Deep Satin Faces Challenges in Ballston Spa Stakes
A competitive field of turf fillies and mares will contest Friday’s GII Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga, with Cherie DeVaux trainee Deep Satin (American Pharoah) looking to overcome the outside post position in her return to graded stakes competition.
The homebred daughter of American Pharoah, who dead-heated for the win in last year’s Virginia Oaks, enters off a neck victory in the first division of the restricted De La Rose Stakes on opening day July 10.
“She improved last out,” DeVaux said. “She had shown a lot of promise in her races. She definitely deserves a chance in this graded stakes. She definitely has trained forwardly since her last race. She looks great, so we will be taking a shot in here.”
Deep Satin narrowly missed by a neck to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah) when favored in a competitive Keeneland allowance on April 25 to begin her season. She subsequently finished fifth in the GIII Mint Julep Stakes on June 1, unable to overcome drawing post 11.
The bay filly earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for her De La Rose victory, where she sat close to the pace before prevailing late in what developed into a sit-sprint affair. Though the second division of the De La Rose ran 1.24 seconds faster, winner Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) received only a slightly higher 90 Beyer due to the significantly different pace scenarios.
Chad Brown will be represented by a formidable pair in Whiskey Decision (Into Mischief) and Argentine import Maggie Go (Arg) (Winning Prize {Arg}), who finished ahead of Ozara in the GIII Eatontown Stakes on June 14. Ozara had previously captured the Monroe Stakes at Gulfstream on April 26 before bouncing back with her De La Rose victory.
Morning-line favorite Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {Ire}), who won the GI Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 26 in wire-to-wire fashion, will scratch from the Ballston Spa in favor of Saturday’s GII Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial.
