Spectator picks up Johnny V for Saratoga's Test, 'key is breaking'

Sharon and Rick Waller and Little Red Feather Racing's Spectator will make her Saratoga debut Saturday while looking to register her second career graded stakes victory when she competes against eight other 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test Stakes.

Based in California under the care of trainer Phil D'Amato as a juvenile, Spectator won her first two starts: at first asking in a June 2017 maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park and a 5 ¼-length score in the Grade 2 Sorrento the following month at Del Mar. The Jimmy Creed filly capped her year by running third in the Del Mar Debutante in September.

As a sophomore, Spectator handled a stretch out in distance, finishing second to Midnight Bisou in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks on April 7. The only time she failed to finish on the board came in her last start - her first since transferring to the Michelle Nevin barn - when she ran sixth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 8 at Belmont Park, though Nevin said that Spectator looks primed to rebound.

"She's training well, her weight is good, her coat is good and she's happy, so it's all down to her," Nevin said. "In the Victory Ride, we lost all chances at the start, so it's a tough [race] to gauge. What we're hoping for this time is a clean break and a good trip and hopefully she gets her head in front."

Spectator drew post 2 with John Velazquez picking up the mount for the first time.

"Changing jockeys to Johnny V, hopefully it means she'll be a little closer to the pace and we're excited to see what she can do," said Sean Feld, Little Red Feather's East Coast representative. "I think the plan a couple of months back was to go to seven-eighths. Her sire, Jimmy Creed, was good at seven eighths, and we think the [distance] will hit her between the eyes."

Spectator is 8-1 on the morning line, will look to be forwardly placed, according to her connections.

"We're hoping to be four or five off the lead, because there's enough speed in there to chase and we want to get first run on those closers," Feld said. "With her speed, the key is breaking. If she breaks normal, we'll be right there. She's a really classy filly."