Saratoga: Spiced Up looks sage in stretch to win Mahony

Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred Spiced Up made his stakes debut a winning one with a fiery, late turn of foot under Júnior Alvarado in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Mahony Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong, outer-turf sprint for 3-year-olds at Saratoga.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Quality Road entered from a third-out graduation sprinting six furlongs vs. elders June 20 at Belmont at the Big A. That was where he made his turf debut off a seven-month layoff, improving from two off-the-board efforts on the dirt at Churchill Downs to start his career last year.

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“We were thinking about that last year,” Mott said of trying the turf. “Most of the babies I went through a stage last year where I wanted to try everything on the dirt. We got a couple races on the dirt. And then we had to stop on him (and) forced to stop on him to give him a little time, and the decision was made to bring him back on the turf this year. He’s halfway bred for it.”

Ortley Avenue under Eric Cancel was away sharpest of all, dashing to the front with Gabaldon close behind through the opening quarter-mile in 21.15 seconds on the firm turf. Spiced Up was near the rear of field, which became more spread out as they entered the turn.

Alvarado said he was surprised to be so far back after utilizing a prominent trip last out.

“Ideally I thought I’d be sitting third or fourth,” Alvarado said. “I was a little shocked that. even though I got out of there good and sent the horse a little bit (for) a good sixteenth of a mile, I was still very far back. That’s the way the race kind of set up, and it worked out today.”

Gabaldon tried to stick his head in front at the top of the lane with Ortley Avenue tiring, but post-time favorite Governor Sam got the jump with a three-wide move and took a half-length lead at the stretch call. Alvarado angled Spiced Up to the outside and began his rally. He briefly appeared ready to split No Evidence and the wide-running Ancient World before deciding to go widest of all.

Irad Ortiz Jr.-piloted Governor Sam was still the one to catch as the half-mile elapsed in 43.71 seconds. But Spiced Up was rolling with the superior momentum to his outside and swept past in the final yards to claim a 1 1/4-length victory with a final time of 1:01.22.

Governor Sam held second by a half-length over oncoming No Evidence with Innovator, Gabaldon, Ancient World, Ortley Avenue and Jet Sweep Joe, who was steadied at the start, completing the order of finish. Saturday Flirt was scratched.

Alvarado, who was aboard for the second time in the afternoon, said he was impressed by the colt’s late foot.

“When I hit the five-sixteenths pole, I thought that I could feel the horses coming back to me, and my horse was picking it up at that time,” Alvarado said. “I knew I had a good chance, so I had to make sure to tip out all the way to the clear to give him a clear run, and he finished up very strong.”

Mott said Spiced Up has proven to be more effective on the lawn.

“Visually for me, he finished good (on turf), where on the dirt he was showing a lot of speed, and he wasn’t finishing,” Mott said. “Going six furlongs on the dirt, at the eighth pole he was kind of folding it up. But if they like the grass, it will carry them.”

Mott said Spiced Up could be heading to Kentucky Downs next with the Sept. 6 card offering $2 million options in the 6 1/2-furlong Franklin-Simpson (G1) and the one-mile, listed Gun Runner.

“The plan is to go to Kentucky Downs,” Mott said. “The reason we jumped over a condition race is to see if we could get him eligible to go to Kentucky Downs. There’s a $2 million race.”

Ortiz said George Weaver-trained Governor Sam, who entered from a win in the Quick Call (G3) on July 13 at Saratoga was simply second-best.  

"I got a good trip, honestly. That horse just ran me down. I think my horse ran his race,” Ortiz said. “Last time he sat off, and he ran great. Everything worked out beautiful today. Just no excuse.”

Spiced Up is out of winning Pioneerof the Nile mare Cardamon, who is a half-sister to Emollient, a dual-surface Grade 1 winner, as well as Grade 1-placed Hofburg. All three half-siblings also were trained by Mott. Cardamon also is a full-sister to Calm Water, dam of Group 1-winning multimillionaire Laurel River.

Spiced Up banked $96,250 in victory while returning $11.00 on a $2 win ticket.