SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In a group of evenly matched 3-year-old New York-bred fillies, it was Mommy’s Turn in Wednesday’s $150,000 Suzie O’Cain Stakes at Saratoga.
A filly that can be quite difficult to ride, Mommy’s Turn was equipped with a different bit by trainer Chad Brown and it seemed to make a difference, according to jockey Jose Lezcano. Kept covered up in third behind the pacesetting Grace and Grit and the pace-prompting Boston’s Phinest, Lezcano sat in behind that duo until upper stretch, when he found ample room in which to split horses and Mommy’s Turn motored through the opening to win the O’Cain by two lengths.
Disco Star rallied for second by a head over Boston’s Phinest. Disco Star is trained by Mark Casse, who entered the day with 3,999 career victories but went winless with five runners in three races between Saratoga and Colonial Downs.
Mommy’s Turn, who won a maiden race at Aqueduct in May, was beaten a nose by Trail of Gold while finishing a nose in front of Grace and Grit in a first-level allowance at Aqueduct on June 12. Mommy’s Turn was a bit keen in the allowance after stumbling in her maiden victory.
Wednesday, breaking from post 2, Mommy’s Turn got a beautiful trip under Lezcano, and while she was still a bit keen, Mommy’s Turn was easier to manage, according to her jockey.
“Today, I saw a couple of horses who got speed. [Grace and Grit] went and that helped me a lot,” Lezcano said. “I followed her the whole way and she relaxed more today. Chad made a change with the bit and that helped her too.”
Brown said the bit change was designed to give the rider more control.
“That doesn’t always work, though,” he cautioned. “Sometimes, they’re worse with that. With her, we found a happy medium maybe. In a couple of races, she’s made multiple moves. If we can get her to make one move in the race, we’ll probably see the best of her. Today, even though she pulled a little bit, she did just make one move this time and I think that’s why she was able to step up in class.”
Mommy’s Turn, a daughter of Mendelssohn owned by Team Hanley and Thirty Year Racing, covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm ground in 1:42.28 and returned $7 as the favorite.
Jonathan Kiser
Blue Creek ($12) rallied from last to win the $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Memorial Novice Steeplechase by 4 1/4 lengths over favored China Beach. But it will likely be a lengthy period of time before Blue Creek runs again.
Blue Creek was pulled up shortly past the wire by jockey Stephen Mulqueen, fitted with a brace on his right foreleg, and vanned off. Patrick Lewis of Upland Flats Racing, which owns Blue Creek, posted on X that the gelding sustained a soft-tissue injury but it is not catastrophic. Lewis believes the horse could return to race next year.
Blue Creek, trained by Keri Brion, covered the 2 3/8 miles in 4:34.86.
Gerard Gilligan was unseated by L’Avvocato when his irons broke and Kitten Around was pulled up a half-mile into the race.
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