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Showcase puts talents on full display with G2 Saratoga Special score

by Mary Eddy

Harrell Ventures’ Showcase overcame traffic trouble in mid-stretch to remain undefeated with his first stakes conquest in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the talented Uncle Mo gray was an eye-catching 7 1/2-length winner of his July 6 debut at Belmont at the Big A with a stalk-and-pounce effort from one length off the pace. He backed that effort up with another strong showing in the Saratoga Special, stalking from fifth early before drawing clear in the final sixteenth to defeat his seven rivals by 3 1/4 lengths.

"I thought that trip unfolded for us the way we thought - that we'd be sitting in a pocket behind some speed,” Pletcher said. “He didn't get any kick back in his debut, so we hoped he'd react well to that, which he did, and it was a pretty professional effort."

The Junior Alvarado-piloted Keep It Easy, who won wire-to-wire last out, stumbled badly at the start from the outermost post 8 and nearly unseated his rider as Ace It broke sharpest of all before letting First Resort rush up and take charge through an opening quarter-mile in 21.85 over the fast main track.

Showcase emerged well from post 2 under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and settled in along the rail to track in fifth as Ace It pressed close to the pace set by First Resort, who marked the half-mile in 44.78. Around the turn, Smoken Wicked advanced behind the run of Ace It as post-time favorite Touchy went four-wide and Showcase remained inside under a patient Ortiz, Jr.

The field straightened for home and a hole appeared to be opening for Showcase to angle outside of the still-commanding First Resort, but the former was forced to stay behind the leader as Ace It closed the door and First Resort drifted out a touch. A trio of pursuers lined up on the outside, but Ortiz, Jr. did not panic and let First Resort draw clear for a few strides near the eighth pole before finally angling his charge out to easily overtake the pacesetter with two taps of a left-handed crop. Showcase crossed the wire wrapped up in a final time of 1:16.40 as First Resort held second by a neck over Smoken Wicked.

Touchy, Ace It, Global Legend, Good Directions and the hard-luck Keep It Easy completed the order of finish. Noble Force was scratched.

A stewards’ inquiry into the stretch run resulted in no change to the order of finish.

Pletcher, who won his second Saratoga Special after taking the 2013 running with Corfu, said there were some tense moments as Showcase tried to find an opening.

“I thought we were getting a great trip, until then it looked like we just needed to get lucky to find a place to go,” said Pletcher. “I was watching live and then turning to the head-on monitor, and I was like, 'Man, I don't know where he is going to find a seam here,' but fortunately it kind of opened up and he was game to punch his way through there and finish up well.”

Ortiz, Jr. said Showcase did not hesitate once given his cue.

“I just had to wait a little longer than what I wanted to in there inside of those horses,” said Ortiz, Jr. “When the horses outside of me started to get tired I worked my way out and after that it was so easy for him, he was very professional. He broke good and after that he was very professional, he stayed inside of horses took some kickback and he overcame everything.”

Pletcher added the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful on September 2 here may be too soon for Showcase, but did not rule out the one-mile Grade 1 Champagne this fall at Belmont at the Big A.

"I don't know if we want to come back on September 2, that's back a little quick,” said Pletcher. “If not, we can wait for the Champagne or the Breeders' Futurity, I guess we'll wait and see."

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Showcase, a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed Bourbon Bash, is out of the graded stakes-placed Violence mare Buy Sell Hold, who is a full-sister to 2020 Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap-winner Volatile. Showcase earned $110,000 in victory while returning $8.70 on a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, featuring the Listed $150,000 Mahony in Race 8, as well as the rescheduled Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational in Race 10 and the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap in Race 11. 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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