Worstcasescenario Turns Out Okay

The young Dashing Debby did her best to impersonate her famous, older stablemate Rachel Alexandra in the grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga Wednesday. Afterall, the 2-year-old filly, like Rachel, is by Medaglia d'Oro, trained by Steve Asmussen, and runs under the yellow silks of Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables. Apparently, the Saratoga crowd bought her act as she was bet down to 6-5 and then sprinted to the lead and a quick pace.

But the act ended at the top of the stretch when Worstcasescarnario and jockey Alan Garcia took the lead away from Dashing Debby on their way to an upset victory in the 6-1/2 furlong, $150,000 Adirondack. It was the second win in as many starts for the daughter of Florida stallion Forbidden Apple, who is the son of Kentucky Derby winner Pleasant Colony.

Dashing Debby faded to fifth while Sassy Image was second and Magic Appeal finished third. Beautician, the Kenneth McPeek-trained morning line favorite, was scratched after she suffered a bout of colic.

The day was not a total loss for the two-year-old filly division of McPeek's stable however, as House of Grace broke her maiden in her first try by winning a 1-1/16 maiden special weight race on the grass at Saratoga. The race is significant also for House of Grace's sire, Limehouse, who now has eight winners in this his freshman year as a sire.

That may be a significant detail when trying to find young winners and may be especially impactful when Keeneland begins their yearling auction in September.

More Stallion Fun Facts
If thoroughbred stallions had any idea of the big business surrounding their business (so to speak), Medaglia d'Oro may have had a sigh of relief when his three-year-old Iqbaal won his first race at Monmouth Park Wednesday. Not only was the Kiaran Mclaughlin trainee the 8-5 favorite, but also has the distinction of being Medaglia d'Oro's most expensive yearling of the sire's first crop selling for $675,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Last week, a Medaglia d'Oro filly sold for $1.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. That's what having Rachel Alexandra and Dashing Debby on an auction catalogue page will do for a stallion.

A Summer's Mid-Week Dream

One of the great things about racing this time of year are the mid-week stakes races at Del Mar and Saratoga. Which brings us to the grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack Stakes for two-year-old fillies at 6-1/2 furlongs at Saratoga Wednesday. For those thinking ahead to the Breeders' Cup Championship, this race typically produces contenders with support in the Juvenile Fillies.

The door will be open for Beautician, a second-place finisher in her last race behind Hot Dixie Chick in the grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga on opening day. Hot Dixie Chick will miss the Adirondack, putting the spotlight on Beautician, a beautiful gray filly by Dehere and trained by Kenneth McPeek. She also gets the riding services of Kent Desormeaux, who has been one of the hotter stakes riders in the country this summer.

The Adirondack will also mark the first start by Dashing Debby under trainer Steven Asmussen. As we mentioned in The Brock Talk July 13, Dashing Debby (photo)was purchased by Rachel Alexanda owner Jess Jackson and sent to Asmussen following her 10-lenghth victory in her first race in the J.J.'s Dream Stakes at Calder Race Course near Miami.

The filly to watch however, will come from the D. Wayne Lukas stable in Decelerator. Lukas may never dominate 2-year-old racing again as he did in the late eighties and early nineties, but he is no doubt loaded in 2009 with Decelerator as potenially one of his main bullets. Another daughter of Dehere, Decelerator won the grade 3 Debutante at Churchill Downs in July before she stumbled badly in the Schuylerville and finished sixth. A clear trip Wednesday should result in a major improvement.

Asmussen will also saddle the undefeated filly Camile's Appeal, who has the Texas Stallion Stakes win at Lone Star Park on her resume.


Quality Road Has Impressive Work In Travers Preperation

While the casual fan may have a difficult time remembering Florida Derby winner Quality Road, who left the Kentucky Derby just days before the race with a quarter crack injury to his foot, everyone at Saratoga is taking note.

After his explosive return to the races in winning the Amersterdam Stakes (gr. 2) at Saratoga last month, the strapping son of Elusive Quality turned in a solid work stopping the clock in 1:13.19 over six furlongs. Trainer Todd Pletcher seemed extremely happy with the effort saying it was a "nice, stamina-building breeze," according to bloodhorse.com.

In his last two races, Quality Road has set track records. He won the Floriday Derby in March in 1:47.72 for 1-1/8 miles, and then the Amerstam in 1:13/74 for six and one-half furlongs,

Rachel Alexandra Owner Buys Impressive Sibling

You know what it's like when you buy something... and you're really satisfied with it? In fact, you like it so much that you want another one that's the same brand. Well that's kinda what Thoroughbred owner and breeder Jess Jackson just did.

Jackson, who earlier this year purchased Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra just short of two weeks prior to her victory in the the Blackberry Preakness Stakes, just bought her little sister so-to-speak. Technically, horses are only brothers or sisters if they are out of the same mare. But Rachel Alexandra is by Medaglia d'Oro and Jackson just purchased Dashing Debby, a 2-year-old filly also by Medaglia d'Oro and who won the JJ'sdream Stakes at Calder by an impressive 10-1/4 lengths in her first race.

This time trainer Gerald Pacino was happy with the transaction as Dashing Debby was also owned and bred by Pacino's New Life Farm. "The deal is done, and she's already left the barn and is on the way to Saratoga," Procino told Daily Racing Form. "Mr. Jackson asked me not to reveal the price, but I can say she sold very well." Pacino still owns the dam and a half-brother by Corithian to Dashing Debby.

Dashing Debby will likely race out of the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen who also trains Rachel Alexandra for Jackson.