Coasted / NYRA Photo

In the end, Coasted makes it look easy in P.G. Johnson

by Dave Litfin

After giving her many backers some anxious moments turning for home, Coasted proved much the best in Thursday's 12th running of the $100,000 P.G. Johnson at Saratoga Race Course.

Dispatched as the odds-on choice in a field of seven 2-year-old fillies, Coasted settled into striking range along the inside through the early going as 19-1 longshot Mo Promise set a measured pace of 24.80, 49.86 and 1:14.70 seconds, with Noble Ready giving chase from close range. 

Coasted remained in behind the leaders turning for home and briefly lacked room, but then slipped through on the fence to battle with Noble Ready inside the furlong grounds before edging away late under confident handling from Jose Lezcano to win by a length.

Noble Ready held second over Majestic Bonnie, with Naifah rallying from the back of the pack to wind up fourth in her United States debut.

Coasted ran 1 1/16 miles over a firm Mellon turf course in 1:43.25 seconds, and returned $3.40 to win as the clear-cut favorite.

"I had a little bit of a tough trip," said Lezcano. "I was tied inside the whole way around but she's a nice filly. She gave me all she had when I was able to get through at the three-sixteenths pole [and] she went on and won the race. She's definitely a nice filly and going forward has a lot of potential like she showed today." 

Coasted, an impressive maiden winner when switched to the turf earlier at the meet by trainer Leah Gyarmati, stayed perfect on the lawn, and the daughter of 2011 Whitney winner Tizway earned $60,000 for Treadway Racing Stable. 

"The whole race I was having minor heart attacks all the way around," said a relieved Gymarmati in the winner's circle. "From where we were, to watching the times, to where we were on the inside, and where we were in relation to the front-runner...it was kind of exciting. It's pretty cool to see her do that, because we're going to need to do all that going forward to these bigger races with more horses and traffic trouble. It's nice to know you have a horse who can bull her way through. I think probably the Miss Grillo [Grade 3, $200,000, October 2, Belmont Park], then hopefully the Breeders' Cup; obviously a lot depends on how she comes out of the race." 

Rounding out the order of finish were Bahama Halo, Lady Joan and Mo Promise.