Susie Raisher Photo

Oleksandra rallies late to win Smart N Fancy

by NYRA Press Office

Team Valor International's homebred Oleksandra closed impressively into swift splits to capture Saturday's $100,000 Smart N Fancy, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upwards at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Neil Drysdale and piloted by Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old Animal Kingdom mare was last of seven early in the Smart N Fancy as Morticia, Too Much Tip, and Broadway Run battled through an opening quarter-mile in 21.37 seconds on a Mellon turf course rated firm.

The pacesetting trio continued their battle into the turn with Morticia, the even-money favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., looming as the one to beat. As the field straightened away, Ruby Notion made a wide-rallying bid while Rosario angled Oleksandra off the rail, maneuvering outside of the rail-skimming Fire Key and inside of the tiring Morticia, to secure a one-length win in a final time of 1:00.40.

Rosario said he was confident throughout aboard Oleksandra, who earned her first stakes win.

"She ran very nice today. This was a good race. She wants someone to follow a little bit," said Rosario. "With the five and a half [furlongs] they went fast up front, and I was always in hand and trying to save a little ground the last turn and then we took it from there. She just ran by everybody. I waited a little bit just to have a little extra finish at the end. I didn't want to let loose just to save a little bit."

Miss Gossip, the longest shot on the board at 33-1 under Junior Alvarado, charged down the center of the course to outduel Ruby Notion by a head to complete the exacta.

"I thought I had it until the last three jumps and then Joel was able to get up again," said Alvarado. "I had a great trip. Everything worked out. If we ran the race again, I wouldn't change anything. We just got beat today by a great filly, but I'm very happy with my filly. We were just second best today."

Rounding out the order of finish were Morticia, Fire Key, Broadway Run and Too Much Tip. Main-track-only entrants Lady's Island and Lezendary were scratched.

The Australian-bred Oleksandra, who made her first three starts in her native country, graduated on debut in October sprinting on the main track at Santa Anita Park. She posted a pair of neck scores under Rosario in allowance events at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet ahead of making her graded-stakes debut in the Grade 3 Royal North at Woodbine finishing third.

Oleksandra banked $55,000 in victory, while improving her record to 5-2-2 from 11 starts. She paid $10 for a $2 win ticket.