SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Brightwork, scratched in the paddock prior to the Grade 1 Test Stakes here earlier this summer, finally got back to business Saturday at Saratoga and did so with a flourish, out-gaming the odds on Two Sharp to register a much deserved neck victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Prioress Stakes.
Brightwork, who returned locally for the first time since capturing the Grade 1 Spinaway in equally stirring fashion one year earlier, flipped in the paddock, suffered minor abrasions and was ultimately scratched from the Test by the state veterinarian for precautionary reasons. A turn of events that devastated her trainer, John Ortiz, who had so patiently prepared his filly to be at her peak for her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies nine month earlier.
But obviously the additional four week delay proved no obstacle for Ortiz or Brightwork, who was razor sharp from start to finish in the six-furlong Prioress.
With Luis Saez aboard, Brightwork broke well from her outside post and took up a perfect striking position just off and outside the early pace set by Two Sharp and prompted down the backstretch by the 23-1 Carmelina. Brightwork edged up alongside to engage the heavy favorite entering the turn, stuck her head in front upon settling into the stretch, then remained resolute through the final furlong, maintaining a narrow advantage under strong handling to the end.
Two Sharp, returning off a one-sided and extremely well-graded maiden win only four weeks earlier in just her second career start, never had a chance to get a breather after being put under the gun and pressured right from the outset, first by Carmelina and then Brightwork. But despite the grueling effort, and not switching off her left lead down the stretch, Two Sharp fought back gamely after being headed by the winner, giving that one all she could handle right to the wire.
South Florida invader Miuccia, well-placed off the embattled leaders from the outset, was gaining gradually on the top pair at the end and finished three-quarters of a length in third. She was followed by Autumn Evening, Carmelina, who recovered from a bobbling start to briefly force the early issue, Tricky Temper, Lady Moscato, and Belle’s Blue Bell.
Brightwork, a daughter of Outwork, is trained by Ortiz for WSS Racing. She covered the six furlongs over a track downgraded from fast to good shortly before the race, in 1:10.86, and returned $7.10. She was given an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.
"We were just very blessed that we had another opportunity to get another win at Saratoga. This was not the original plan, but God had his plans and things happened for a reason,” Ortiz said. “She looked like she was tiring. She dug in. It didn't surprise me how much heart she had at the end. It was good to see such guts in an athlete like that. It was just a beautiful race."
Ortiz said the Grade 2 Raven Run on October 19 at Keeneland could be next for Brightwork.
“We have lots to think about,” Ortiz said. “This was a change of plans, but I'm glad we had a good start here."
Trainer Phil Bauer said he thought seasoning might have caught up to Two Sharp, who was making her graded stakes debut in just her third career start.
“I’m proud of the filly, a lot to ask of her and maybe the fault’s on me, not on her,” Bauer said. “A Grade 1 winner beat us. A sixteenth from the wire we probably should have been beat one or two lengths and she fought back on the wrong lead. She’s just not polished. She’s an excellent athlete and maybe I asked too much of her today. I don’t think we regret what happened, and we’re very excited about what the future holds for her. She’s obviously a very talented filly.”
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