Our Way / NYRA Photo

Our Way gets it done his way in Better Talk Now

by Jenny Kellner

Our Way made it 2-for-2 this summer at Saratoga Race Course on Monday, rallying three-wide through the stretch and onto a 2 ½-length victory over Hammers Vision in the $100,000 Better Talk Now for 3-year-olds on the turf.

Reserved off the early pace set by Dragon Bay and Mighty Mo, who dueled through an opening quarter-mile in 23.83 seconds, with the half going in 48.15, Our Way was nudged into striking position by jockey Jose Ortiz as the tightly packed field of six hit the far turn. Tipped to the outside straightening for home, Our Way split rivals while running well off the rail to take over inside the sixteenth pole, stopping the clock at 1:34.75 for a mile on the firm inner turf.

"I knew the rest of the field was going fast so I took back a little bit," said Ortiz. "I was able to save some ground and follow Johnny [Velazquez, aboard No. 6 Hammers Vision]. At the quarter-pole I swung out and had a ton of horse. He exploded."

The win bookended the meet for gelded son of Tizway, who won an optional claimer at the Better Talk Now distance on July 23 for trainer James Bond and owner William Clifton, Jr.

"He's coming together and getting better," said Bond said of Our Way, now 3-1-1 in six 2016 starts. "The horse has really matured. He's going to be a serious horse this fall. He's really getting it together now. Jose [Ortiz] really fits this horse. You'd be foolish not to use Jose the way he's riding. He gave him a fantastic ride."

Our Way returned $8.10 for a $2 win bet and earned $60,000 for his first stakes win.

Hammers Vision was a half-length in front of Dragon Bay, who was disqualified from third to fifth after bouncing off the rail in the stretch and causing Noble Quality to check. The revised order of finish after Hammers Vision was Mighty Mo, Noble Quality, Dragon Bay and Conquest Big E.

Main Track Only entrant Uncle Vinny was scratched.