SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Coming into Wednesday’s Johnstone Stakes, My Mane Squeeze had won six races in her career, including five stakes. Never before had she won when leading at every point of call.
That changed Wednesday when My Mane Squeeze was put on the lead soon after the start by Luis Saez and she coasted to a front-running, 6 1/4-length in the Johnstone for New York-bred females at Saratoga.
Tricky Temper, who chased My Mane Squeeze all the way around the track from second, finished in that position, 3 1/2 lengths clear of Sterling Silver. Caldwell Luvs Gold was fourth followed by Cupid’s Heart and Dolomite. Dolomite was reported to have bled and was vanned off.
There were five scratches in the race – Majestic Return, Cara’s Time, Landed, Bernietakescharge, and Maggy’s Palace. Many of those horses were speed types.
Trainer Mike Maker and Saez said they didn’t discuss tactics before the race. When asked whose idea it was to put My Mane Squeeze on the lead, Saez said “I bring that to myself.”
“If we break on the lead we’d take it, if not we would follow somebody,” Saez said. “But she broke from there so well, she controlled the pace and really we were not worried about how she’d be on the lead.”
Added Maker: “All the speed scratched so somebody has to be in front.”
My Mane Squeeze didn’t have to run that hard to get to the lead. She was a length clear through an opening quarter in 23.42 seconds, was two in front after a half-mile in 46.12 and completed the seven furlongs in 1:22.66.
My Mane Squeeze, a 5-year-old daughter of Audible owned by William Butler and WinStar Farm, returned $4.30 as the favorite.
The biggest hurdle for My Mane Squeeze was the heat on Wednesday as temperatures were in the low 90s. Maker had said that My Mane Squeeze didn’t handle the heat well in Kentucky when she finished fifth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes.
In the paddock, Maker said My Mane Squeeze was starting to breath a little heavy and get a little warm.
“I took her from the groom to finish saddling and get her settled,” Maker said.
My Mane Squeeze improved her record to 7 for 17. She was facing New York-breds for the first time since she won the Maddie May Stakes at Aqueduct in February 2024, at the time her fourth win from six starts against New York-breds.
Elliott Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm, said My Mane Squeeze will be catalogued in the Fasig-Tipton November sale, but she would likely run again before then.
Maker said the Grade 1 Ballerina here on Aug. 23. is a possibility.
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