Chelsea Durand Photo

Cinderella’s Dream comes smiling through in G2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Inv.

by Mary Eddy

Godolphin’s British homebred Cinderella’s Dream made it look easy when capturing Friday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the daughter of Shamardal added to a determined win under William Buick last out on July 6 in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont at the Big A. There, she flew from six lengths off the pace with a seven-wide bid to collar Segesta by three-quarter lengths in her American debut. The effort garnered a field-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She’s obviously a classy filly and the class of the race,” Appleby said. “The only reservation I had is that she put up such a big figure there last time that I was always concerned whether there would be a bounce out of that. To be fair to the team, they were always confident that she was in good order.”

With Buick at the helm once again, Cinderella’s Dream was guided through a similar trip when emerging from the inside post in the field of five and settling at the rear of the field as a headstrong Macanga bounded to the front and led through splits of 24.75 seconds and 49.80 over the firm footing.

Movin’ On Up, who hopped at the start under Tyler Gaffalione, recovered well to track in second down the backstretch while Kathynmarissa tracked inside of rivals in third through three-quarters in 1:14.34. Macanga, who was held firmly by Hall of Famer John Velazquez down the backstretch, was given some rein approaching the turn to battle back as Movin’ On Up pestered to her outside and Kathynmarissa crept closer on the inside.

Macanga relinquished command exiting the turn as Kathynmarissa attempted to draw clear from a wheel-spinning Movin’ On Up, but Cinderella’s Dream had been given her cue by Buick and ranged up widest of all to be in contention within just a few strides. Kathynmarissa gave her all under right-handed encouragement from Frankie Dettori, but was no match for Cinderella’s Dream once Buick shook his reins and drew well clear in the final sixteenth to post the 1 1/2-length victory in a final time of 1:54.92.

A game Kathynmarissa held second by three lengths over Dancing N Dixie with Movin’ On Up and Macanga completing the order of finish. Segesta and Greenfinch, the latter dealing with a foot abscess, were scratched.

Buick has proven a perfect fit aboard Cinderella’s Dream, with the pair remaining undefeated through five starts together, including the Belmont Oaks and the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas in March at Meydan Racecourse.

The veteran rider said he was not concerned with the setup of the race.

“It was a bit messy, the pace, and it was slow, and obviously Johnny [Velazquez] opted to stay off the fence and then Frankie [Dettori] nipped up the inside and made a race of it,” said Buick. “But I was always comfortable with my filly, I never really had a moment's worry. She responds so quickly to anything I ask her. Once I got in the back of Tyler’s [Gaffalione] filly into the stretch, she had a double handful.”

Appleby praised Buick’s patience when waiting to turn the filly loose in the lane.

“She’s gone out there and done it comfortably. You could see that when he started taking her back on the turn and waiting instead of making that move earlier, said Appleby. “He waited until the straight and just let her stride out in a hands-and-heels ride.”

Appleby added the next start for Cinderella’s Dream could come in either the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on October 12 at Keeneland or the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor on September 14 at Woodbine.

“Going forward, I would say we would look to maybe the E. P. Taylor or give her a little more of a break and go for the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland and then take a view of a Breeders’ Cup - but we’ll see and we’ll see what’s around,” said Appleby. “What she would take to that meeting would be plenty of experience and, as you know in the Breeders’ Cup, you need that and a draw.”

Cinderella’s Dream banked $220,000 in victory while improving her lifetime record to 7-6-0-0. She returned $2.60 on a $2 win wager as the 1-4 post-time favorite.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga for the lucrative Whitney Day program, featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney – a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar – in Race 11. The 13-race program is supported by the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster in Race 8, the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational in Race 7, and the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy in Race 10 and the Listed $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure in Race 9. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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