Susie Raisher Photo

Brown continues hot streak as favorite Rastafara captures Riskaverse

by Brian Bohl

Another day, another turf stakes win for owner Peter Brant, trainer Chad Brown and rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., as the connections again teamed for a score when Rastafara overtook pacesetter Love and Money approaching the top of the stretch and powered home to a 1 1/2-length victory in Thursday’s one-mile $120,000 Riskaverse at Saratoga Race Course.

The 12th edition of the Riskaverse on the inner turf course, restricted to 3-year-old fillies who had not won a stakes at one mile or over, saw 2-1 favorite Rastafara win her second consecutive start in capturing her stakes debut. It was the third win on the day for the meet-leading trainer, who tallied five wins on Wednesday’s card, including the Brant-owned and Ortiz, Jr.-ridden Serve the King in the $120,000 John’s Call.

Just 24 hours later, Rastafara repeated the success by breaking well from post 6, tracking in second position to Love and Money, who surged to the front from the outermost post under Luis Saez in leading the nine-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.91 seconds, the half in 47.47 and three-quarters in 1:11.55 over firm going.

Out of the turn, Ortiz, Jr. tapped into Rastafara’s well-stocked reserve, with the Irish-bred daughter of Shamardal easily overtaking Love and Money from the outside. Third Draft made a late bid under Jose Ortiz, but Rastafara kicked on to win in a final time of 1:35.53.

Rastafara, unraced as a juvenile, broke her maiden at third asking on July 24 at Saratoga and handled the step up in class Thursday by improving to 2-1-1 in four starts.

“When you’re training these young horses, and even when you have to stop on them at 2 and wait on them, the ones that showed ability early normally show up and be the better ones in their crop,” Brown said. “This was a filly we always thought a lot of. Unfortunately, she had some minor issues at 2 and Mr. Brant was so patient with her.” 

Rastafara returned $6.20 on a $2 win wager and nearly doubled her career earnings to $136,100.

“My philosophy is that those horses who break their maiden at 3 - and we always thought they were amongst the top group in their crop - is to get them in a stake race right away while you can still run against your own age group,” Brown said. “I think she’s getting her experience now. She showed a good dimension today being a little more tactical. As long as she stays healthy, she has a very bright future ahead of her.

“She’s always trained like a horse that we could take anywhere,” Brown continued. “I think she prefers firm ground and we saw that today."

Brown, a three-time Saratoga meet winner, extended his mark to 30 wins with nine racing days remaining at the Spa.

“It’s a morale booster for the barn and gives you confidence moving forward,” said Brown on tallying eight wins in two days. “Any time you’re on a winning streak, it just seems to be contagious throughout the barn. Hopefully, we can keep it going and end the meet strong.”

Ortiz, Jr., the winner of the last three Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Jockey, has won five races the last two days, all of whom are Brown trainees.

“Today, the race set up perfect for her,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “She did it the right way and she's moving forward. I like her. I let that that other horse [Love and Money] go way out in front and I was patient and waited. I just tracked him [Saez] and followed him and tried to be close. I didn't want to get too far back or be too close without taking my horse out of her race, and she did great. I had a lot of horse under me. Every step of the race, she was moving great. When she started picking it up all on her own, I knew I was in a good position."

Brown said he could target the nine-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point on October 16 at Belmont Park as Rastafara’s next spot.

“It definitely will be on the radar,” Brown said. “I’ll have to look and see how far this particular horse wants to run, that will play a factor right there. But it will be a race that we consider because it’s at home.”

Third Draft, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, made a strong account of herself in her first stakes appearance of her eight-race career, finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear of Keeper of Time for second.

“I really liked her race today,” Ortiz, Third Draft’s rider, said. “Going a flat mile she had tactical speed and put me there. She ran a very good race down the lane. I’m very happy with the distance and if she keep performing like this, she can win a stake at this distance or a little bit longer.”

Magisterium finished fourth. Amy C, also trained by Brown, ran fifth, with Designer Ready, Hit the Woah, Love and Money and Stand by You completing the order of finish. Triple Digit and Minaun scratched.

Friday’s 11-race New York Showcase Day card at Saratoga kicks off at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. The slate will feature six stakes worth a combined $1.15 million for state-breds, led by the $250,000 Albany in Race 9. Other stakes include the $200,000 Seeking the Ante in Race 2, the $200,000 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Race 4, the $200,000 Fleet Indian in Race 7, the $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank in Race 8 and the $150,000 Yaddo in Race 10.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.