at Belmont Park. "She seems to be in great form right now and think that this race suits her. She's shown she can go the distance and with Kendrick [Carmouche] aboard, we think she'll get there. She's won in good form this year and we're excited for what the rest of the year holds for her."

Goldy Espony, who isfavored at 2-1 on the morning line, will leave from post position 6. Brown will also saddle Regardez at 4-1, who breaks from post 9 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons. 

Clement, winner of the last two editions of the Glens Falls with Irish Mission and Lady Cohiba, enters Maximova from post position 1 for Gallagher Stud. Most recently fifth in the River Memories on July 5 at Belmont Park, her best graded stakes finish came when second in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay on May 2 at Belmont Park where she was set under a drive in the stretch, but failed to pass the eventual winner, Rosalind, who was in the clear by 1 ½ lengths.

Breaking from the rail, Maximova will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. She is 15-1 on the morning line.  

From the barn of trainer Graham Motion is Eastern Belle, who came to Motion after being in the care of legendary English trainer John Gosden. She has made four starts in North America, steadily improving in each. The daughter of 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor most recently was second to Goldy Espony in the Grade 3 Waya, where she was bumped on the backstretch and then forced to swing out five-wide in the stretch. On April 15 at Keeneland Eastern Belle finished third in allowance race, followed by a pair of second-place finishes in the Keertana Stakes on May 16 at Churchill Downs and the Grade 2 New York on June 5 at Belmont.

Eastern Belle will come from post position 3 with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard at odds of 3-1, while Lady of Gold will leave from post 7 under Junior Alvarado. 

Rounding out the field are Ceisteach, winner of the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes in July at Delaware Park; the third and fourth-place finishers in the Waya, White Rose for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Evidently for owner/trainer Roy Lerman; and Bocaiuva for trainer Arnaud Delacour.

Source: NYRA Communications