NEWS
Maybesomaybenot decisive in Sanford win
Posted: Sunday, July 25, 2010 7:07 PM
MAYBESOMAYBENOT
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Patrick Reed
Maybesomaybenot benefited from a heady ride by Julien Leparoux and trouble at the starting gate from 1.95-to-1 favorite and probable pace factor Bail Out the Cat to score a wire-to-wire 1 ½-length victory over Nacho Saint in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G2) on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course (video).
The two-year-old Sunday Break (Jpn) gelding trained by Michael Maker broke his maiden by six lengths at Churchill Downs on July 3 in front-running fashion, and Leparoux wasted little time in repeating that strategy on Sunday, sending 9.60-to-1 Maybesomaybenot to the lead from the first post position.
Bail Out the Cat, who entered the Sanford off of an impressive maiden victory on June 10 at Belmont Park, acted up in the gate just before the break and then hit the gate at the start, causing jockey Alan Garcia to lose his right iron. Without Bail Out the Cat’s expected pressure, Maybesomaybenot had a relatively easy trip along the backstretch under Leparoux, taking the eight-horse field through an opening half-mile in :45.65.
Another Silver Oak briefly loomed a threat from his stalking second position on the turn, but Maybesomaybenot shook free of that foe in early stretch and pulled away to a decisive victory despite drifting slightly to the right in the final furlong. He covered six furlongs in 1:10.97 on a track rated as good.
“We meant to go to the front,” Leparoux said following the race. “With the rail, you kind of have to send him from there. [Maybesomaybenot] was in front pretty easy and he’s still a little green.
“My horse kind of looked around in the stretch, but he [finished] pretty well. Hopefully, he can go forward from today.”
Nacho Saint closed willingly under Garrett Gomez to take second by 1 ¼ lengths over Another Silver Oak. Dogwood Stable’s coupled entry of Kentucky Juvenile Stakes (G3) winner Lou Brissie and Blue Right By never was a factor as the horses finished fourth and seventh, respectively. Bail Out the Cat finished sixth.
Maybesomaybenot is a homebred owned by Arthellor and Carolyn Scisney, who gave their daughter-in-law, Karen, a 25% stake in the horse before his maiden victory to help lift her spirits as she battles lupus. On Sunday, Arthellor Scisney expressed hope that Maybesomaybenot’s success will continue to inspire his daughter-in-law.
“We’ve worked hard all our lives, and this is a joy,” Scisney said. “Karen spoke to us on the phone. I hope this win picks her up. If the Lord does nothing else for me, I’ll be all right.”
With his first stakes victory, Maybesomaybenot improved his career record to two wins in three starts and earnings of $125,700. He is out of the winning Olympio mare Majestic Mommy.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Patrick Reed is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
