Susie Raisher Photo

Film Star much the best in off-the-turf Fasig-Tipton Lure

by Keith McCalmont

Ronald P. Stewart’s graded stakes-placed Film Star picked up his first career stakes win in Saturday’s Listed $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure for older horses which have not won a graded races this year, at Saratoga Race Course.

Originally scheduled for 1 1/16-miles on the inner turf, the Lure was moved to the main track and contested at one-mile out of the Wilson Chute after all of Saturday’s races were moved off the turf due to significant rainfall overnight.

Trained by Linda Rice and piloted confidently to victory by Irad Ortiz, Jr. as the 3-5 mutuel favorite, the 5-year-old Flatter bay was a main-track only entrant arriving from a good third-place finish in his seasonal debut in a nine-furlong optional-claiming event on July 11 here won by Warrior Johny, who contested Saturday’s featured Grade 1 Whitney.

“Frankly, I considered the Whitney, and the Whitney field came up a very big, very competitive race,” Rice said. “I'm always trying to find a spot where I can be the heavy favorite rather than one of many. The weather looked like it might play into our favor, and fortunately it did. I was praying for rain last night. I considered the Whitney, but I thought I always am looking for a place I could win."

Film Star broke alertly from the outermost post 4 but it was Swiftsure that took command through splits of 23.98 seconds and 46.83 over the muddy and sealed main track with Film Star to his outside in second and Johny’s Fireball stalking from third position in front of the trailing Pioneering Spirit.

Ortiz, Jr. asked Film Star to advance into the final turn and the talented bay responded in kind, taking command with ease and opening up by 5 1/2-lengths at the stretch call en route to a four-length score in a final time of 1:37.37. The Rice-trained Pioneering Spirit, with Jose Ortiz up, rallied to complete the exacta 6 1/4-lengths in front of Swiftsure with John’s Fireball rounding out the order of finish.

Kubrick, Forever Souper, Irish Aces, Big Everest, Smokin’ T and More Than Looks were scratched.

“I was a good passenger today, he did everything for me,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “He was taking me every step of the way. I just told him when it was time to go. I helped him a little bit. He is the kind of horse you have to make sure he knows what he's doing and keep his attention, but I did not have to do too much today.”

Film Star demonstrated an affinity for the Spa main track last summer with a pair of frontrunning allowance scores traveling nine furlongs. He followed with a trio of starts at Belmont at the Big A, winning an optional-claimer ahead of a good second to Zandon in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Woodward and a 1 3/4-length fourth to the victorious Everso Mischievous in the Grade 2 Forty Niner.

Rice said Film Star benefitted from his seasonal debut and could make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 1 here. The 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

“He needed that race," Rice said of the debut effort. "I may run him back at the end of the meet in the Jockey Club. I may do that off of this race. He needed that first start, so it's a strong consideration."

Bred in Kentucky by Indian Creek and Mill Pond Bloodstock, Film Star banked $74,250 in victory, while improving his record to 20-5-6-2. He returned $3.20 for $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack in Race 9 and the Listed $150,000 Birdstone in Race 2. First post is 1:10 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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