Saratoga Friday: Cinderella’s Dream, Neat win Friday stakes

Godolphin’s U.K. homebred Cinderella’s Dream made it look easy as the odds-on favorite Friday when she captured the Grade 2, $400,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile, outer-turf test for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the daughter of Shamardal added to a determined win under William Buick last out on July 6 in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) at Belmont at the Big A. There she flew from six lengths off the pace with a seven-wide bid to collar Segesta by three-quarters of a length in her U.S. debut. The effort garnered a field-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

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“She’s obviously a classy filly and the class of the race,” Appleby said. “The only reservation I had is that she put up such a big figure there last time that I was always concerned whether there would be a bounce out of that. To be fair to the team they were always confident that she was in good order.”

With Buick at the helm once again, Cinderella’s Dream was guided through a similar trip when emerging from the inside post in the field of five. She settled at the rear of the field, and headstrong Macanga bounded to the front, leading through splits of 24.75 and 49.80 seconds over the firm footing.

Movin’ On Up, who hopped at the start under Tyler Gaffalione, recovered well to track in second up the backstretch. Kathynmarissa tracked inside of rivals in third through three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.34. Macanga, who was held firmly by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, was given some rein approaching the turn to battle back. Movin’ On Up pestered to her outside, and Kathynmarissa crept closer on the inside.

Macanga relinquished command exiting the turn. Kathynmarissa tried to draw clear from a wheel-spinning Movin’ On Up, but Cinderella’s Dream had been given her cue by Buick and ranged up widest of all to be in contention within just a few strides.

Kathynmarissa gave her all under right-handed encouragement from Frankie Dettori but was no match for Cinderella’s Dream once Buick shook his reins. She and drew well clear in the final sixteenth to post the 1 1/2-length victory with a final time of 1:54.92.

Kathynmarissa held second by three lengths over Dancing N Dixie. Movin’ On Up and Macanga completed the finish in that order. Segesta and Greenfinch, who had a foot abscess, were scratched.

Buick has proven a perfect fit aboard Cinderella’s Dream with the pair undefeated through five starts together, including the Belmont Oaks and the listed U.A.E. 1,000 Guineas in March at Meydan.

The veteran rider said he was not concerned with the setup of the race.

“It was a bit messy the pace, and it was slow, and obviously Johnny opted to stay off the fence, and then Frankie nipped up the inside and made a race of it,” Buick said. “But I was always comfortable with my filly. I never really had a moment’s worry. She responds so quickly to anything I ask her. Once I got in the back of Tyler’s filly into the stretch, she had a double handful.”

Appleby praised Buick’s patience when waiting to turn the filly loose in the lane.

“She’s gone out there and done it comfortably. You could see that when he started taking her back on the turn and waiting instead of making that move earlier,” Appleby said. “He waited until the straight and just let her stride out in a hands-and-heels ride.”

Appleby said the next start for Cinderella’s Dream could come either in the E. P. Taylor (G1) on Sept. 14 at Woodbine or the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) on Oct. 12 at Keeneland.

“Going forward I would say we would look to maybe the E. P. Taylor or give her a little more of a break and go for the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland and then take a view of a Breeders’ Cup, but we’ll see, and we’ll see what’s around,” Appleby said. “What she would take to that meeting would be plenty of experience, and as you know in the Breeders’ Cup, you need that and a draw.”

Cinderella’s Dream banked $220,000 in victor improving her lifetime record to 7: 6-0-0. She returned $2.60 on a $2 win wager as the 1-4 post-time favorite.

Neat cleans up in Hall of Fame Stakes

Neat was orderly when coming with a late surge to win the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2), a one-mile, inner-turf race for 3-year-olds.

Owned by Red White and Blue Racing and trained by Rob Atras, the Constitution chestnut leveled up from a pair of Grade 3 scores this year, including the one-mile Manila in June at Belmont at the Big A and the 1 1/16-mile Transylvania in April over good Keeneland turf.

Atras said he will cherish this graded-stakes victory at the Spa.

“It means a lot here at Saratoga. All the owners came out. He’s a nice colt, and he’s won multiple stakes, but this is the top one,” Atras said. “Being here at Saratoga, and winning here means a lot.”

Piloted by Júnior Alvarado, Neat broke alertly from post 4. Barksdale shot to the front from post 7 with Army Officer joining the fray after breaking a beat slowly. Barksdale held a one-length advantage to lead the field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.42 seconds over the firm turf. 

Alvarado was content to travel in sixth position outside Please Advise and behind Buttercream Babe and the Cristian Torres-piloted Lagynos, who stalked the front pair through a half-mile in 49.38 seconds.

Around the far turn,Barksdale continued to hold off post-time favorite Army Officerm but Lagynos presented an early challenge approaching the quarter-pole. Alvarado remained patient aboard Neat in fifth as three-quarters of a mile elapsed in 1:13.85.

At the top of the lane Neat angled to the center of the course and took dead aim on Lagynos, who put away tiring Barksdale and Army Officer to assume command at the stretch call.

Neat surged down the center of the course in pursuit of game Lagynos, and the filly Buttercream Babe dived to the inside of his rival after seven-eighths in 1:25.01.

In the final sixteenth Alvarado’s move proved best. Neat crossed the finish line a neck better than Lagynos with a final time of 1:36.38.

“When I turned for home, I tipped him out, and he was so game, he kept fighting and grinding and kept going after the horse in front,” Alvarado said. “Eventually he put his head in front right in front of the wire. I love this horse. He is my kind of horse. You can feel he has the fire to win.”

Buttercream Babe was a neck back for show honors. Please Advise, Crystal Quest, Zverev, Army Officer, and Barksdale completed the order of finish.

Atras said the move was reflective of Neat’s determination and growth. 

“He doesn’t have 100 Beyers, but he shows up every time. He’s one of those horses that is improving,” Atras said. “Mentally he’s getting better, and he seems more dialed in every race. He runs more professional.” 

Torres said Steve Asmussen-trained Lagynos was game in his fourth on-the-board finish in seven starts this year.

“When we got to the quarter pole, I knew someone was close to me, so I tried to run away from them, and he responded really well. We just got beat,” said Torres, who piloted Lagynos to a half-length third to Neat in the Transylvania. “He ran an awesome race. He’s improving and getting better and better no matter the distance he runs with each race.”

Bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm, Neat was a $200,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale and is out of the unraced More Than Ready mare Orabella, who also produced dual graded-stakes-placed Louder Than Bombs. He banked $275,000 in victory while improving his record to 9: 6-0-0 and returning $9 for a $2 win bet.