Chelsea Durand Photo

Chattel owns Skidmore at odds of 22-1

by Najja Thompson

Leaving the gate at odds of 22-1, David Baxter's longshot Chattel bested a field of nine with a ferocious kick to win the $100,000 Skidmore for juveniles going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf Friday at Saratoga Race Course.

Breaking from post 6 with Kendrick Carmouche aboard, Chattel settled in fourth position early as Gins and Tins and Sir Truebadour battled up to lead the field of nine through fractions of 21.84 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.26 for the half.

At the quarter-pole, Chattel was tipped out from the rail and set down in a full drive. He met and passed Gins and Tins at the eighth-pole, extending away to win by 3 ¼ lengths.

He completed the distance in final time of 1:03.51 on the Mellon turf course listed as firm.

"We wanted to sit closer to the pace," said Carmouche. "We broke good. I kind of got squeezed, but [Rajiv] Maragh [aboard No. 1, Yes and Yes] kind of wanted his position inside, so I just slowly eased him back. Around the half-mile pole I saw everything developing in front of me. Man, he was on the bit. I said I can win the race from here. I got through at the top of the lane, and when I got through he really accelerated throughout the stretch."

Returning $47 for a $2 win wager, the son of Giant Oak picked up his first stakes win in his fifth career start. Chattel broke his maiden last time out on July 13 at Laurel Park for trainer Brandon McFarlane.

"He had a ton of horse," said McFarlane. "I thought he was actually going to be closer, he got a little bit further back than I thought, because he's real quick out of the gate. I knew he could pass, because I schooled him last week behind two horses, taking dirt, and then he tipped out and just went by easy, so I knew he could pass."

Finishing in second was 3-1 post-time favorite Swamp Rat followed by Good Good, Gins and Tins, Carter Cat, Sir Truebadour, Chase Greatness, Yes and Yes and Stayonthegrid. Chelsea Cloisters, Stillwater Cove, Lexitonian and Backtohisroots were scratched from the race.