SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mythical is undefeated, virtually untested, and is already a Grade 3 winner, but it is Tommy Jo who may go postward the favorite and ultimately prove the one to beat amongst a very promising field of 10 juvenile fillies entered to go seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga.
Tommy Jo ran to expectations and then some when overcoming trouble at the start and rallying to a 3 3/4-length victory launching her career going six furlongs here on July 26. Tommy Jo earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure for her effort while having her race flattered when runner-up Tennessee Belle returned to beat the same kind by 7 1/4 lengths just three weeks later.
Tommy Jo, a Spendthrift Farm homebred, is by Into Mischief out of the multiple Grade 1-placed mare Mother Mother, who won at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile during her racing career. That pedigree gives trainer Todd Pletcher plenty of confidence Tommy Jo will handle the extra furlong without any problem on Saturday.
“She always finishes well and gallops out strongly in her breezes so the added distance shouldn’t be an issue,” said Pletcher. “I think she should eventually be able to stretch out around two turns.”
Pletcher said the way Tommy Jo trained up to her debut, he expected a big effort and may have actually gotten a little more than he’d hoped for out of her performance.
“She didn’t get away great but recovered quickly and made a strong move around the turn. It was very impressive,” Pletcher noted. “She’s come back and trained well again and is favorably drawn outside. You’re always worried about the second start and giving up a little experience and seasoning to some others. But we like what we’ve been seeing from her to this point.”
Tommy Jo is one of two fillies Pletcher put in the Spinaway along with Steer Clear, a daughter of Street Sense who is also entered in a maiden special weight race here Friday. Steer Clear contested strong early fractions, then edged clear in early stretch before being run down late by Ornellaia in her only previous start and projects as a serious pace factor if she goes in this spot.
Mythical has proven an early season sensation in the division, having captured her first three starts by a combined 17 1/4 lengths for owner-breeder Arindel and trainer Jorge Delgado. She has already won twice over the course, taking the Tremont against males going 5 1/2 furlongs on June 5 and the Grade 3 Adirondack by 3 1/4 lengths stretching her speed out to 6 1/2 furlongs when back with her own kind almost eight weeks later.
Mythical, a daughter of St Patrick’s Day, has used her blazing speed to dominate her opponents. She has led at every call in all three starts, although it is her ability to stay seven furlongs against top-notch competition that may prove the key to her success in the Spinaway.
“I’m very confident she can get the extra distance from as far as what I see and what I hear from my jockey [Emisael Jaramillo],” Delgado said. “She has been training well and I think she’s become an even better and stronger filly, and is training considerably better than before her last start. She’s also a very smart filly who I believe can adjust to whatever comes her way. Even if she gets challenged early in the race.”
In addition to Tommy Jo, six other members of the Spinaway lineup come into the race off maiden wins. Three of those are from the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The group consists of Rileytole, who earned her diploma at Gulfstream Park; Spirit Doll, who stumbled leaving the gate and overcame a tough trip to prove a popular winner at first asking here earlier this month; and Day to Day, privately purchased after winning her lone start in come-from-behind fashion over the turf at Colonial Downs.
Kentucky invader Percy’s Bar has won her only two starts in one-sided fashion, including the Debutante at Churchill Downs on June 29, while Ornellaia rallied from last following an awkward beginning to overtake Steer Clear and draw off by 2 1/4 lengths going six furlongs in her bow.
Sina, a five-length maiden winner 22 days earlier at Delaware Park, and Meringue, a distant second behind Mythical in the Adirondack, complete the field.
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