Janet Garaguso / NYRA Photo

Special Relativity remains undefeated at the Spa with Shine Again victory

by Brian Bohl

M and M Racing’s Special Relativity has found a comfort zone this meet at Saratoga Race Course, registering her second win of the month – and first career stakes win – in kicking away from 8-5 favorite Saguaro Row in the stretch to win the seventh running of the $100,000 Shine Again for older fillies and mares on Wednesday.

After posting a half-length score for trainer Robertino Diodoro against allowance company on July 17 at the Spa, Special Relativity’s bid for another winner’s circle trip commenced when she broke sharp from the inside post and stayed in third position in the four-horse main-track sprint. Mr. Al’s Gal and Awestruck dueled up front, with the latter going the opening quarter-mile in 23.87 seconds and the half in 47.47 on the fast and harrowed surface. 

Out of the turn, jockey David Cohen moved Special Relativity to the front, where she continued strong to the wire, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.88 to best Saguaro Row by 2 ½ lengths.

“She’s the type of filly [on which], I like getting the rail draw,” Cohen said. “That’s where I want to end with her anyways, plus with it being such a short field, I didn’t want to get stuck down in there going into the turn. I was able to maneuver her out into the three path – something that’s not the first thing I want to do, is go three-wide around the track – but, for her, she’s a very big filly and not having to impede her stride is probably more important than saving ground.”

The 4-year-old Cowboy Cal filly won for the third time in her last five starts. Off at 2-1, she returned $6.60 on a $2 win wager and improved her career bankroll to $341,164.

“David knows this horse so well. We didn’t really have to have a game plan coming in because we already knew she liked the track winning here her last time out,” said Diodoro assistant Ike Green. “She really showed that she loved the track and David gets along with her well, so it was a good pairing coming in and we’re thankful to get the win.”

Special Relativity is 4-for-4 all-time at Saratoga, including two wins against allowance company during the 2018 meet.

“She’s a different type of horse here. She’s on the muscle,” Cohen said. “Normally, you’re not looking to see that out of a horse, but she’s the type of horse that whatever’s in the Saratoga air, she’s just breathing fire and runs like it.”

Saguaro Row, trained by Michael Stidham, was 7 ¾ lengths clear of Awestruck to complete the exacta. 

“There were only four horses in the race and I wanted my filly to relax a little bit,” said Saguaro Row jockey Joel Rosario. “She ran well. The horse who beat me was probably a little better today.”

The Rusty Arnold-trained Awestruck finished one-length ahead of Mr. Al’s Gal for third.  Talk Veuve to Me and Quick Quick Quick were scratched. 

Live racing will resume Thursday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, highlighted by the $100,000 Birdstone. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.