Deep Satin and Ozara face off in G2 Ballston Spa

Deep Satin and Ozara, the last-out winners of the two divisions of the De La Rose here, have entered back in Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa, a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course. 

John Gunther and breeder Eurowest Bloodstock Services’ Deep Satin [post 9, Jose Ortiz] captured the first of the two divisions of the one-mile Listed De La Rose, restricted to older fillies and mares who have not won a graded stake in 2024-25, on July 10. 

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the 4-year-old American Pharoah bay stalked-and-pounced to a neck score over In Our Time in a final time of 1:35.49. The performance, with returning rider Jose Ortiz up, earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure and came in a field featuring returning rival Edict.

“She improved last out,” said DeVaux. “She had shown a lot of promise in her races. So, she definitely deserves a chance in this graded stakes.” 

Deep Satin, who dead-heated with Style Points to win the Listed Virginia Oaks in September at Colonial Downs, earned her second career stakes victory in the De La Rose. Her lone graded attempt was a fifth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at this distance on June 1 at Churchill Downs ahead of her last effort. 

“She definitely has trained forwardly since her last race,” DeVaux said. “She looks great, so we will be taking a shot in here.”

Of Deep Satin’s De La Rose being slower than Ozara’s winning time of 1:34.25 three races later, DeVaux said, “I just go by our race. The race is run however they run.”

Cheyenne Stable’s Irish-bred Ozara [post 3, Dylan Davis] captured the second division of the De La Rose by a half-length over the pacesetting New York-bred Spinning Colors. Trained by Miguel Clement, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega bay closed strongly following a ground-saving trip under Dylan Davis. 

The performance earned a career-best 90 Beyer, improving upon consecutive 88s for a 1 1/2-length coup of Gulfstream Park’s Monroe in April and a third-place effort in the Grade 3 Eatontown on June 14 at Monmouth Park.

“At first glance, I thought the other division was faster on paper,” Clement said. “The figures and the time came back as the contrary to that popular belief. We’ll see.” 

The dual Grade 3-placed Ozara boasts a 12-6-2-2 record with other stakes wins in Gulfstream Park’s 2023 Wait A While, 2024 Listed Ginger Brew, and she also ran third in last year’s Grade 3 Herecomesthebride there. 

“It’s ambitious, jumping up in grade,” said Clement. “Nevertheless, she has been improving all year long. She is amazingly consistent. She is game, she is tough, and she is sound, so it is time to go.” 

Both Deep Satin and Ozara are 2-for-2 over the Spa turf. 

Five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown entered Whiskey Decision [post 2, Manny Franco] and Maggie Go [post 6, Flavien Prat] as he pursues a record-extending ninth Ballston Spa score. 

Brown’s past scores include Zagora [2012], Dacita [2015], Lady Eli [2017], Quidura [2018], Significant Form [2019], Viadera [2021], Technical Analysis [2022] and Beaute Cachee [2024]. 

Fred W. Hertrich, lll and John D. Fielding’s Kentucky homebred Whiskey Decision enters from a grade-making victory in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Eatontown on June 14 at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old Into Mischief bay stalked in a ground-saving fourth position before closing along the inside for a two-length victory over Maggie Go, with Ozara landing third. 

Whiskey Decision was making her first start for Brown after seven starts last year for trainer Arnaud Delacour, highlighted by a win in the nine-furlong Christiana in July at Delaware Park. 

Michael Dubb, Andrew Rosen, John Stuart, and Michael Caruso’s Maggie Go also makes her second start for Brown after running in the Eatontown, where she was a prominent second as the favorite under returning rider Flavien Prat. 

The 4-year-old Winning Prize bay made her first five starts in her native Argentina for conditioner Nicolas Martin Ferro, including an about seven-furlong Group 2 Eliseo Ramirez triumph last April at San Isidro ahead of two Group 1-placings there going one mile. 

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. has entered last-out Grade 1-winner Be Your Best [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Beverly D. at Colonial Downs, and Grade 3-winner No Mo Candy [post 5, Tyler Gaffalione]. 

Michael Ryan’s Irish-bred Be Your Best was a last-out 2 3/4-length gate-to-wire winner of the nine-furlong Grade 1 Gamely in May at Santa Anita Park. The 5-year-old Muhaarar bay scratched from the Grade 1 Dunkin’ Diana on July 12 here due to heavy rain before the race. 

Be Your Best has won 4-of-6 efforts for Joseph, Jr. since transferring from trainer Horacio De Paz in October 2024, taking the 11-furlong Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Racetrack, and Gulfstream Park’s one-mile Grade 3 Suwannee River and 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational.

Niall Brennan and Michael Ryan’s No Mo Candy was the longest price on the board but defied her 18-1 odds to win the one-mile Grade 3 Pebbles in November at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo bay has been off-the-board in two efforts this year, including the Grade 3 Mint Julep and the last-out nine-furlong Grade 3 Matchmaker on July 19 at Monmouth Park, where she was a close fourth to Segesta. 

Rounding out the field are dual Argentine Group 1-winner Edict [post 4, John Velazquez] for trainer David Donk; dual graded stakes-winner Ocean Club [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for conditioner Thomas Proctor; and stakes-winner Freedom Speaks [post 8, Luis Saez] who is cross-entered in an optional claimer on August 7 here for trainer Heather Smullen. 

Bernietakescharge, Amanda’s Folly and Just Music are entered for the main track-only. 

The Ballston Spa is slated as Race 8 on Friday’s 10-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 

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