Hot Stones Will Face NY-Breds in Saratoga Dew
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Photo:
NYRA Photo/Joe Labozzett
Grade 3 winner Hot Stones will face fellow New York-breds in her next start, Monday's $100,000 Saratoga Dew for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
Roddy Valente, Charles Casale and Darlene Bilinski's Hot Stones is coming off a three-length victory in a one-mile optional claiming event June 24 at Belmont Park. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, aboard for that win, will get a return call in the Saratoga Dew.
"We've been pointing her for this," said Valente, who also co-bred the horse with Dr. Jerry Bilinski. "Her last race, she came back where she was like her old self, and she's continued to train like it. We figured we'd take our best shot and try to win a New York-bred stake."
The 5-year-old daughter of another Valente homebred, Grade 1-winning state-bred Bustin Stones, Hot Stones has one win and two thirds in four career starts at Saratoga. Last summer, one race after taking the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses, she was third in the Grade 3 Shuvee over a muddy and sealed track, then faded from contention to run last in the Grade 1 Ballerina.
Trained by Bruce Levine, Hot Stones didn't race again until her 2015 debut April 29at Belmont, finishing fourth in a six-furlong allowance. She was fourth again in the one-mile Critical Eye Stakes against state-breds, where he has a record of 3-3-1 from 10 starts.
"She finished third last year in the Shuvee going a mile and an eighth on a track I don't think she really relished. She only got beat three lengths, so I think it's going to make her very tough," said Valente. "We gave her the winter off, just to freshen her up. She didn't have any problems, but when mares turn 5 you just don't know if they lose their lust for racing. Until they prove it, there's a lot of apprehension."
Hot Stones has trained steadily for her next assignment, including a five-furlong breeze over the main track in 1:00.03 August 2, sixth-fastest of 33 at the distance. Most recently, she went five-eighths in 1:02.23 on Monday.
"She really didn't get fit until the last race. One thing about her is, when she trains good, she runs good," said Valente. "She started to train good going into her [last] race. She took Johnny wherever he wanted to go. We feel she's training the same right now. She's doing really good, she's eating good and she looks good. She should make a good account of herself in there."
* * *
Jonathan Sack eked out a win over a meet-high 226 entrants in Monday's Low Roller Tournament to earn himself a $1,130 payday.
Sack finished with a score of $74.10, and was followed closely by Jeannie Gawsha, who took home $452 in earnings with a final tally of $72.40.
Joseph Tambasco ($69.40), Kyle Litz ($63.60), and Bonnie Cawley ($62.00) completed the top five, and took home $339, $226, and $113, respectively.
Low Roller Tournaments, which have a $40 entry fee, occur every Sunday andMonday at the Spa.
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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