Janet Garaguso Photo

Mrs. Sippy rolls to victory in G2 Glens Falls

by NYRA Press Office

Andrew Stone's Mrs. Sippy made her North American debut a winning one in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf route for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

The Glens Falls was one of four stakes on the lucrative Woodford Racing Festival card including the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward presented by NYRA Bets won by Preservationist; the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress captured by Royal Charlotte; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac taken by Global Access.

Trained by Graham Motion, the 4-year-old Blame bay launched her career in England under the tutelage of David Simcock winning two of nine starts along with a good second in the Group 3 Princess Royal Nayef at Newmarket in September.

Sent to post at odds of 6-1 in the Glens Falls under jockey Joel Rosario, Mrs. Sippy settled at the back of the pack as defending champion Lady Montdore led the field through a half-mile in 49.80 seconds and three-quarters in 1:15.13 over the firm turf with recent Grade 3 Waya winner Fools Gold tracking in second.

Rosario urged Mrs. Sippy up the rail into the final turn as Santa Monica, the 8-5 mutuel favorite, rallied wide under Jose Ortiz. Lady Montdore kicked on strong at the top of the lane and battled briefly with Santa Monica before Rosario angled Mrs. Sippy off the rail to split the front-runners en route to a three-quarter length win in a final time of 2:13.62.

Empressof the Nile, also trained by Motion, rallied resolutely down the lane to complete the exacta 2 ½-lengths in front of Santa Monica. Rounding out the order of finish were Get Explicit, Fools Gold, Lady Montdore and Violet Blue. Night of England and main-track only entrant Indy Union were scratched.

It was the third Glens Falls score for Motion, who previously won with Rosinka [2007] and Humaita [2004].

"Every time I looked away at my other filly Empressof the Nile, Joel had crept up a couple of spots," said Motion. "It was an impressive performance and an impressive ride by Joel. She did everything right. I'll have to look for bigger fish because I thought her win today was very nice."

Rosario, who picked up his first Glens Falls win and eighth stakes win of the meet, said he felt confident in Mrs. Sippy throughout.

"She broke a little bit slow and then after that it was all her. It looked like she just wanted to follow somebody the whole time," said Rosario. "I just thought that's the way she's probably used to running in Europe. She did well for her first time here. Graham just told me to be comfortable where you are and take it from there. I knew I had to wait a little bit going into the turn, but she was able to pick up again and get going kicking on to the wire."

Mrs. Sippy, bred in Kentucky by her owner, banked $137,500 in victory while improving her record to three wins and two seconds from 10 starts. She paid $14.60 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at Saratoga with a 12-race card highlighted by the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway. First post is 12:30 p.m.