NEWS
Champion Ashado looks to bounce back in deep Beldame
Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2005
After a rare off-the-board finish in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course, Ashado will try to rebound on Saturday when she faces perhaps the best distaff field assembled in North America this season in the $750,000 Beldame Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.Last season, Ashado won three Grade 1 stakes—the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Breeders' Cup Distaff—to lock up champion three-year-old filly honors. After losing her first two efforts this year, she seemed to be back on track with easy victories in the Ogden Phipps (G1) and Go for Wand (G1) Handicap.
Then, in the Personal Ensign, the daughter of Saint Ballado showed little in finishing fourth, only the second time in 19 career starts that she has finished worse than third.
"To me, that day, she never looked like she was going well," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who has saddled Ashado to 11 victories and $3,261,440 in earnings. "Having watched her so many times, she's usually got a certain posture where her neck's bowed a little bit and she's in the bridle. She wasn't dragging [regular rider Johnny Velazquez.]
"We've got to forgive her for one bad race and try again."
While Ashado will be looking for the seventh Grade 1 victory of her career, she will be facing six accomplished rivals, including five Grade 1 winners. Of those challengers, undefeated Sweet Symphony may be the most intriguing.
After winning a maiden race on May 12 at Belmont, trainer Bill Mott saddled Sweet Symphony to wins over older rivals in a pair of allowance races at Belmont and Saratoga, where she stretched out to 1 1/8-miles. She then turned in a dominating performance against other sophomore fillies in her stakes debut, winning the 1 ¼-mile Alabama Stakes (G1) by 6 ¼ lengths.
"She's taken everything that's been thrown at her," said regular rider Jerry Bailey. "She's done it all without flinching. She hasn't been able to take advantage of perfect scenarios in any of her races and she's earned everything she's gotten. I know it's a tough race against older fillies, but I expect her to step up."
Also scheduled to go in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race are three-time Grade 1 winner Society Selection, who enters off a runner-up finish in the Ruffian Handicap (G1) on September 11 at Belmont; 2004 Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Island Sand; this year's Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) winner Dream of Summer; and Happy Ticket, who enters off a 5 ½-length victory in the Ballerina Stakes (G1) on August 28 at Saratoga.
Rounding out the field is Grade 3 winner Personal Legend, who finished second to Shadow Cast in the Personal Ensign.
Ashado, like many of Saturday's starters, figures to be back at Belmont on October 29 for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at 1 1/8-miles. For Ashado, that start is scheduled to be the final start of her career.
"You just want to see her do well," Pletcher said. "Hopefully, she can go out on a winning note. She doesn't owe us anything. She's been a superstar. It'll be sad when she does go, but by the same token, she's going to be a broodmare and after three years of running in the races she's been in, it will be nice to see her retire the right way."
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Sweet Symphony (A.P. Indy), Jerry Bailey, 120, Bill Mott;
2. Island Sand (Tabasco Cat), Terry Thompson, 123, Larry Jones;
3. Happy Ticket (Anet), Victor Espinoza, 123, Andrew Leggio Jr.;
4. Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), Corey Nakatani, 123, Juan Garcia;
5. Personal Legend (Awesome Again), Edgar Prado, 123, Bobby Frankel;
6. Ashado (Saint Ballado), John Velazquez, 123, Todd Pletcher; and
7. Society Selection (Coronado's Quest), Javier Castellano, 123, Allen Jerkens.
